The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1901-11-22
CHAPTER XL.-(Continued.)

"Yes, I love you," she continued
proudly. Whose is the sin? Is II
mine, because I, your wife, nave to
tell you this, and you feel surprised? ]
love you; and now that I have to leave
you I tell you that woman never loved
man, wife never loved husband, more
dearly. o deeply, more devotedly,
than l love you; l would have devoted
my life to you; / would have died fol
you: every beat Of my heart, every
thought of my mind, every action was
for you. l love you as Elaine loved
the knight of old when she said:
Il have one mad-I love you-let me
die!"
She drew nearer to him.
Il love you as no one else ever will
as no woman has ever loved you
partly because / could not help loving
you. and partly because I have helped
to awaken the better nature within you.
You may live many years, happy, fiat
tered. but no love like mine will ever
reach you; the wife you are sending
from you is the dearest and truest
friend you have"
He looked terribly distressed.
why did you not tell me this be-
fore. Hildred?" he asked.
II tell you? How little you know
me! Was it my place to go to the hus-
band who neglected me and plead for
his caresses, for his love? / could
have died a thousand deaths first. How
little you know me! / should not tell
you all this now. but that I know that
in this world perhaps we shall never
meet again. I am speaking to you
across q grave. / stretch out my hand
to you over a grave-the grave where
my love lies-slain!'
AZ she said the words she fell upon
her knees. weeping, sobbing with bit
ter cries. al though a grave lay there.
and she had fallen upon 1t.
He was touched. He could not toll
crate what he believed to be her crime,
but she was young, beautiful, loving.
Her crime had been committed
through love OF him. He raised her
from the ground.
Il am very sorry. Hildred," he said;
1t IL very sad for both of us. Now
we must talk Of something else. You
must 60 at once"
She raised her weeping eyes to him.
Must you send me away?" she ask
cd. gently. 1T was wrong. I was mad
with jealous anger, but I did not think
4 was. Could you not overlook it,"
"You speak lightly" he replied,
sternly. mo. you can never re-enter
my hoiss. I have arranged it all. I
did 80 when / took poor Lady Hamilton
back to the castle. / told our guests
that you had been suddenly emit for
by your father, that I had driven you
to the station-and 1t is to your
fathers house you must co."
Very WELL" she said, drearily.
You do not seem to understand"
he remarked, sharply: do you know
the danger. the peril that hangs v
your"
She did NOT. but Of what use was 1t
TO say 30?
TRY to collect yourself and under
stand" he continued; time presses. I
cannot keep them away much longer.
You must depart at once without being
seen. No one must know at what hour
you went. You must go to your
fathers house and walt there. II It
should be needful to send you abroad
] will arrange It."
"Have ! done 90 very wrong?" she
murmured. The earl cried out passion
ately:
Heaven give me patience! You
must be mad to ask me such a uues-
tion. One would think you did not
know what wrong meant"
Hildred stood quite still. looking al
most helplessly at him.
"You do not seem to realize or to
know what you have done," he said,
hastily.
II dol do" she moaned; "and there
will be no pardon. I wish that / might
ding myself into that lake. / would.
but that there Is a life to come"
'sHildred." said the earl sternly.
'Msten to me. I have told you that
you must never re-enter my doors: but
you bear my name; and for my names
sake I will shield you. The Countess
Of Caraven may have done wrong. but
the world must not know It. / must
saye you from the consequences OF your
mad folly. See-I went quietly to your
rooms aud have brought you these"
He gave her = cloak and q bonnet with
. thick veil. II found them in your
wardrobe. Have you any money!"
mo-" she replied, vacantly; none"
He took out his purse and rave It to
her.
II would accompany you," he said.
but that 1t would draw suspicion on
you. I must be here to ward it OF.
Wrap yourself in this cloak. Hide all
that amber SATIN"
With cold, trembling hands she obey
ed. Suddenly she remembered the ru-
bies. She u~nclasped the necklace and
bracelets.
Take these" she said; and the earl
took them-it "a better. he thought.
to humOr her.
"Now you quite understand, Hildred!