Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-06-02
CHAPTER XXYI.

T With a faint cry, Clara shrank back,
shuddering whilst l stood motionless for
a moment, transfxed with dismay, gaz-
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 rnan her most hendish
mood. some 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 / had drawn near to
Clara, as though l 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 presumed"
"No, no; for heavens sake, do not tell
her, if you have any mercy, / implore
your l interrupted, throwing myself up
on my knees before her.
l might as we'll have pleaded to
hungry tigress. Without deigning to mo-
tice my supplication, 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 1 made
movement towards her, she uttered a
low cry, and shrank covering into a
corner.
mo, MOI 1 exclaimed, in voice of
anguish.
4 dare you to deny itP' cried Judith.
'Deny it if you cant"
skunk out of the room like beaten
dog / dared not cast even a look upon
her. The last blow had fallen; and,
most agonizing thought of all, felt that
1 had bitterly deserved it.
Judith led the way downstairs into
my own room, and / mechanically fol
/ lowed. She reprimanded the nurse, who
awoke in a fright at our entrance, fol
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.
had listlessly sat myself upon th'
side of the bed. ooh, if l could but
die!" / thought.
Judith gazed at me intently for a mo
ment, and something almost akin to pit!
came into her face at the sight Of my
despair.
"Silas," she said, in a tone differen
to any one she had ever. used to me
"were it not for your conduct to tina
J girl, l could pity you; but you hav,
! behaved to her like a dishonorable cur
J you have gained her affections withOu
giving her the shadow of a hint Of you
position"
She paused for a moment, and the
said, in low voice:
] ''There has been a curse upon me fror
: my birth. My childhood was passed i
2 s0ualor and degradation, but my sou
t loathed my condition. was exquisite
j ly sensitive to ridicule. and brimmin
, over with self-love; and l was hoote
1 at for my red hair, and awkward igur,
: and strange eyes. Oh, if / had know
! the power there was in those eyes, whs
7 a revenge would have had upon tn
mockersl When my condition was be-
] tered, / tried hard to cast away the pas
s / read, / studied, cultivated my minC
b but my associates were changed onl
from yagabonds 70 hypOcrites. Then
d began to love himl Oh, how love
him! His love was to carry me ava
0 from all this-to degenerate me. An
u then he left me, and Satan filed b
place in my soul. There was only on
t thing more wanted to complete my d
e gradation-to be despised by you. 70
, loathe me, and yet you would lay dow
It your life for that grill In what d 81