Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-06-20

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coolly turned me down to stay In the
mine. while upon my shoulders you
mounted to a position In society and
gave yourself to man you never
loved? know all YOU would say. and
be sure. l have steeled my heart against
all arguments. What l seek is only
justice-a fair equivalent. have suf-
fered, God only knows how much. II Is
your turn
He looked like man OF stone. upon
whom pleading and tears would be
wasted.
Fedora attempted neither at first
she seemed to act and speak rs II In a
dream. for his influence. whatever II
sprans from. dominated her personali-
~ to a remarkable extent
Had 1t 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 yengeance-surely you
cannot believe. Jack. that God ap-
proves of such things. did wrong
you. oh. most srievously: but l have
bitterly repented 1t ever since. and
hoped the day might come when
could tell you so. Often have wept to
remember your despair. II has been
the one black spot upon my life. and
kept me from being truly happy. But.
Jack. won't you forgive II you can
never forse,-sec. ! plead with you:
hold this wrctchcd remembrance no
longer against me. BE my friend. my
brother. You already rcspcc, my hus-
band; why be the means OF his ruin!"
While | cannot forget. I must no,
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 r-ycns. upon me withon, In
Iurins my children she said. sudden
iy remembering his weakness of old.
aud how child had never appealed In
vain so long as he had sou left.
This was harder task than the 9th.
or. and the indomi,ablc marquis was
compelled TO Erit HIS teeth in the en-
d.avor to stem the signs OF retreat tha;
threatened TO oycrwh-lm him.
Il regret exceedingly that they mus;
suffer. for ! am not that cruel to desire
through heir hold on your hear, TO In.
fiie; psli. ON you: bu, as I. an innoccn,
party. once paid the penalty OF your
sin. 10 they. too. must inherit the leg
aey."
''is there no way In which you may
be satisfied without the burden falling
on thcm.-
Il know Of none. They mus, suffer
when you do. all being members OF
one family. I, Is fate"
Jack. have mrFry,-sr~. on my
knees bcs you TO forgive. II Ia true /
~FonEra you most fcarfully. God
knows. I am urc,chcdiy sorry. hut ou,
Of tina; wrong has come your hrixh,
fortune. and. perhaps. Jack. some more
worthy woman may all the place In
your heart once occupied. FORGET the
pas; and live for the future. Crasp
them before they have flown. Riss
above this spirit of revenge upon n
wcak. wrc,chcd woman. Who in he.
,housh;isssness did you harm and
lived to repent. Already you have "a
you say brouEh, ruin upon US. and
cas-, US ou, from society. For tha, 1
care little: but for Gods sake. leave
me the love Of my husband. my chill.
drcu.''
II was enough to melt hear, of ice.
and reason combined with emotion in
the argument. Had not the marquis
thrcshcd this same straw himself ai.
most daily-had IL been thrust sudden.
ly upon him. he mus, have been fairly
overwhelmed.
II was not his design that Fedora
should see any sign Of weakness in his
manner. and he maintained the same
passioulcss exterior he had shown
through the whole interview.
Il promise nothing. Only this
say. that your children have doubtless
saved you from a fate that might hay.
come upon you. I do not relsnt. sim
ply change my tactics. and for their
sakcz spare you that humiliation. that
shame. what further means OF pun.
ishmcut | may decide to invoke you
will know in good time As you sowsd
so must you reap. That is the Law o,
rccompensc. of stern justice. There.
fore. weep over your vretCheyi lot. and
bitterly regret that false step in which
you were tempted by pride. do no,
dare remain here longer in your pres
cuce. At least thank heaven that I
have decided to abandon the plan upon
which I was working az unworthy of
an honorable man.
You are going. Jack7''
Yea
Without seeing the children"
pressing a button while he was no,
looking
They remind me too bitterly Of
what you. their unhappy mother,
seemed to me In the long ago-all in
ncceuce and trusting love. No. 1 don't
wish to see them now"
"oh. Jack. be recouciled-1 shall pray
daily that you cease TO hate me. for the
sake of those little ones. Did you
know the boys name Is Jack7"
What" he gasped. weakening. DO
you mean to say your husband allowed
you to do that-and the man you
loved7 lncrediblei"
II told him all. and Il was he who
first proposed It. You don't know his
generous nature. I can see now what
II was so disturbed him-you took his
fire and freely gave him his forfeited
life. OH wretched woman that I am
to have been loved by two such noble
men, and to have brought sorrow to