Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-14
ing chair, and threw back her veil, dis
closing a white. wasted face.

ing chair, and threw back her veil, dis
closing white, wasted face.
have not come as an enemy, Row
land" she said, softly.
"Oh, you have not?" he said.
mo; for am completely in your
power. / knew was taking a big
risk; but could not have any peace
of mind till had seen you. have
met my husband, Henry Dugdale, and
he said he had told Blanche about nv
first marriage. know you can hand
me over to the law as bigamist, but
I don't think you will do so, consider
ing considering your love for
Blarche. My spell over you is broken,
Rowland"
Yes, it is broken, Jeanne. I could
look you in the face for thousand
years and only wonder how"
Don't say it," she broke in. Lets
part friends"
After you tried to kill her-poor
child?" he asked. Jeanne, 1 cannot
forgive that
Il was out of my head" said Jeanne,
pieadingly. 81 did not intend to shoot
at her Till I overheard you about to
con. w That maddened me. l would
not =: !: shot at you even then,
If you had not run between me and
her. ut have sorely repented. You
see l can repent, too, Rowland. You
have, and know there is a sort of
light in your face that never was
there before. Do try to pardon me,
and let me go away and try to live a
better life. I am so, SO tired of
wrong-doing. 1t has never led me
anywhere. Henry still loves me, and
will take me back to Denver, where
no one will ever associate nv name
with yours. He says eur child is long
ing for me. He sent me to you. He
wants to feel that we will not be
troubled by your preferring charges
against me. Will you do this?"
II shall be glad to, Jeanne" said
the major, slowly. 81 want to tell
Blanche that she need no longer be
afraid of you. She is very nervous.
Ever since that night She starts at
the slightest sound. She seems to
feel that her life is constantly in
danger"
Well, tell her we are goiag away
tomorrow. shall never come to New
York again. My husband is a good
man, and he has suffered"
Jeanne rose and held out her hand.
"Good-by," she said. 81 am very
sorry I wounded you. When I heard
you were about to die, 1 came near
killing myself. I would have done so
If Henry had not saved me. He told
me you were recovering"
"Good-by." The major gave her his
hand. II think you had better draw
your veil and go at once. Talley is in
the counting-room, and might recog-
nize you"
Half an hour later Blanche drove up
TO the bank in a cab. and remained
seated in it while she sent in q mes
sage to her husband that she would
wait for HIM outside. He came out
ready to go home at once.
81 was afraid to trust you alone
with Mr.. Talley," she said, with
smile. II had some shopping to do,
and I decided to come by for you"
He got in by her side, and they
started for the station.
Blanche, you are fbbing," he said,
seriously. "You were afraid some
thing might happen to me. see it
in your face"
She made no denial as she caught
his hand and held it warmly.
"of what were you afraid, darling?"
he asked.
"You know well enough" she an
swered, abruptly. 81 have been near
ly crazy all afternoon, thinking
thinking, oh, darling, you said your
self that she is in New York;
Eyes; but she is going away to-
morrow"
"Have you seen her?"
"Only few minutes ago. She came
to ask my forgiveness, and to beg me
not to prosecute her. Her husband
has taken her back. Blanche, you will
never see her again"
"And you pardoned her, dear?'
GAS you did me, darling. am a bet
ter man for what have been through,
may she not be better woman?'
81 suppose So" exclaimed Blanche.
"Oh, dear. I am so happy now-that
was the only thing left to trouble
me-"
~ THE END. '-a.t-