Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-04-09

against his Will.
"Oh, l see he has your confidence
too. That is charming. / suppose,
then, it is to this new friend of the
family that l am indebted for the fact
that you never come to see me now.
Perhaps he disapproves. In that case,
of course, it is not for me to complain
that my evenings are lonely now that
there is no one staying at The Crags,
and that my old friends have deserted
me-"
She had lowered her voice a little,
and her softened tones passed for the
effect of her grief for the death of
DR. Peele. Crosmont shifted uneasily
from one leg 10 the other.
Don't talk such nonsence, Aphra, >
he said, in a husky murmur. I've
been busy-very busy; I've been out
early and late. | would have come to
see you If you had wanted me, really.
But Alma has been ill-seriously ill.,
You must allow a man some heart,
some conscience"
las much as ever you please" an
swered the lady, with a charming
bend of the neck. only it is rather
late in the day to pirate about those
little things, isn't it," She paused,
insisting that he should meet her
eyes, and subject himself to the in
fluence of such witcnery of lustrous
blue and white, and slyly curved
golden lashes, as no man who had
once felt their power could resist.
But just as you please, of course.
suppose 1t is DR.. Armathwaite who
has opened your eyes to the fact that
your wIIe is a pretty woman"
! She could never mention DR.. Arma-
thwaite without a discernible tone of
spiteful pique.
/ Il never see her." said Crosmont
shortly. II am ashamed don't sup
pose you know what that feeling is
and | am doing my best to atone for
what | have done by never seeing
her"
Never seeing her!" Kissed out
Lady Kildonan, in angry dismay.
Never seeing your wife! Then-your
influence over her-you must be
! She shook with her sudden excite
ment till all the jet beads that hung
on her dress ratified and glittered in
the freight
YES" answered Crosmont, dog
gedly, Il am losing it, and | mean to
lose 1t. But whether | do or not.
never mean to use it again. And I've
set that Yorkshireman to save me
from becoming a greater BLACKBOARD
than | am"
Though he uttered these words in
a whisper full of savage, sullen De
termination, even while he spoke he
listened with anxiety to her painting
breath, and looked up with sidelong
glance of yearning and entreaty at
her beautiful, angry face. She drew
a deep breath of fear at his last
words.
you have told him-everything?"
How dare you ask me such
thing A woman's secret! Your
secret! You might hang me first"
For a moment she stood more
quietly, relieved from a great dread
Then she turned to him with a
hungry fever in her blue eyes.
And Liverpool-Liverpool!" she
painted out under her breath. How,
then, do you propose to do it-next
timer"
81 propose-never to do it again"
She stood quite still, glazing at him
like tigress behind iron bars.
And what shall l do? Do you
know? DO you carer"
You will be reasonable, you will
be wise. You will see that | have
done all | cam have ruined myself
body and soul-for | will never face
il, Aphra, warn you that" he
risked everything. lost everything to
| please you. Remember. | have borne
the brunt of il all-risk, anxiety
fatigue, infamy; for l wasn't born q
rogue. | have stopped at nothing.
But IL has broken me, Aphra | am
on fire all night as | sit up in my
study; | don't know what sleep is, or
rest, or happiness. And all the time
| know | have done you only harm,
harm. God knows | will never face
the end--never see you iisgraced.
Aphra, break with it, even If you
break with me-"
There were other conversations
going on in the room. mostly in
whispers also. so that Crosmonts APP
peal. breathed ont in a low, broken,
husky voice. passed. unnoticed. un,
heard, except by the lady to whom it
was addressed. She listened very
quietly, glancing at his face scrutiuiz.
ingly from time TO time in the fire
light; and when he had ended she
began in very persuasive, good,
humoured voice, having assured her
. self that her influence was as strong
, as ever,
, Look here. Neddy. you're making
. great fuss about nothing" she
cooed out. softly. Don't let us tall
about this any more. But come III
and see me tomorrow. and Wen hav,
nice talk all by ourselves, out o
reach of old Tabby Peele and he
ugly duckling-I mean daughter"