Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-04-28

doWed with flesh and blOOd-eyeS that
looked into her very soul, strong arms
that held her against Il broad breast,
lips that spoke words of passion like a
flame of fire. that took their answer
from her and would not be denied, and
behold. she awoke. and there was no
friend any more, but Il lover in deed
and truth.
Martin, Martin" she said. looking
up at him with great love and Il des-
perate fear struggling for the suprema-
cy in her beautiful dark face, "if 1
knew!-Oh, God! if l knew! But l do
not. l may be no widow at ALL may
be his wife still, and in that case---''
''In that case l love you just the
same, and nothing can alter it, he an
swered. you have no proofs? Then
proofs shall be obtained, if we have to
search every inch of the Atlantic. DO
you think l mean to let you go-to let
Il shadow separate us? Dearest wom-
an in the world, the thing has got to be
done. and l will do it."
DOTlHua, you are looklHS very ILL.,
my child"
Pm really quite well. only-but per-
haps it's mercy to be thought i'll when
one is merely miserable Girls
are fools, Mrs. Roupell. And do they
always leave off folly when they be-
come women? o, forgive me. am
talking nonsense-lve got into the hab-
it of it because it is easier than saying
nothing, and feeling Il great black cur
tain coming slowly, slOwly-down-
downtown, directly one stops to
think. Your mourning, l envy
you. What am l saying? But l wish
had an excuse for wearing it,"
Maria Roupell was not the sort of
person to ask tactless question as a
rule, and with such blank directness,
face that reminded her Of her own as
she had seen 1t in the mirror that morn
ing.
Dorinda Carson moved nervously in
her chair. hesitated. and then spoke.
quickly, and in low voice. with her
face averted from her friends sight.
80, for-for some one l knew-who
has died lately-some one had no right
to be fond Of Mrs. Roupell-Marla-I
must speak-may |? You will under
stand. and nobody else would
And the girl was on her knees by
Maria s chair. clasping the hands which
lay on her lap, and bowling the golden
head till it almost touched them.
Dear heaven. everything has got
into such CHASTITY knot! I've nobody
to blame but myself; I've taken my
happiness in both hands and thrown it
away"
The listener involuntarily wondered
what it felt like to have happiness def
nitely within ones grasp for little
while.
Dorinda Carson paused. painted for
breath. and went on. with an effort:
II have been engaged to the best
man in the world for over IL year, and
we are to be-we are by way of being
married in March. The best man in
the world. with a bitter little laugh
T..
And there are others more specifically
fascinating-so When Egbert
was in the State this autumn | saw a
good deal of-of that other | only
looked Oh him as friend of course.
But one night at a dance he
was charming. He turned my head.
He made love to me. Is it love like
that: He tried to make me unfaithful
to my lover. o, l wanted to be!
was not: but | wrote to him once or
twice. and after his death my letters
were found in packet directed to
Egbert Fool. fool. worse than fool,
was to have written them. and to
such man as Martin Arthur" And
she chung to the kind hands and sobbed
piteously.
God or the devil helped Maria Rou-
pell through the next three minutes.
Then she bent over the miserab BILE
child and said softly: Thank you for
telling me all this. | will write a letter
to Egbert, and think he will listen
to what l say. 1t will all come right,
my Dorinda. Now leave me and go
home. l will send the letter this even
ing. Don't thank nett is | who should
thank you" which remark will never
be explained in this life to Dorinda
Carson.
Mrs. Roupell kept her promise. She
wrote to Egbcrt Trevanion. simply and
quietly: she asked for forgiveness for
IAN old woman's interference"
That Mr.. Trevanion paused. thought
it over, relented being ii sensible fel-
low, and married Dornda Carson in
March, has nothing to do with this
story. The gods are good to fools.
Mrs. Roupell put the letter into its
envelope and rang the bell. Il want
this to go at once" she said to the
housemaid who answered it. But
where is Thompson:"
Il believe he is at the front door.
ma'am," was the reply There is a
gentleman calling and the girl left the
room.
\ minute later the handle turned.
and a single foOtstep sounded on the
soft carpet. while silence followed the
NAN in.