The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-04-25
The
Second Wife
VOLUME II.
CHAPTER XII

While the black-robed priest was speak
ing, Lame pressed her hands together on
the top OF the writing table, and leaned
her forehead on her clasped ongers she
longed 10 sink down into tho earth and
hide herself from the unsympa thizing
/ presence OF this man who wounded so ter
ribly her family pride her wtbely dignity,
! and-yes, even her heart
What was 20 follow the comedy he
! had played was perfectly Indifferent 10
/ him" continued the priest In a rapid ut
/ terance, as III he coveted every nying mo-
ment that found him alone IN the pres
and snd without vi S gprotection 10y sHe,sss snT ,5sa
| OF duty, this man had mono m his soul
rs ne proved by his disaracetul neglect
! OF his first wife--a charming loving no.
/ BILE woman''-Llane raised her head now;
] he lied. this priest. She could not have
been noble woman. for she stamped her
feet az the slightest contradiction, and
/ threw knives and scissors AZ those who
vexed her-"and he married her. took her
20 his bosom simply 70 show 20 the royal
lady that he did not grisve oyer her faith
lessness But even her position was en-
viable in contrast 10 yours. dear madame,
for though YOU both we're sacrificed to
his scandelous conceit. yet whereas She
( the first wife-had her fathar 10 protect
| her. you-the second-have the Holman
schall that you; nay. more. he In your
direst enemy. for although be does not
know that the conservation OF this hated
]
paralleled act OF revenge. he does know
that the royal lady would move heaven
I and earth 10 be able yet to Conquer and
satisfy her love-to this end he is her
sternest and warmest ally-for the genoa
| logical table OF the Mainaus would be
crowned with glory II i gould be writ
ten thereon that one OF it's descendants
had allied himself 10 a royal lady"
And | ask YOU again, why DO you tell
me all thisg' she interrupted suddenly
With the same naughty tone and mien as
before. rf
free will. as every one knows. / shall
not interfere with or trouble the duchess
retain the name OF Mainan. I win not al.
low the man to whom I am married TO be
! DETAINED and Elandered In my hearing.
however gnlty or in the wrong he may
be. / must beg you 20 remainder that
reverend sir. Besides should be sorry 10
have 20 decide which was most open 10
censLre-the thoughtlessness OF the man
OF the world or the levity OF tho priest
who knowing as he did the mischief that
was being done. could vehemsntly pray
/ that the blessing Of Heaven might de.
was playing with womens nearts, as Is
/ often the habit OF those Of his class: but
! the other blasphemed God, tnamuch as
! he degraded the altar into a stage. and
under the sanctity OF his prieetly office
performed the part OF a successful actor"
| In her excitement and Indignation she
/ forgot all prudence, all thought OF herself
/ as she continued in a heightened tone:
! And this castle Is as a precipice near
/ which; 10 my husband's honor be It said,
/ he walks In all unconsciousnees, perform
! ing deeds OF which he knows not the i'm.
/ portance: he Is even quite ignorant that
/ the document by which he holds these
4 a forgery"
She ceased. terrified. for the priest dart
! ed forward with an expressive gesture
! as If something had suddenly struck him.
| and opening the inlaid cabinet as quick
| as lightning. he took the paper Lame had
! laid there not quarter OF an hour ago,
! and holding II TO the light OF the lamp.
said:
You mean this document, madame?
| suppose the very learned reasoning lady
put it under her microscope and found
That II was written IN che first IN
stance with a pencil" she added, firmly
quite right. each letter was carefully
traced first with pencil al the window
pane ana then gone over with Ink" he
explained. calmly and quietly. 'T know
exactly how IL was done. and what a
tedious troublesome work II was, for Il
was IL myself-who composed and wrote
that document. OH don't shudder like
that with adherence. dear LADY, Do
you count Il as nothng-toae N not move
you I'm the least-that I thus humble my
self and acknowledge my work openly be-
fore you? You can touch this hand OF
mine without hesitation. and assure your
self that not for gold or londs, not for
Indian wealth or power did a lend itself
70 do that work but from a far higher
and grander motive Could I not Just as
successfully have added money or lands
TO my order when ] was forging that
document? Baron Mainau believes in
the genulneness Of that paper and he
would not have doubted such n deposi-
tion ~ Il had been written there. And
the old gentleman. tho Hofmarschall-
well. for very good reasons he would
have been obliged TO believe it But
such robbery was not my intention; I
only desired possession OF two souls
that tho heathen mothers might be
baptized, and the boys be under control
for the mission work II In the fashion
now 10 hate and persecute this noiseless
resignation Of a passionate mans heart
and soul for the priestly calling, and TO
call it sanaticism not remembering that
iron bars 10 a fireplace cause the flames
20 mount upward and"
And burn heretics" broioe In Lame,
IN an icy tone. as she turned away.
He crushed the paper I'm his hands as
he murmured On a choked voice
'~They are not burned now" Then, as
n struggling with some inward emotion,
he continued: Not the most fervent
prayer nor the most Desperate self
chastsement and modification OF ths
flesh, would induce them 10 begin that
again: but I am consumed with another
fire" lie stretched out his hand, and
held the crushed paper toward her" You
may accuse me OF this forgery. dear lady:
two words from your lips. and with this
damning document In your hand you can
free Gabriel and drag me down from the
high office ] hold. snatching trom me all
the power and influence I have in high
places DO ~ I will not resist not
even 50 much as by n winl1ing of my
eyslid. You may set upon me every one
of my numerous enemies; only grant me
one mercy. and that is, that when you
quit Sohonwerth. ! may be allowed 10
live near you"
Lame looked at the priest a. II petri-