Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-04-21
CHAPTER XVI.

t CHAPTER XVI.
With faint cry, Clara shrank back,
shuddering, whilst 1 stood metionless for
moment, transfxed with dismay, gaz-
ing upon our mutual enemy.
MY appearance seems pleasure
more startling than agreeable" said
Judith, with that stinging irony that
was to me worse than her most fendish
mood. "One 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, as 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 be aware, Miss
Clara, that this gentleman and 1 are
well acquainted. He has not told you
of our connection, presumeT
mo, no; for heavens sake, do not tell
her, if you have any mercy, 1 implore
your 1 interrupted, throwing myself up
on my knees before her.
1 might as well have pleaded to q
hungry tigress. Without deigning to no
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 moment Clara looked stunned,
| bewildered, unable to realize the idea
those words contained; but as 1 made
a movement towards her, she uttered a
low cry, and shrank covering into a
corner.
mo, mop I exclaimed, in a voice of
anguish.
81 dare you to deny it," cried Judith.
Deny it if you camp
1 skunk out Of the room like a beaten
| dog. 1 dared not cast even a look upon
| her. The last blow had fallen; and,
most agonizing thought Of all, felt that
I 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, for
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.
1 had hstlessly sat myself upon the
side Of the bed. "Oh, If 1 could but
| die!' I thought.
Judith gazed 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 it not for your conduct to that
! girl, I could pity you; but you have
behaved to her like a dishonorable cur:
you haves gained her affections without
giving her the shadow Of hint of your
position"
| She paused for moment, and then
said, in low voice:
| "There has been a curse upon me from
my birth. My childhood was passed in
squalor and degradation, but my soul
loathed my condition. 1 was exquisite
ly sensitive to ridicule, and brimming
over with self-love; and 1 was hooted
at for my red hair, and awkward figure,
and strange eyes. Oh, If had known
the power there was in those eyes, what
| a revenge I would have had upon the
mockers! When my condition was bet
| tered, l tried hard to cast away the past
l read, studied, cultivated my mind
but my associates were changed only
| from yagabonds to hypocrites. Then I
began to love him! Oh, how 1 loved
him! His love was to carry me away
| from all this-to regenerate me. And
| then he left me, and Satan filed his
place in my SOUL There was only one
/ thing more wanted to complete my de-
gradation-to be despised by you You
loathe me, and yet you would lay down
your life for that girl! In what is she
| so much my superior? Were you an
l
| whole heart and soul, l could never feel
for you the shadow of love. But still
l am woman. You are my husband in
name, at least, and 1 cannot forgive
your hatred of me-"
"Wreak what vengeance you please
upon me; there is no suffering that I
cannot endure for her sake-to save
her!' l pleaded.
| How fortunate it is that have a soul
| above jealousy, or your passionate pray
ers might have quite an opposite effect
upon me-" she said, sarcastically. Then,
with a change Of tone, Acknowledge
i me as your wife before this woman,
who will be here in the morning, and I
will save this girl, and thus be revenged.
I would have informed her grandfather
of her whereabouts, and great deal
AnOAS, ehe naohAcAe ncdru oA II, ndu IL
not suited me to keep her here as an in
strument against you. Render her use
less to me by consenting to my wishes,
and it will suit my purpose to release
her. You know that could force you
to do this or anything 1 pleased" :" she
added, imperiously, without any such
aid, II l chose. Now, will you do what
require, or viii you not 2"
i II willw answered, firmly. What