The Cook County herald., 1902-03-29


Il must say that she has been cruell,
treated. You are a peer of the realm
Lord Caraven, and have you behaved
as a gentleman to my child? Have
you treated her with courtesy or affec'
tion?"
Let me go to her at once said
Lord Caraven. do not be hard on
me, Mr. Ransome-I have had great
deal to suffer-" And these few words
disarmed the lawyer
They went together to Hildred's
room. Arley Ransome spoke first.
Mildred, 1 have something very
particular to say to you-open the
door,
There was not sound-and. Lord
Caraven began to feel slightly alarmed
'Hildred," cried the father, ~. have
message from your husband
Still there was no sound, and, unable
to control himself, the earl cried out:
''Hildred, for heavens sake, speak
to me! Let me in-I want to see
you!''
The sound of his voice seemed to
have an electric effect upon her. The
next moment she turned the key in
the lock and opened wide the door.
With cry of fear and surprise he
started back when he saw her. He
had seen her lately so beautiful, so ra-
diant-now her long black hair hung
in disorder over her shoulders; her
face was pale and stained with tears,
her eyes were dim, her lips white. He
hardly knew her.
'Hildred," he cried She looked at
him with dim, sad eyes,
"You!' she said. lis it you who
thought me guilty of murder?'
Lord Caraven turned to Arley Ran
some
Leave me alone with her, he said.
Il have much to say"
Mr.. Ransome went away. The earl
entered the room and closed the door.
He went to his wife, holding out both
his hands.
viii you forgive me?" he said. II
can never pardon myself
But she shrank from him.
You believe that 1 committed MUIR
der,' she answered. mo, l can not
touch your hands"
'Hildred, listen 1t was almost all
your own fault-you said you were
guilty."
Not of murder" she rejoined. II
could not have supposed that you
would think me capable Of that, much
as you dislike me-"
!; II do not dislike you Hildred," said
the earl, in voice full of emotion,
and l am indeed grieved at having
offended you. Do not refuse to pardon
me-
There can be no pardon, my lord, for
the wrong you have done me-" she re-
piled.
And then the earl knew that, if ever
he won his wife's pardon, it would be
a work Of patience and of time.
He gazed anxiously at her. She look
ed pale and wan, with the stains of
bitter weeping on her face. He saw,
tco, that she shivered like one seized
with mortal cold.
"Hildred,' he cried, "do forgive me
you do not know how grieved / am
to see you like this. want to tell you
how the misunderstanding happened.
Will you listen?'
Yes she replied, mechanically: and
she sat silent and motionless while he
told her the story. She looked at him
when it was ended with dull. dim
eyes.
Il am very sorry" she said, that
Blantyre made the mistake. I almost
wish that he had shot me through the
heart. What have to live for?'
Il could not spare you Hildred-you
have been the good angel OF my life!"
he cried.
"You would be better without me.
Your estates are free and unincum bered
noW-you have reused yourself to
sense Of your duties-you know how to
perform them. an of no more use
| am sorry tha An Blantyre missed
his aim
This is not like you, Hildred. Where
is your bright energy, your hope, your
cheerful animation?"
She clasped her hands with q shud-
der.
II am Sick" she said; "sick with q
terrible despair"
He was at a loss what to say to her
she seemed immovable. Suddenly her
face flushed, and a bright light came
into the eyes that had been so dim.
You sent me from your house. Lord
Caraven, and pronounced me guilty on
what seems to me very slight evidence.
l may claim to be at least as credulous
as yourself, yet declare that had any
one accused you Of murder should not
have believed it. You judged me gull
ty at once-guilty Of trying to murder
Il, who never in my life trampled
even upon a worm. Why should YOU
have thought that wished Lady Ham,
ilton dead?"
He looked slightly confused.
You remember that you told me
that you were jealous of her?'' he re-
piled.
Jealous she repeated, drearily.
Did l ever love you, then? I have
forgotten-my brain is dazed, dull. I
seem to remember nothing clearly. ex-
pnrf that va. 4,,I roA -, - ~-,.s1A..