Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-07-03
GuARTIiR XVIII

CHAPTER XVIII.
| Not one line in that fair, proud face
moved not even curve of the proud lips
/ showed that she had heard him. or that
/ the voice had any echo in her heart.
| Irene" he cried, and this time there
was the ring OF passion in his voice.
Still she leaned back in her chair with
| the same calm. serene quecny indiifnr-
cncc holding the rich feathers of her fan
| against her white breast, proud that no
feather Auttcred or moved; proud that
| her jcweled hands did not tremble; proud
that he should see that he had no power
! to make her tremblc or To move her.
"Irener hp cried. 'for heavens sake,
| speak TO me; you are driving me mad"
Unutterablc scorn aud contempt deep
ened in those beautiful eyes.
! ar you are speaking to me-" she re-
piled. "Sir Hubert Estmere. | am the
| Duchess of Bayard."
Speak 10 me-" he cried. whoever you
may be now. You have been Irene Oar
cy, and so can never be stranger to
me-"
There is no greater stranger to you
| than ! am" she said
| He thought she was rising to go away,
on her arm as though to detain her. In
one moment he saw his mistake; she had
| flung il from her as though il had been
the poison sting of an adder. Her face
! grew deadly pale with anger: she trem-
bled with Indignation that he should dare
| to lay even one finger on her.
II beg you to forgive me-" he said, II
| crave your pardon"
"Be careful that you do not repeat The
offense," she said, imperiously.
Irene" he repeated, for heavens
| sake do not drive me mad. | would not
have presumed to touch you but that |
was afraid you were going to leave me.
Do you think | have no heart, no feel
ing?"
Nothing could have been more proud,
or still, or cOntemptuOus than that beau
tiful face. She made no answer.
''Do you think" he cried that l can
torget?"
Then she spoke,
"There can be nothing to remember,
nothing to forget" she said calmly. you
arc Sir Hubert Estmere OF the Mere;
am the Duchess of Bayard. There can
be nothing in common between u.s."
"You cannot forget you must. you
shall remember" he cried.
Then she opened her beautiful eyes
quite wide md looked at his with SUI
preme contempt
at would bc well for you," she said,
"if could forget. ! do not; remember
many things and, above all, I remember
my VOW"
Your vow! What vow2' he asked.
My vow OF vengeance" she said. II
made It, and | shall keep it--let it be a
long time or short time before the OPP
pOrtunity comes, | do not care-I shall
keep it to the end
Your vow against me-of vengeance
against meT' he said.
Yes. my vow OF vengeance against
you," she repeated.
He drew back n little. ms though he did
not like the words.
at is best as it is. | do not see any
occasion for mcIodrama of any kind" ne
said. you could not ask for n more
brilliant lot in life than you have now,
could you, in all fair dealing, Irene? |
must speak frankly to you, and pray
you most humbly to listen. You see that
our family and the house of Bayard are
on the most friendly terms. | heard Of
the dukes marriage, but | need not tell
YOU that in my widest dreams | could
never guess who the duchess was. | have
thought OF you thousand times each
day, Irene. but my thoughts were all
fears. If | had known that you were
the dukes wife | should not have come.
You see the position is an awkward one
for me, unless you are kind enough to en-
tighten me-
II do not see that you have any posi-
ton TO mention" she said, haughtily.
He was in fever of impatiencp and
suspense.
'Oh, Irene, do not trine with me; can
i'll bear suspense. Tell me in one word,
does the duke know your story
II cannot see how that interests you,
Sir Hubert" she replied.
at interests me this much.' he said,
that IL he knows IT | leave the house
tonight never 10 re-enter II, and that
there will be bitter war between us"
She looked at him with angry indigna-
ton.
do you suppose for one moment" she
said, that il that honorable, loyal gen
tleman whom | call my husband knew
your real character he would allow you
to cross his threSholdi"
|
mine" he said, sullenly.
II think not, Sir Hubert. A traitor
ranks with a spy, and you are the very
king OF traitors"
You are very kind" he answered, hii
handsome face growing pale with anger
She looked at him from head TO foot
with one of the long, lingering, contemp
tuous glauces that sting a man like the
lash OF n whip.
. 'As though could speak kindly to you
vile traitor" she said.
Irene, | will try TO be patient Yor
are torturing me as cat fortunes
! mouse, VIII you tell me II the duke
: knows the story of what you call mJ
fraudT
, YES" she answered; he knows th'
story. | did not keep one detail from
r him; did not excuse myself or others
! told him the simple, unvarnisheC
truth" she replied.
/ "Did you tell him my name. or Civ,
I him any clew by which he could know
Q itT he asked