The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-03-10

II trust | may keep my counsel in a
matter which comes so close to me-"
eyes, truly" replied Mary Connynge,
'1f you had set your heart upon a
kindly answer"
What! You mean, then, that
She
DO you promise?'
Il promise" he cried "And now,
tell me what answer had the Lady
Catharine Knollys."
"She declined to answer" said Mary
Connynge, slowly and evenly. DE
clined to come. She said that she was
i'll enough pleased to hear of your
brawling. Said that she doubted not
the law would punish you, nor doubted
that the law was just"
John Law half whirled upon his
heel. smote his hands together and
laughed loud and bitterly.
Madam" said he, Il had never
thought to say it to woman, but in
very justice l must tell you that I
see quite through this shallow false
hood"
Sir" said Mary Connynge, her hands
clutching at the arms of her chair,
"this is unusual speech to LADY,"
But your story, madam, i most
unusual"
Tell me, then, why should l be
here?" burst out the girl. What is it
to me? Why should l care what the
Lady Catharine says or does? Why
should l risk my own name to come
of this errand in the night? Now let
me pass, for shall leave YOU
The swift jealous rage Of Mary
Connynge was unprecedented, yet
nothing had better served her real
purpose. The stubborn nature of Law
was ever ready for a challenge. He
caught her arm, and placed her not
unkindly upon the chair.
"By heaven, | half believe what you
say is true!" said he, as though to
himself.
"Yet you just said twas false" said
the girl, her eyes flashing.
Il meant that what you add Is true,
and hence the first also must be be-
lieved. Then you saw my messenger"
Il did, since it so fell out"
But you did not read the real mes
sage. | asked no aid of any one for
my escape | but asked her to come
In sheer truth, | wished but to sec
her."
And by what right could you ex-
pect that?"
II asked her as my affianced wife"
replied John Law.
Mary Connynge stood an inch taller.
as she sprang to her feet in sudden
scorn and bitterness.
your affanced wife!" cried she.
What! So soon! Oh, rare indeed
must be my opinion of this Lady
Catharine!"
1T was never my way to waste time
on journey" said John Law, coolly.
''Your wife, your afiianced wife,"
CAS- | 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 atIianced wife is It
would forsake her lover at the first
breath of trouble? My God! It's then.
it seems to me, 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 Judge, weighing the
evidence before him, calmly, dispas-
sionately.
would you do so much as that,
Mary Connynge?" asked John Law.
Il, sir?" she replied. "Then why am
| here tonight myself? But, God pity
me, what have l 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, II
would | might believe you. l would
l might believe that you, that any
Woman, would come to me at such
time. But tell me-and | bethink me
my message was not addressed, was
even unsigned-whom then may
trust? II this woman scorns my call
at such time, tell me, whom shall
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 trife from
her lap and reached forward and up
ward. Primitive she might have been,
wicked she was, snfully sweet: and
yet she was woman. 1t was with the
voice of tears that she spoke, If one
might claim vocalization for her
speech.
Have | not Gomez" whispered She
by God! Mary Connynge, yes, you
bou rnryonip oriaI I MI