The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-12-21
CHAPTER XXyI.

WIN a. lulHI Wy, 1ldIb ShIdIh DVNh,
shuddering, whilst | stood motionlcss for
a moment, transfixed with dismay, saz-
ing upon our mutual enemy.
MY appearance seems a pleasure
more startling than agreeable" said
Judith, with that singing irony that
was to me worse than her most tiendish
mood. zone would suppose you were
about to leave the house without one
word OF adieu to your host or hostess.
But we do not part with our guests so
easily"
In~stinctively l had drawn near to
Clara, as though | would protect her.
She had sunk into a chair, trembling,
not daring to cast a glance at Judith,
who had now advanced into the room.
you do not seem to be aware, Miss
Clara, that this gentleman and | are
well acquainted. He has not told you
of our connection, l ~presume?'
mo, no; for heavens sake, do not tell
her, If you have any mercy, l implore
you!" l interrupted, throwing myself up
on my knees before her,
| might as well have pleaded to a
hungry tigress. Without deigning to no.
tice my supplication. she still went on,
III III Sullt SIIdiH VI tOlu-DlDONltl HUN
cry. perhaps you are not aware that
this lover of yours is my husband!!'
For a momen Clara looked stunned,
bewildered. unable to realize the idea
those words contained; but as | made
a movement towards her, she uttered a
low cry, and shrank covering into Il
corner
mo, nor / exclaimed, in "A voice of
anguish.
Il dare you to deny it," cried Judith.
Deny 1t If you CAM
=
/ skunk out of the room like a beaten
dog. | dared not cast even a look upon
her. The last blow had fallen; and,
most agonizing thought of all, / felt that
l had bitterly deserved it.
Judith led the way downstairs into
my own room, and l mechanically fol-
lowed. She reprimanded the nurse, who
awoke in a fright at our entrance, for
her negligence in suffering me to leave
the chamber; would not listen for a mo-
ment to her protostations. but ordered
her to quit the room.
l had listlessly sat myself upon the
side of the bed. 'Oh, If L could but
ule. L InOuRnt
Judith gazed at me i~ntently for a mo-
ment, and something almost akin to pity
anne into her face at the sight Of my
despair.
'Silas," she said. in a tone different
to any one she had ever used to me,
"were 1t not for your conduct to that
girl. | could pity you: but you have
behaved to her like a d~ishonorable cur:
you have gained her affections without
giving her the shadow Of a hint of your
position"
She paused for a moment, and then
said, in a low voice:
There has been a curse upon me from
my birth. Ny childhood was passed in
squalor aud degradation, but my soul
loathed my condition. l was exquisite
~ sensitive to ridicule. and brimp,ing
owe with %self-love; and l was hooted
at for my red hair, and awkward figure,
and strange eyes. Oh. lie I had known
the power there was in those eyes, what
d revenge l would have had upon the
Knockers! When my condition was bet
tered, l tried hard to cast away the past.
l read. / studied. l cultivated my mind,
but my associates were changed only
from vagabonds to hypocrites. Then 1
began to love him! Oh, how / loved
him! His love vas to carry me away
from all this-to regenerate me. And
then he left me, and Satan filed his
place in my soul. There was only one
thing more wanted TO completes my de
grsdation-to be despised BY you. You
loathe me. and yet you would lay down
your life for that Eiri! In what Is she