The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-04-26
CHAPTER XVI.

| The door was suddenly burst open.
Judith appeared.
CHAPTER XVI.
With a faint cry, Clara shrank back.
shuddering. whilst stood motionIess for
| a moment. transAxed with dismay, gag
ing upon our mutual enemy.
my appearance seems 4 pleasure
more startling than agreeable" said
Judith. with that singing irony that
was to me worse rlan her most 6endish
| 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"
Instinctively I had drawn near to
Clara. a. though I 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 he aware, Miss
Clara, that this gentleman and I are
well acquainted. He has not told you
Of our connection, ! presumed"
"No. no: for heavens sake, do not tell
her. II you have any mercy, I implore
you" interrupted, throwing myself up
Oh my knees before her.
l might as well have pleaded to a
hungry tigress. Without deigning to no.
, tice my duplication. she still went on.
in the same strain of cold -blOoded mock
cry. Perhaps you are not aware that
this lover of yours 10 my husband!'
For a moment Clara looked stunned.
bewildered. unable to realize the idea
those words contained: but as l made
IA. .I,N
low cry, and shrank covering into q
corner.
mo. not" 1 exclaimed, In a voice Of
anguish.
II dare you to deny 1t" cried Judith.
Deny 1t IL you cam"
l skunk out Of the room like a beaten
dog. dared not cast even look upon
her. The last blow had fallen: and,
most agonizing thought Of all. I felt that
l had bitterly deserved 1t.
Judith led the way downstairs into
my own room. and I 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 q mo.
ment to her protestations, but ordered
her to quit the room.
had listlessly sat myself upon the
side Of the bed. "Oh, II l could but
die!" thought.
Judith gaxed 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 1t 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 a hint of your
position"
She paused for moment, and then
said. In low voice:
''There has been q curse upon me from
my birth. Ny childhood was passed In
sQualor and degradation. but my soul
| loathed my condition. was exquisite
" sensitive to ridicule. and brimmne
over with self-love: and l was hooted
at for my red hair, and awkward figure,
| and strange eyes. Oh. II 1 had known
| the power there was In those eyes, what
revenge l would have had upon the
Knockers! When my condition was bet
Z.
| | read, l. studied, I cultivated my mind,
| hut my associates wers changed only
from vagabonds to hypocrites. Then I
began to love him. Oh, how I loved
| him! His love was to carry me away
from all this-to regenerats me. And
| then he left me. and Satan filled his
place In my soul There was only one
thing more wanted to complete my do
gradation---to be despissd by you. You
loathe me. and yet you would lay down
your life for that girl! In what is abe
so much my superior? Were you an
emperor. and did you love me with your
whole heart and soul, l could never feel
for you the shadow of love. But still
l am a woman. You are my husband In
name. at least. and ! cannot forgive
your hatred Of me-"
"Wreak what vengeance you please
| upon me; there is no suffering that |
her" | pleaded.
How fortunate 1t is that l have a soul
| above jealousy, or your passionate pray
| ers might have quite an opposite effect
upon me-" she said, sarcastically. Then,
| with change Of tone, Acknowledge
me as your wife before this woman,
! who will be here in the morning, and l
will save this girl. and thus be revenged.
| l would have informed her grandfa ther
Of her whereabouts. and a great deal
more. the moment heard.of it, had 1t
not suited me to keep her here a. an in
strument against you. Render her use
less to me BY consenting to my wishes,
and 1t will suit my purpose to release
her. You know that l could force you
to do this or anything l pleased" she
added. imperiously. without any such
aid, IL 1 chose. Now. will you do what
I require. or will you notr'
u wiily' answered. firmly. What