The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-07

while the"wrangle still went on down.
stairs.
mo, no." she said, obstinately, II
insist upon your staying. ! like -
have a witness of my own SEX"
| Lord Catherington put an end to the
struggle. ,oo ), -
said, with decision.
And Beatrice. trembling in every
limb, sank into the nearest seat and
sat there with her hands tightly
clasped and her heart beating fast in
an agony of silent despair.
| Whatever came of this, it was ruin
to her and to Ermyn. The truth must
come out; she must suffer not only the
anger and bitter disappointment of the
viscount, but the rage and despair of
the mother of the dead child. For
est were the uppermost feeling in the
Iintruder's mind, the discovery that
Ermyn was not her child at all must
be an equally heavy blow for her.
And now" Lord catherington
then resuming his place on the hearth
rug, from which position he lowered
over her and kept his eyes steadily
upon her face, why is it un just, UNI
generous of me to wish to free both
myself and you from the miserable
position in which we are placed? l
don't wish to reproach you; we've got
beyond that stage, haven't we? You
. ran away from me- you left me of
your own accord; we'll, presumably
you did so because you couldn't be
happy with me any longer. Then why
don't you welcome the chance of be-
ing altogether free, and of allowing
me to resume my freedom, which, in
the circumstances, you can scarcely
/ begrudge me?'
Rosa was sitting very still, looking
Io& hi i11cr
her mouth was very tightly shut; she
listened without so much as a move.
; ment of the hand or head; only hel
!, restless eyes, shifting from side to side
ever so little, betrayed that her MIND
, was as active as her person was calm
When he paused, she said, quite
, gently:
; But I don't want to be free; Tn
very sorry for my headstrong folly II
, running away. But I've done moth
!. ing worse than that, have 1?'
, Lord Catherington stared at her
She, on her side, met his gaze quite
openly, quite steadily, as if she had no
:, thought in the world to conceal from
,, him.
t Nothing worse?" he repeated
: mo, nothing" she insisted, will
| of me- ~
a That's not true interrupted he
: sharply.
q ooh, yes; I think it is. Well,
: thought to rid you of double burden
+ and to come back to my own countr.
!. it; struggler on, and did my best TO-
the child as long as could, and then
> only when I knew you could afford tt
9 keep her better than could, I turned
9 her over to you. I don't say ! wa
wise, don't say I was right; but
| might have done wOrSe'
you did do worse" said Lord Cath
= erington, holly. you seem to forge
: what you said to me when you cam
to the hotel. You said I could get
divorce if liked"
q She did not finch.
;; did I say that?" she said, calmly
d eff so, said it in temper, for it ism
3 true. I defy you to prove it's true"
q There's no need for Defiance" re
It torted he. IT know I've never bee
It your husband. I've met the ma
I, who isl
e Taken altogether by surprise, sh
started and turned pale.
= Bob Burnett" she exclaimed
e "Good gracious! Is he in England 2"
"a That's the man." said Lord Gather
y from the way she took the news tina
IT the mans story was true. TT seem
q you were his wife when you wer
thru the ceremony Of marriage wit
me, therefore you have never bee
Le really my wife at all! You have n
20 right to the name by which you ar
nounced yourself tonight"
q For a moment she was altogethe
e taken aback; she was evidently S
much surprised as to be quite ur
sr prepared with any excuse or defens
and could only sit there, silent an
a uneasy, struck dumb with the une1
m pectedness Of the blow. He used h
e. advantage gently enough.
lie II don't want to be harsh with you
he said. For the sake Of what fe
ct for you once, I couldn't treat you e,
he cept with all possible considerable
10 If you had heard what my solicitor
n, had to say to you, you would ha,
at found that I was prepared to allo
lg you very handsome sum yearly,
Id long, Of course, as you lead the sort
If life which you say you are leading
She looked UP at him furtively, ar
st for the first time there was In HI
le, eyes slightly vindictive expressio
d, 'tAnd that I am also preparedFto bri1
s. up, rrovide for, and educate Il
1fP CE