The Irish standard., 1901-04-20

rs it is. You knew when | became
your wife that l could not remain
stationary progress. When I
married you it was clearly understood
that | was to be able to crafty GER
tain desires that / frankly confessed
had always had Il firm hold on me.
Well. your recent specuations have
reduced US to Lyndhurst and Il trivial
income"
"But it will be secure" he REFINED,
desperately.
ooh, don't doubt its security, Row.
land, dear, but ii is hardly more than
these two hands and my brain used
to earn. Oh, you can see what mean!
am simply an ambitious woman. 1
want things. want power, and l am
going to get my desires through you,
dear husband. or we must part COM
pany. / love YOU as much as any wom-
an could love Il man, but my ambition
is at least half of me. and il will drag
me away from you if you don't come
to my assistance"
"Jeannc. YOU know ! would do any
thing in my power to crafty you. I
know ] have violated part of our
matrimonial contract. but | could not
help things taking such an uneNpect-
ed turn
She strolied his hand caressingly
and raised it to her warm, red lips.
Listen to me- she began. laying
her head on his broad shoulder. 81
want to tell you something you do not
know. then | shall propose IL plan.
You remember that DR.. Fleming, the
famous English expert on heart
troubles, came to see Blanche month
ago~the day before he returned to
London"
YES, remember that said the
major. wonderingly.
We'll, perhaps it was because he
thought looked as if l could keep a
secrrt-nnd some one ought to know
he iruth--thai he made an important
disclosure to me. He was deeply con-
cerncd after he had examined Blanche
and sent for me to meet him in the Ii
brary. lie hen told me. and his face
was actually pale, for he seemed to
like her, hat she had the most fatal
ease of 'Hortic aneurism' he called it
an acute disease of the heart-that
he had ever met with in all his eN-
perience.
"My God. YOU can't be serious!" en-
claimed the ma ,or. ''She looks so
well--nnd yet. remember, she is taxi
ing his medicines"
CDR. Fleming explained that to all
outward appearances she would be,
even 10 The end. as healthy looking
as Il perfectly sound person. lie says
she cannot possibly live longer than
two years. and that il is most likely
that she will drop off sooner--at any
molNent. The least excitement or I'M
usual eNertion may kill her INSTANTLY"
Does Blanche know of her condi-
tion?" asked the major, almost for
getting his own troubles in his vast
sympathy for his ward.
"No; oh, no! DR.. Fleming said that
on her mind and hasten the end. He
was afraid to tell you; he said men
capt to show SO much concern over
matters of that kind that patients
would suspect the truth. l promised
him faithfully not to hint it to soul,
so you must never mention it or let
her suspect you are anxious about
her.
Can nothing be done?"
absolutely nothing; the medicine
she is taking is just what she needs,
and he even advised me not to have
her consult any other doctor. L pre-
sumo, considering the fact that he is
such Il great authority. his wishes,
even on that score, ought to be re.
spected."
81 presume So" responded the ma
jor; "but isn't it awful?" Then he
came back to his own affairs almost
with a start. He frowned and sat
silently looking at the fire. 1t was as
if he were wondering what connection
this disclosure could have with his
wife's strange fight. He gently ex-
', pressed this idea to her presently.
"After1 left you to-day got to think
ing about it," was her answer, and her
fingers frightened on his. blanche
has, as you know, about three mill
lions in her own name"
| hlIO" lHuu, ullSNCIcu lllC uliJOFs
''When she drops Off suddenly all
that money will go legally to people
she never saw. an aunt and cousins
for whom she doesn't care pin.''
"rhat is the truth, Jeanne, butt
please do not interrupt me. DEAR
pursued his wife. and she began strol-
ing his hand again. "You told me that
since you had taken charge of her af-
fairs I'lanchc's money has more than
doubled"
r Eyes, 7 happened to invest it better
than ! did my own capital"
There was silence in the room for a
!, moment. The mutlled strains of the
orchestra below stole up to their ears.
, Tho handsome woman had never
thrown so much power of enchant-
mcnt into her beautiful. long dashed
eyes as at this moment She held his
, gaze as a reptile might that of its
: wondering. hewldcred victim.
: ITO BE Continuedl
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