The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-04-29

| swim round, and l almost tainted"
"And what did they want Of you?"
cousin John pretended to be very
much in love with me, and proposed that
| we should marry. He said that he had
come from my grandfather, who was
| very angry at my flight, and who would
never forgive me but upon those terms;
but that If I consented, we should at
once return to Rose Cottage, and all
| would be forgiven"
The door was suddenly burst open.
| Judith appeared!
CHAPTER XVI.
With a faint cry, Clara shrank back.
| shuddering, whilst stood motionless fol
moment, trans6xed with dismay. saz.
ing upon our mutual enemy.
"My appearance seems pleasure
more startling than agreeable" said
Judith, with that singing irony that
was to me worse than her most fendish
mood. Zone 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 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 I are
well acquainted. He has not told you
of our connection, presumer'
'No, no; for heavens sake, do not tell
| her, IL you have any mercy, implore
your interrupted. throwing myself up
| on my knees before her.
I might as we'll have pleaded to a
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 a moment Clara looked stunned,
bewildered. unable to realize the idea
those words contained; but as made
| a movement towards her, she uttered a
low cry, and shrank covering into q
corner.
mo, nor' exclaimed, In 4 voice OF
anguish.
II dare you to deny it!' cried Judith.
deny 1t il you cant"
I skunk out Of the room Ike q beaten
dog. dared not cast even 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 l mechanically fol-
| lowed. She reprimanded the nurse, who
awoke in q 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.
had listlessly sat myself upon the
| side Of the bed. "Oh, IL I could but
dier' I thought
Judith gaxed 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. l could pity you: but you have
behaved to her like dishonorable cur;
you have gained her affections without
giving her the shadow Of a hint Of your
position"
| She paused for a moment, and then
said, In low voice:
| There has been curse upon me from
my birth. Ny childhood was passed in
squalor and degradation, but my soul
loathed my condition. I was exquisite
ly sensitive to ridicule, and Drumming
over with self-love; and I was hooted
| at for my red hair, and awkward figure,
and strange eyes. Oh, IL I had known
the power there was in those eyes. what
a revenge I would have had upon the
nockers! When my condition was bet.
tered, 1 tried hard to cast away the past.
l read, studied, cultivated my mind,
but my associates were changed only
from vagabonds to hypocrites. Then /
began to love him! Oh, how l loved
him! His love was to carry me away
from all this-to regenerate me. And
then he left me, and Satan filed hia
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 superior1 Were you an
emperor. aud did you love me with your
whole heart and soul. could never feel
for you the shadow Of love. But still
| am woman. You ara my husband il
name, at least, and I cannot forgive
your hatred Of me-"
"Wreak what vengeance ron please
upon me; there is no suffering that ]
cannot endure for her sake-to save
herr pleaded.
How fortunate It ID that have soul
above jealousy. or your nassi0nafA nrav.