Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1905-06-02
CHAPTER XVI.

With faint cry, Clara shrank back,
shuddering, whilst | stood motionless for
moment, transfxed with dismay, gaz-
ing upon our mutual enemy.
my appearance seems pleasure
more startling than agreeable" said
Judith. with that singing irony that
was to me worse rnan her most fendsh
mood. zone would suppose you were
about to leave the house without one
word of adieu to your host OF hostess.
But we do not part with our guests so
easily"
Instinctively I had drawn near to
Clara. as though l would protect her.
She had sunk into a chair, trembling,
not daring to cast 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, IL you have any mercy, I implore
you'll" l interrupted, throwing myself up
OH my knees before her.
/ might as well have pleaded to a
hungry tigress. Without deigning to no
tice my supplcation, she still went on,
in the same strain Of cold-blooded mock
cry. Perhaps you are not aware that
this lover of yours is my husband"
For a moment Clara looked stunned,
bewildered. unable to realize the idea
those words contained but as l made
a movement towards her, she uttered
low cry, and shrank covering into
corner.
'No. mo-" l exclaimed, In a voice of
anguish.
Il dare you to deny itw cried Judith.
Deny it If you camp
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 protestations, but ordered
her to quit the room.
l had listlessly sat myself upon the
side OF the bed. "Oh, IL / could but
die" l thought.
Judith gazed at me intently for a mo-
ment, and something almost akin to pity
came 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 it not for your conduct to that
girl, l could pity you; but you have
behaved to her like a dishonorable cur;
you have gained her affections without
giving her the shadow Of hint Of your
position"
She paused for moment, and then
said, In a low voice:
There has been a curse upon me from
my birth. My childhood was passed in
sQualor and degradation, but my soul
loathed my condition. l was exquisite
ly sensitive TO ridicule. and trimming
over with self-love; and l was hooted
at for my red hair, and awkward figure,
and strange eyes. Oh, IL l had known
the power there was in those eyes, what
revenge l would have had upon the
mockersl When my condition was bet
tered, tried hard to cast away the past.
read, l studied, l cultivated my mind,
but my associates were changed only
from vagabonds to hypocrites. Then /
began to love himl Oh, how 1 loved
himl His love was 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 complete my de-
gradation-to be despised by you. You
loathe me. and yet you would lay down
your life for that grill In what Is she