Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-06-21
CHAPTER xx.-tContinued0

cluding his family
The marquis waited certain length
of time
Then one afternoon he appeared at
the new home of the Livermores.
To himself he declared many times
that he intended this visit as a posi-
tive means of increasing his hold upon
the captains wife, over whom he
seemed to be exerting some peculiarly
hypnotic. power, with the eventual aim
in view of inducing her to leave
home and seek some asylum on the
continent
For years he had looked forward to
this same moment with the keenest
anticipation; for years he had in his
mind gone over every little detail, had
seen her surprise and alarm, with his
own great triumph. as he sent his
shafts home with the arm of ample
revenge; yet, strange to say, he did
not approach the subject with the
eagerness he had expected the fever
ish thrill was only conspicuous by its
absence, and he even started guiltily
when from some distant part of the
rambling old structure peal of child
ish laughter was borne to his ears;
there was something so condemnatory
IN the merry sound.
By degrees he brought the subject
around to where he wanted it, and the
manner in which he accomplished this
declared that his strategic powers had
not waned a particle.
Have you had any American
friends?" he asked.
Eyes, one" came the rather confus-
ed reply. and the listener knew he had
caused her mind to revert to that un-
happy past about which she even
usually avoided thinking.
Pardon me; but / once knew poor
fellow, an artist, out in Mexico, who
said he had been well acquainted with
Captain Livermore's wife" he went on
deliberately.
"An artist" she echoed looking
panied, and yet showing an eagerness
in her voice.
Yes; by name Jack. | CHANGED to
do him several favors, and he even
confided his history to me. Poor fell
low, he had suffered bitterly"
"Conflded to you-then you know"
in alarm.
THAT you and he were once be-
trothed-yes. That while he labored
increasingly in the hope of gaining
fame and fortune. your love for him
began to grow cold. He had been the
means of reconciling you to your
proud old English grandfather. In the
whirl of society you met Captain Liv-
ermore, then the lion of the hour. You
forgot to write to the man who be-
lieved in you as he did in Heaven. He
came to London, unable to breathe
outside your presence. Then you
crushed him by declaring that while
you still loved him. you loved position
still more, and that you had agreed to
marry the captain"
Fedora's head had fallen on her
wildly heaving bosom. but she neither
looked up nor uttered a word as yet,
being too stunned as the tremendous
revelation was forcing itself upon her
mind.
He went on pitilessly!
Jack sought a quarrel with the
man who had robbed him of all he
had on earth-perhaps you never knew
vi IL Dul lhCy LhCl at udWu the
deadly duello. each determined to kill
the other. The captain, as they ad-
vanced toward each other, fired first
and only inflicted a wound. He was
then at Jacks complete mercy, since
he was allowed the privilege of walk
ing up as close as he pleased and send
ing a ball through the heart of his
adversary"
Fedora groaned, but never moved.
1.-The captain was no coward; believ-
ing his hour had come, he deliberate
ly opened his coat and awaited the
fatal shot, his eyes looking into those
of the man he had wronged without
knowing it. Twice Jack took aim, but
each time he failed to pull the trigger.
Finally he raised his pistol, fired in
the air and fed from the scene"
For the first time she raised her head
and looked at him, her troubled face
marked by conflicting emotions.
Then came the wedding, which poor
Jack saw from the organ loft, enduring
the tortures of the damned while the
woman whom heaven had given to him
was united by law to man she did not
love.
"Then he fed from London as from
q place accursed and sought fortunes
smiles upon new field, hating women