Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-06-21

fortune look strange delight In COM
pensating him his loss ny throwing
into his hands the most wonderful
treasure ever known, surprising all
tales from the days of Ophir and Solo
mon down to the present More than
this. he was given power and made the
head of the Central American republic
whittier fate had drifted him.
Thus. when five years had passed,
rich beyond the widest dreams, made
a noble of Spain because of some finan-
cial assistance he had given the gov
ernment at Madrid, Jack came back to
London with the full determination to
repay the debts he owed, at compound
interest, down to the last penny"
She was looking at him now with
fear-haunted eyes, looking at him as
one might gaze upon some dreadful
spectre of the past.
"You-are-Jack!" she said, slowly.
as if almost unable to grasp the idea at
once.
Il am that once miserable wretch.
Having embarked upon my campaign,
| lost no time in making your hus-
bands acquaintance 1t was my hand
that, in a fair and honorable way,
stripped him of all he possessed. That
is only beginning"
Jack Jack! Have you no mercy?"
she groaned, wringing her hands
wildly.
Did you have any when you so
coolly turned me down to stay in the
mine, while upon my shoulders you
mounted to a position in society and
gave yourself to a man you never
loved? l know all you would say, and
be sure, have steeled my heart against
all arguments. What l seek is only
justice-a fair equivalent 1 have suf-
fered. God only knows how much 1t is
your turn"
He looked like a man of stone upon
whom pleading and tears would be
wasted.
Fedora attempted neither at first
she seemed to act and speak as if in a
dream, for his influence, whatever it
sprang from, dominated her personali-
ty to remarkable extent.
Had it been so in those days of yore
Fedora would never have willingly Civ
en- him up.
You speak of heaven in the same
breath with vengeance-surely you
cannot believe, Jack, that God ap-
proves of such things. / did wrong
you. oh, most grievously; but 1 have
bitterly repented it ever since, and
hoped the day might come when l
could tell you so. Often l have wept to
remember your despair. 1t has been
the. one black spot upon my life, and
kept me from being truly happy. But,
Jack. won't you forgive If you can
never forget-see, | plead with you;
hold this wretched remembrance no
longer against me. Be my friend, my
brother. You already respect my hus-
band; why be the means of his ruin?"
While l cannot forget, l must not
forgive. You have not yet begun to
know what suffering means. When
the world seems dark and your soul
prays for death"
But, Jack, stop; consider; you can
not have revenge upon me without in
juring my children" she said, sudden
ly remembering his weakness of old,
and how child had never appealed in
vain so long as he had sou left
This was harder task than the 9TH
eT, ana the luuOmlIdDle marquis was
compelled to grit his teeth in the en-
deavor to stem the signs of retreat that
threatened to overwhelm him.
81 regret exceedingly that they must
suffer, for l am not that cruel to desire
through their hold on your heart to in
f1ict pain on you: but as 1, an innocent
party, once paid the penalty of your
sin, so they, too, must inherit the leg
acy."
rs there no way in which you may
be satisfied without the burden falling
on them?"
81 know of none. They must suffer
when you do, all being members of
one family. 1t is fate"
Jack, have mercyi-see, on my
knees l beg you to forgive. 1t is true
wronged you most fearfully. God
knows, l am wretchedly sorry But out
of that wrong has come your bright
fortune, and, perhaps, Jack, some more
worthy woman may fill the place in
your heart once occupied. Forget the
past and live for the future. Grasp
them before they have flown. Rise
above this spirit of revenge upon a
weak, wretched woman, who in her
thoughtlessness did you harm and