The Iola register., 1901-05-03
angrY and amaZed.

| MIL Sou' Ineu Sne ueIDerately leYeled
! pistol at him. "Sit down and writel
l leave this room with an acknowl-
/ edgment from you in the hands of a
witness, wife-or a murderess. did
it once, Raymond; can do it again. I
killed a man for you last night" As
/ she uttered this confession her face
grew pale as death, the pistol was low
cred, and she stood shivering In abiect
terror. "Gou have not heard OF it ?"
she whispered Are not the papers
full of it?" Her form, which had been
erect, seemed to shrink; she looked
over her shoulder towards the door,
| listening. The man strode forward and
wrenched the weapon from her cold
! hand. Then he forced her into a chair
"Louisel Louisel" he groaned; and
! then in awe he said: "Insanel" She
made no resistance. A tide of memories
had swept over the now issues.
"No," she moaned, mot yet. Would
to God l werel You do not believe me,
Raymond. Listen. | found out where
you were stopping in the city. 1 found
the street and number. l had de-
termined to go in and bring the horrid
uncertainty to an end for you had not
answered my letter-you had not
comel"
But you did not go in!" he said, ter
rified. Surely, you did not"
'No l walked by again and again.
went around to the side street and
looked into the garden; but l said: Il
will see him first; Raymond cannot
mean to be so basel Still you did not
come. Will you believe it, went back
at night, hoping TO see you? / could
not stay here alone in this room-I
slipped outl Two men entered that
| gate, and one of them l would have
sworn was you. l followed and saw
them enter the wing room. While I
waited there, wondering if you would
appear again-it was but few min
utes, l think-one of the men came from
the wing-room, passed me, and, going
out, locked the gate. was prisoner,
for the fence was tall with spikes of
iron. Then went and stood under the
window, thinking the room was yours,
and 1 might attract your attention;
and heard your voice and a woman's
in there"
at is'a lie-a liel the room belongs
to Frances. / was not in the city"
"Frsnces? Who is Frances? But no
matter, they were there all night; and
1, crazed and abandoned, wept and
ragged outside"
you are simply daft, Louise; you
don't know what you are saying"
They were there, tell you. Once a
match was struck, and / could hear a
woman pleading; and-there 1 was,
lying upon the ground, the window
just out of my reach. Then l found
myself climbing the ivy and clinging
to the shutters; and l saw you sitting
there, this woman with curly golden
hair kneeling in her night dress before
you, her hand upon your shoulder,
saying good-by TO her lover while she
held lighted match above his face"
Louise, this is unbearablel" Hol-
bin was beside himself
II thrust your pistol between the
shutters, took aim at you and fred
my aim was true; the man fell for
ward into the darkness, and 1 back
upon the wet grass. Look! See the
stains of the crushed ivy see the soil
upon the gownl see the blistered
hands! look at your pistol! The ham,
mer is upon an empty she'll 1 got
up and ran for the gate, but a man
was entering and his carriage stood
opposite. Crouching in the shrubbery,
L saw him come back"-her voice sank
to a whisper-'with a dead man in
his arms. I got here-how, do not
know-and locked myself in. When
you came l thought it was your spirit.
What will they do with me? VIII
they lock me in gaol? win they hang
me? Why don't you speak to me.
Raymond? Why do you look at me
that way? Raymond! Raymondl-I
did not know what l was doing! I
was insane, Jealous! l had lost my
chtld-oh, they ought to know that,
Raymond, before they judge me too
harshly. Raymond, Raymond, answer
me-answerl" He mastered his emo
tion by powerful effort.
"You have had your revenge!" he
said, hoarsely, his lips parting in
soundless laugh. "The shot went 70
the markl" He sank in his chair by
the table and gazed helplessly upon
her agitated face, his thoughts else
where.
"But do not understand" she said.
my revenge, If you were not the
man"
"Why it is incrediblel" he cried, an
grily. "Give me the key! the keyl
the keyI Quickl the clock is striking
ten-the lseyl"
"You will not give me up, Raymond
the mother of your childl-you will
not"
"Ah-no, no, Louise. You are safe
while live. Quick! the keyl" She
gave it to him, and, passing out, he
said, sternly; "Stay herel Don't let
your face be seen outside this door. |
Change your dress, remove every stain
upon it, and be ready to leave the
city at a moments notice. Courage
will save You If can" AS he stepped
into the hallway he muttered to him