The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-02-19

, yet you just said twas ralse." said
the girl, her eyes flashing.
81 meant that what you add is true,
and hence the first also must be be-
lieved. Then you saw my message?"
81 did, since it so fell out"
But you did not read the real mes
sage. l asked no aid of any one for
my escape. l but asked her to come
In sheer truth, / wished but to see
her."
'And by what right could you ex-
pect that?'
Ct asked her as my afianced wife,"
replied John Law.
| Mary Connynge stood an inch taller,
as she sprang to her feet in sudden
scorn and bitterness.
l. "Your afianced wife!" cried she.
WHAT Sos- soon! oh. rare indeed
must be my opinion of this Lady
.Catharine!"
ct was never my way to waste time
on Journey" said John Law. coolly..
.eYour wife. your affianced wife?"
Gas said"
eyes," cried Mary Connynge, bit
terly. and again, unconsciously and in
sheer anger, falling upon that course
which best served her purpose. "And
what manner of affianced wife is It
would forsake her lover at the first
breath of trouble? My Godi tits then.
it seems to me, a woman would most
swiftly fly to the man she loved"
John Law turned slowly toward her,
his eyes scanning her closely from top
to toe, noting the heaving of her
bosom, the sparkling of her gold-col-
ored eye, now darkened and half ready
to dissolve in tears. He stood as
though he were a Judge, weighing the
evidence before him, calmly. ,dispas-
sionately.
Would you do so much as that.
Mary Connynge?" asked John Law.
81, sir?" she replied. Then why am
here tonight myself? But, God pity
me, what have said? There is moth
ing but misfortune in all my life!"
1t was one rebellious, unsubdued ma
ture speaking to another, and of the
two each was now having its own sharp
suffering. The instant of doubt is the
time of danger. Then comes revulsion,
bitterness, despair, folly. John Law
trod step nearer.
"By God! madam" cried he, 81
would l might believe you. l would
l might believe that you, that any
woman, would come to me at such a
time! But tell me-and l bethink me
my message was not addressed, was
even unsigned-whom then may
trust? If this woman scorns my call
at such time, tell me, whom shall l
hold faithful? Who would come to me
at any time, in any case. in my trouble? ?
Suppose my message were to you?"
Mary Connynge stirred softly under
her deep cloak. Her head was lifted
slightly. the curve Of cheek and chin
showing in the light that fell from the
little lamp. The masses OF her dark
hair lay piled about her face, tumbled
by the sweeping of her hood. Her
: eyes showed TREMENDOUSLY soft and deep
, now as he looked into them. Her lit
tie hands half twitched a trifie from
her lap and reached forward and up
ward. Primitive she might have been,
: wicked she was, sinfully sweet; and
yet she was woman. 1t was with the
voice of tears that she spoke, if one
might claim vocalization for her
> speech.
I Have 1 not Gomez" whispered she.
t by God! Mary Connynge, yes, you
3 have comet" cried Law. And though
t there was heartbreak in his voice, it
3 sounded sweet to the ear of her who
4 heard it, and who now reached up her
arms about his neck.
] "Ah, John Law" said Mary Con-
nynge, when a woman loves-when a
, woman loves. she stops at nothing!"
ITO Be Continued