Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-05-20

-httiAui httf anu theres sitting beside IT,
doing, with her face half towards me-
was an elderly woman. a stranger to
me.
Having finished my survey, | crawed
back to my pillow and lay still for
time, feeling very much exhausted with
my slight exertion. Presently the wom-
an woke up, came to the side OF the he'd.
drew the curtains, and looked at me.
you are better" she said, kindly.
81 am so glad. You have had long.
weary time OF 1t, but the doctor said
there would be a change one way or the
other tonight You're with friends, who
have taken every care Of you"
Tell me, is Clara foundT l asked,
eagerly.
"Oh, yes she's all right, and will come
and see you Gs soon as you grow strong
er. but you mustn't talk, or you'll have
a relapse"
If had asked for the Emperor Of
Russia, l believe she would have told
me that he was coming to see me as
soon as | was better. Her answers were
by no means satisfactory, but l could
perceive that it was useless to try TO
extract others from her.
Several days passed, and | saw no
person except the nurse and the doctor.
put some questions to the latter, but
he answered crabbedly. that If wished
to get well, must keep my mind calm,
and not ask questions.
To keep my mind calm with such
memories as were haunting me was inn
possible, yet, in spite of my anxieties,
/ grew stronger and better day by day
But the anguish Of my mind waxed
strength with my body.
Nurse" l said one day, determined
w. Il must know where | am, under
whose care, and / must have certain
questions OF vital Importance to me solv-
ell. | know you are concealing these
things from me for a good motive, hut
it is a mistaken one. Instead of calm
ing. this incertitude is torturing me, re-
tarding my recovery. For heavens sake,
tell me where | am, whose house this is,
aud what people l am with?"
"Well. sir" she answered, 81 am only
obeying my instructions; If was to go
from them, | should offend my employ
ers and the doctor, too, and l can't af-
ford to do that. l will ask leave to tell
you what | know, which l can assure
you is very little. But il you make haste
and get strong, and get about, you will
be able to find out everything for your
self"
That day l got out of bed for the
first time, and sat at the window. 1t
looked into an extensive garden, encoin-
passed, as far as | could see, by high
wall lined within by rows of tall poplar
trees. My room was upon the ground
floor, and this wall and the trees bound
ed my vision. | could see naught beyond
them.
One afternoon had fallen asleep over
the FIRE. suddenly | awoke with a jerk;
the rays of a red. autumn sun were
streaming across me. and falling full
upon the face Of Judith, who was lean
ing against the fireplace, looking at me.
At first | thought il was a specter Of
my sleep. l could not believe my eyes:
but | was not long left in doubt as to
the reality Of the vision. An ironical
smile curled her lips at the sight Of my
tlismay.
"A visit from your wife is evidently an
unexpected pleasure" she said, hooking
ly.
could not answer her; | could only
bury my face in my hands and shudder
at her appearance.
as this my reward for all the tender
care that has been given you during
your illness for bringing you away
from those wretched lodgings. where
you might have died? Our married life
seems likely to be a bright one"
would to heaven you had left me Ia
dier l cried. you are no wife OF
mine"
You will find it rather difficult to
prove that OF to shake me off,"
what pleasure can 1t be TO you tc
| torture me In this mannerY l cried
''Why not leave me to myself?'
Because l hate you, and because
have motives OF my own. II gives me
pleasure to torture you. No living beins
has ever made me feel so deeply the deg
radiation OF my life as you have; you. 6
miserable, spiritless outcast; you. whom
as a brat, | have beaten with n rod
and always despised; you shudder a
my approach. and turn your eyes from
me with loathing; and you ask me wha
pleasure it can be to me to torture you
From the hour of my birth, my life hai
been one torture. | have ever been tn,
victim. At last, the tables are turne,
you are my victim and as others hav,
dealt by me, so will | deal by youl n,
mercy was ever shown to me; why, then
should l show it to others?"
She was still standing against the fire
place. | dared not look at her, but
could feel the tigerish ferocity of he
eyes.
But did not come here to rave
First, | came. like a dutiful wife, T.
congratulate my husband on his conva
lescence." she went on, resuming the oil
irony of voice; land to comfort hin
with the knowledge that he Is in affec
Tomato hands; and. in the second place
10 arrange certain matters OF bushes
with him, which, II he will oblige m
with few moments attention, wi
explain. In the course of tomorrow
woman will come herein short, tn
v, man who committed you to my faith
ers charge. I require that you shal
unliesitntingly acknowledge me as you
wilc in her presence"
Never" | exclaimed, firmly. "Yo
may kill me, but l will never utter sue
wordsw
81 have the means Of forcing you I
speak them. or any other words that
may choose to dictate to you"
, At that moment the door was throw
open. | turned my head and saw NJ
Rodwell standing upon the threshold.
CHAPTER XXIV.
! was sitting in a large easy chat
? with my back towards the door. and h
did not see me for a time, although. b
sidelong glance. l could distinctly Sc
him. He started at the sight OF judith