The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-04-15
CHAPTER XIII

o"eAV AApAh foAkt IEuunleu steep, anu
an agony beyond my power to describe.
l made an effort and succeeded In
drawing little apart the curtains at
the foot OF the bed, Almost within my
reach stood table, upon which was
a moderator lamp, burning low. jug,
tumbler, and some bottles.
The faint rays OF the lamp showed me
large. gloomy oak-panelled room. with
the ceiling painted to match. The win
dows opposite me were covered with
heavy curtains, and the furniture was
dark and very old-fashiOned. On one
side was huge fireplace. decorated with
oak carvings; in the CRATE burned q
cheerful IRE. and there. sitting beside II.
doing. with her face half towards me,
was an elderly woman. a stranger to
me.
Having finished my survey. erawIed
back TO my pillow and lay still for a
time, feeling very much exhausted With
my slight exertion- Presently the wom-
an woke up, came to the side Of the bed,
drew the curtains. and looked &C me.
You are better" she said, kindly.
II am 50 glad. You have had a long.
weary time OF IL. but the doctor said
there would be a change one way or the
=
have taken every care OF you"
Tell me, IS Clara foundY' | asked,
eagerly.
"Oh, yes. she's all right. and will come
and see you AZ soon as you grow strong
er, but you mustn't talk, or you'n have
a relapse"
II | had asked for the Emperor Of
Russia, | believe she would have told
-
SION as was better Her answers were
by no means satisfactory, but / could
perceive that it was useless to try TO
extract others from her.
Several days passed. and | sew no
person except the nurse and the doctor.
l put some questions to the latter. but
he answered crabbedly, that IL | wished
to get well. must keep my mind calm,
ind not ask questions. 81
To keep my mind calm with such
memories as were haunting me was i'm
possible, yet, in spite OF my aHxieties,
l grew stronger and better day by day.
But the anguish OF my mind wRxed
strength with my body.
Nurse" said one day. deteru,iE ed
". Il must know where l Rm, under
whose care, and / must have certain
ell | know you are conceaIing these
things from me for a good motive, hut
It Is a mistaken one. Instead Of calm
ing. this incertitude is torturing me. re-
tarding my recovery. For heavens sake,
tell me where | am, whose house tbs Is,
and what people | am with 2
Well. sir" she answered, II am only
obeying my Instructions: II | was 10 20
n I ~
ers and the doctor, too, and I cant at
ford to do that. | win ask leave to tell
you what I know. which I can assure
you is very little. But IL you make haste
and get strong, and get about, you will
be able to hnd out everything for your
self"
That day got out Of bed for the
arst time, and sat at the window. 1t
looked into an extensive garden, eneon-
passed, a. far as / could see, by a high
wall, lined within by rows OF tall poplar
tres My room was upon the ground
Door, and this wall and the trees bound
ed my vision. I could see nAught beyond
them.
One afternoon had fallen asIeep over
the hrr, suddenly | awoke with a Jerk
the rays OF a red. autumn sun we're
sire aiming across me. and falling full
upon the face Of Judith. who was lean
ing against the fireplace. booking ct p,e.
1T FIRST. ! thought II was a specter OF
my sleep. ! could not believe my eyes.
but | wns not long left in doubt ns to
the reality Of the vision. An irouienl
smile curled her lips at the sight os my
dismay.
"A visit from your wife is evidently an
unexpected pleasure" she said, mocking-
~.
could not answer her: could only
bury my face in my hands and shudder |
at her appearance
rs this my reward for al the tender
care thIt has been given you during
your illness for bringing you away
from those wretched lodgings. where |
you might have died7 Our married life
seems likely TO be a bright one"
Would to heaven yOu had left me to |
die" cried. you are no wife Of
mine"
You will find II rather diffcuIt to |
prove that, or to shake me Of"
What pleasure can Il be to you to |
torture me in this mannerT' I cried. |
WHY not leave me 10 myselfY'
Because | hate you. and because |
have motives Of my own. II gives me |
pleasure 70 torture you. No living being |
has ever made me feel 80 deeply the deg |
Of my life as you have: you. a |
spiritiess outcast yon. whom.
as brat, ! have beaten with a rod |
and always despised; you shudder at |
my approach, and turn your eyes from |
me with loathing aud you ask me what |
pleasure It can be to me to torture you, |
From the hour Of my birth, my life has
been one torture. I have ever been the |
victim. At last. the tables are turned |
you are my victim: and as others have |
dealt By me, 70 will deal by you. No
mercy was ever shown TO me: why, then. |
should | show II to othersl"
She was still standing against the fire.
place. I dared not look at her. but / |
could feel the tigerish fsroclty Of her
eyes.
But ] did not come here to rave.
First, came, like a dutiful wife, to |
ny husband on his conya-
lesesnce." she went on, resuming the old