The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-09-27


woman in pain. Thirty years after
he could shut his eyes and see that
gloomy, paper-littered room, with
the trim. small figure in the grey
gown throned upon his big chair,
reading the scrawled pages, and
growing whittier and more rigid with
every line.
"'Yours very sincerely, Reuben
Shaw" she repeated in a scorn-
full, far-away voice; 'yours-very
sincerely
'If ever you ceased!" she said;
then you do love me still! No. no!
let me think what it says"
She went of upon a strained.
high recitative, innocent Of full
stops.
"It says that you love me, and
will never love anyone else; that
your people are poor and that you
are poor. and that am poor, and
that your mother wants you to
marry someone who is very rich
and very fond of you: that you are
going to 1t for your peoples sake,
and that you are only mine very
sincerely, Reuben Shaw He is a
wise man and a lawyer, this Reu-
ben Shaw" Her voice broke sud-
denly; she lifted her shoulders and
burst out laughing. The unreal mer-
riment ended abruptly.
What Is that picture with it's
face to the wall? Some woman,
Lawyer Reuben, n'est-ce-pas
She ran across and turned it
round.
"Ah, the rich woman, Reuben
Shaw, by her diamond rings and
lily-white hands. Tell me, is it not
she? What is her name? Since
she is to supplant me l have a
right to know"
Isabel" said Shaw, bewildered
into candor by her rapid changes
of mood.
back against the wall with a long
look at the pictured face.
do you know" she began gaily,
that | came here this morning on
legal business, Reuben? Listen.
My great-uncle, very rich old man,
who was squire or something of
Isabel already. Very well, Miss
Isabel and she set the portrait
that sort in Kent, has died. and
there is no relation nearer than l..
| saw his death in the papers. |
am going to put in my claim, and
so came to ask if you would take
my case, and make me a rich little
woman. Reuben dear"
She studied him acutely while
she built up her careful sentences
welded desperation of fear and
love quivering in her voice-and
saw with relief his indecision verge
upon surrender as her accustomed
influence regained it's hold. He
snatched her to him.
Miss Ireson flung her arms about
him feverishly. and with a shudder-
ing sigh, relapsed into quiescent en-
joyment of his caresses. He bent
to kiss her, but she put up a reso-
lutte hand and covered his mouth.
Say you hate the Isabel crea-
ture," demanded Miss Ireson.
II hate Thea moment, dear.
Here is Hayes about something"
He put her into his chair again.
well, Hayes?"
"Sir Alfred Scott to see you, sir.
He says it is exceedingly important
that he should speak with you for
a few moments.
Very well. Hayes, I will come
down to the hail." said Reuben
Shaw, and the door closed silently.
What are these things, Reub-
en-" asked Miss Ireson, when the
door opened again.
What things, my darling? Oh,
don't touch them-they are some of
the evidences in a murder case of
mine. Mind. for Gods sake, Ruth!
that dagger is poisoned. Don't
laugh, darling. See. this tiny bottle
holds the same poison as is on the
blade"
What sort of poison is it?" per-
sisted Miss Ireson.
you morbid creature! The sort
of poison that II took a sip of it
don't be afraid, little woman, I'm
not going to-would let me walk
from here to the Tower without
feeling anything wrong. Then I
should go out like candle in a
draught." Come and sit down and
talk business. About this great for.
tune of yours?'
Miss lreson leaned against the
side table. playing with the tiiminu-
tive green bottle. 1t was a second
before she answered.
Il lied to you. Reuben. my dear;
wanted you to make much of me