Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-01-26

Please DO hot interrupt me, dear"
pursued his wife. and she began strok-
ing his hand again. You told me that
since you had taken charge OF her af-
fairs Blanche's money has more than
doubled"
Yes, l happened TO invest it better
than | did my own capital"
There was silence in the room for a
moment. The mufied strains of the
orchestra below stole up to their ears.
The handsome woman had never
thrown so much power Of enchant-
'ment into her beautiful. long-lashed
eyes as at this moment. She held his
gaze as reptile might that of it's
wondering, bewildered victim.
Dear husband" she said, sweetly.
John Briscoe loved you as few men
love their friends. Do you know that
he would rather have you enjoy that
money after his daughters death than
those people?"
Il don't know: 1 never thought
| about it. Jeanne"
well, L know he would want YOU
to have it, and have it you must"
Il declare You mystify me-"
Il have something else to say.
Blanche was in love with you when 1
first met you. / knew it from the ac-
counts you gave me of your visits to
her. I used to think you were a fool
not to have seen it, She loved you so
much that"
80, how absurdi"
THAT when you brought me home
as your wife she swooned away. One
of the maids told me about it. She
pretended to be confined to her room
with headache. but in reality she
spent the two days IN tears. She
keeps diary; it has lock and kew,
but one day l found it open and read
her heart. She not only loves you.
but she has worshiped you since she
was IS years old. You have thought
she was happy at Lyndhurst. The
truth is she has not had one content
ed moment there. She dislikes me
and imegines me unworthy of you,
and that has only irritated her pas
sion"
Jeanne" said the major. 'T can
hardly believe all this, but even il il
were true, what has it to do with this
awful breach between you and meP"
"You must have her money or /
shall never be content as long as L
live" The speaker paused as II to let
her statement settle into his dis
turbed consciousness, then she ended:
you must have IL, or 1 cannot live
with you any longer"
You mean" he was unable to pro-
coed. \
II mean that you and I. Rowland,
without harming the girl in the slight
est, can. after her death, live the rest
OF our lives on that money. over half
of which you have fairly earned by
your business care and Judgment"
Il don't see how we can do It."
Goddard said, after he had endeavored
TO fathom her meaning.
"She has only two years To live at
the very longest, dear. 1t would mean
temporary separation between you
and me, but IN the end we could make
up for it. Ny plan is this: She loves
you and would marry you within a
week after my death IL you asked her.
/ shall go abroad at once. and while
am away absolute proof Of my death
shall be brought to you and the au-
thorities in America Soon after this
you must marry Blanche and get pos
session of her fortune. Then when
she dies I shall manage to show that
roy death was a mistake and shall
come back 10 you"
MY God, Jeannel don't-don't ask
this of mel"
Goddard covered his face with his
hands. His wife removed them gently
and put her left arm around mis- neck.
Darling, it would be the easiest
thing in the world to accomplish, and
then just think of all the after years
OF happiness which we shall spend to-
gether."
81 can't do it. Jeanne-I simply am
not made that wayi"
Have you considered that you and
part, then, to-night?"
you can't mean thatP" he cried.
Absolutely. 1 shall not go back to
Iyndhurst unless you fully agree to
my proposal. Even then it will only
be for week while am allayinC sus-
picion and preparing for my voyage"
Jeanne, simply cannot do this"
groaned Goddard; 81 simply cannot
dc It'll"
The woman rose and stood before
him at her full height. She had never
looked so queenly-her influence over
him had never been so great. She
strobe back and forth across the room
with all the grace and beauty which
had enthralled his senses year before.
Suddenly she stepped up to him and
laid hand upon his shoulder which
commanded him like the touch of a
hypnotist upon a good subject.
You know. Rowland. that another
rich man wanted to make me his wife
when consented to marry your"
He remembered that she had told
him something of the kind just before
the wedding. and how that fact had
FASTENED bis marriage. he nodded. !
81 remember"
''He has not married. said Mr.