Middletown transcript., 1905-07-22

| would never be bound by the laws OF
any church and though he felt some
pique over her having dalled with-hm
by half promising to join the church, he
was willing-to let the matter lie i'll abey-
ance. 1t was his opinion. in fact, that
her joining under the present clrcum'
stances would be little less than calamity
to the church and perhaps TO himself.
This opinion was corroborated in an un'
mistakable and unpleasant manner that
very afternoon. Jubal Hines, the butcher
| had been absent from church three Sun.
days-an unusual thing for him-and
Trench dropped into the meat shop to
ascertain the cause, although his feelings
for Hines were scarcely those OF sheI-
herd seeking lost lamb.
II haven't seen you out for several
Sundays, Brother Hines" observed the
minister, casually, after talking little.
you may not see me out for several
more,n answered Hines, roughly, as he
sent his cleayer through the backbone OF
hog.
"Why?' asked Trench, with outward
mildness, but beginning to boil within.
Because it's my opinion, if you want
it, Mr.. Trench, that you are running after
Mrs. Pennington altogether too much.
| There's others that think the same.
Trench turned white with rage, but he
managed to say, "Brother Hines, | shall
follow in what | consider the path of my
duty without consulting you or any other
member Of my church." With which he
turned upon his heel and left the shop.
Yet the butchers words ranked in his
heart and rang in his ears over and over
again, with a cruel insistence. In this
morbidly sensitive state, he fancied that
he discovered traces OF disaffection on the
face OF every parishioner he Glanced to
meet.
He reached home in dangerous mood.
One single word from his wife on the
sore subject would probably have cut the
last tie which held them together. For
tuRately she did not speak that word.
But neither did she speak word of cheer
or comfort, for the simple reason that he
dared not lay his bleeding heart before
her. So in his intense craving for SYM
pathy, especially feminine sympathy, in
his desolation, he resolved to 60 and see
Mrs. Pennington again and tell her all.
Three minutes later, he was Fastening,
for the second time that day, up the
shady path to the luxurious home which
was becoming more and more of refuge
for him from world and life which he
was beginning to despise.
He told her all, in choking voice, and
she gave a little cry of sympathy. Never
had her voice vibrated with such sweet
ness before never had he been SO con-
scious before of the rich tide of blood in
her cheek, or the low, graceful curves OF
her body.
"Be brave !" said SHE, tenderly, when
he rose to go. GAN will end right. Re-
member that |, too, have suffered, and
from much the same cause"
They were standing at the door, only
foot or two apart. Her eloquent, SYM
pathetic eyes seemed to be saying a
thousand things that her tongue dared
not frame.
eff we have suffered together" he sud
denly heard himself saying, in strange
voice, perhaps we can find consolation
together"
She looked at him searchingly for an
instant, and then dropped her eyes.
perhaps - she murmured.
Standing there within the charmed
circle of her bewitching presence, he
momentariy forgot his troubles, present
and to come. As he looked down upon
her small, agitated bosom, he knew that
he loved her, and had loved her for
many weeks. 1t was lawless love, and
therefore, once ackn Jwledged, but the
fiercer. That lust Of possession in tie
male which dares even Il ough it die for
it, was on him aud the next instant h r
slender form bent to his passionate ei
b ace as a sapling bends to the ID st.
Her glorious head fell back, uplifting her
face the dark la>hes sank over her melt
ing, half-frightened eyes and then her
hot lips were imprisoned by his.
But, with the sddenness of the light
ning's flash, came the revelations to him
Of the loathsomeness Of his act and con-
scious stricken, he flung her from him.
Yet not before the opposite door had
opened and little Esther bounded into
the room.
ooh, you kissed my mama, Doctor
Trench Y she cried, gaily, as if it were
the finest joke in the world then Selling
the hat she had come for, she lightly
disappeared.
eff she tells, l am ruined !'' said Trench
hoarsely.
Mrs. Pennington, still half stunned by
the violence with which he had repulsed
her, turned upon him a pair of eyes
which burned with the suppressed fury
of the woman scorned.
'She will not tell. Nor shall l." said
she, in weirdly soft voice. "As to your
ruin," she added, with a little laugh as
venomous as the sting OF an asp, "that
will be your own work, not mine"
81 must never, never see you again y
said he, with frozen lips.
mo, you must not-you shall not" she
retorted, scathingly. go, you dog that
would have both the bone in your mouth
and the mirrored one in the creek below
you coward that would enjoy an un-
lawful love without suffering the pains of
the lawless-you weakling that would eat
the fruit of liberty but dare not leave the
shelter Of your prison walls. Go, and
come no more, for my door shall be shut
against you p
He rushed blindly out of the house,
with maniacal desire to shrek and tear
| his hair and rend the lilac bushes with
| his teeth. Then, with the snap of some
| thing within, the fit passed, He became