The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-04
The
Second Wife
VOLUME III.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER ].
With a sigh ne silently stretched out
his hand 10 ring tho bell; but his wife
saw the movement and sprung toward
him In time 10 prevent his grasping the
rope
IT'S OF no use doing that. Ra aoul:
VIII not go with you!" she cried earnest
ly. "Why carry our hateful differences
to Rudsdorf? / will not impose upon my
dear, timid Magnus any such scene; such
a loud uncongenial discussion carried on
there would pain him terribly And as IN
mamma? I shall have hard battle "a
! fight with her when | go back home
! that I don't deceive myself about; but i
! would rather a thousand times rght "
/ with her alone than have you there, too.
She viii take your side directly | know
In her eyes l shall forever and always
bo the one In fault. You are the much
sought after, much -envied lord and mas
/ ter OF Schonwerth Woskerhausen etc,
etc. while am only poor maiden. with
barely a claim 10 become a canoness. and
what Is more natural thar that did not
know how 20 support my new position.
and could not worthly IN the high hon
orable post YOU assigned me-" She spoke
| bitterly her tone of voice almost broken
| I'm Its agony. And for these very rea-
I sons mamma viii do all In her power 10
! hinder our separation. and ] beg. there
fore that We may both he spared
''Do you mean IL. Juiane?" he inter
/ rupted sternlv. Much az 7 should dis
\ like either taking or accepting what is
not given freely then perhaps Il would
| be best In every way 10 leave our separa-
( tion 10 the tender mercy OF your mother:
but Ulrike shall and must now decide
. -.
not deny one iota OF my own faults 1
will tell her tho story from beginning 10
endtel her how the royal coquette
played with me-tell her how this faith
lessness made me what / became
mocking disbelievcr I'm woman's honor
a wicked. restless wanderer who tried TO
drown tho humiliation OF his wounded
pride in the whirl OF unworthy. debasing
pleasures T'lrike shall know from my
own mouth that when every trace Of feel
, ing and passion has died away for this
faithless woman. that longed to have
a complete satisfaction and triumph over
her; anil perhaps your sister will be a
more ltnient Judge OF mems fsilings or
be able 10 take a deeper insight into the
state Of wounded. Inundated mans
soul l will say 10 her. Yes IL is true
Tlriise. that / married Your sister 10 re-
venRe myself on the duchess and punish
tion this royal lady proffers me now but
which I neither can nor wish 10 accept"
He paused FOR few seconds. I'm the
hope that Lame would utter some sym
pathizing word: but her lips remained
firmly closed. and she seemed quite in
different TO his self accusations
*'I'hat young girl that l hardly looked
at the frst time / saw her was perfectly
Indifferent TO me. he resumed presently
i'm a thick, haf-stifed voice IF | had
noticed then the beauty OF her person
and character / should have withdrawn
at once and not allied myself with her.
for / had no desire 10 bind myself by
any sympathetic claim TO any one all I
sought in my wife was soft. gentle ma
ture fitted TO guide and care for my boy
a patient compa for my grabbed
uncle, and one able 10 assume the posi-
tion OF mistress OF my house. 1t was
iea' fully and cruelty selfish OF me- I
know. | was seized with roaming fit !
and began TO go out in the world and /
live over again some of the scenes OF |
adventure | had taken part In before. 10 |
meet again piquant, beautiful women |
and But | was fool and must have |
been struck with blindness. | think The |
white rose from Rudsdorf pricked me |
with an unusupecting thorn the very first /
day she bore my name; that thorn was !
her uHlendnr pride. But she was also /
ve-t wise too. and know how 10 veil her |
wonderful beauty and superior mind l
under a rigid simplicity and repellng re-
ser' 9. and she would not move even her |
lttle 1uger 10 try and win the affection |
OF the man whom she had so thoughtless
ly married And then | shal add 10 N |
rike: And don't think Il ridiculous that
l. who once said can never love. would
row willingly bend my knee to your sis.
ter and entreat her TO pardon me-
Don't you call It sad and painful that
long for and would dearly prize now,
that which a few short weeks ago 7
made no effort 10 gain. ON the contrary.
repulsed and slighted She wants 10 leave
me. she Is full Of suspicion about mo now:
and no wonder. for she has thoroughlv
misunderstood me- IN this matter. Any
other eyes but hers would have seen long
ago how changed I am. and would have
softly and gently spared me the humilia-
tion OF saying. How dear she Is to mel
but she s shy and reserved with me- and |
does not seem 10 understand the power
she has and oblges me To say I'm clear,
distinct words. that II she leaves mo now
! shall bc wretchcd and miserable all my
life. for I can not live without her
While he spoke he had walked quickly
over 10 the window. and there he stood
now: but not once had he dared 20 look
at her till his confession was over Now
he slowly turned his head toward her. for
he heard her move. and longed to sec the
effect his words had produced. She had
cast herself on the nearest armchair and
murmured under her breath. hut too low
for him 10 hear the words: rs IL true
really true9"
To him she appeared too deaply moved
even To speak. but as yct he could not
soc her face and knew not IN she had
the meaning W his confession
Presently he stepped nearer 10 her /
hir lips were very white and his tongue
was parched with anxiety 10 hear her
spesk
Shall l order tho carriage. or have YOU
understood me. and will decide for YOUR
self?' ffs tone was low and vibrating.