The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-21
HIS IDENTITY.
BY NELLrE CRAvEY GILMORE.

fully half an hour. --,--
 .Ts your decision final?' he asked at last.
 q have said so.''
 You, then, in so many words, give me carte blanche to hunt this fellow down and"
 She interrupted him with an emphatic nod.
 Hadn't you better reconsider7 You know what I mean when I say that will"
 T perfectly understand. Edgar. But my mind Is unalterable."
 Hollister sneered. ''Of course. Your attitude Is thoroughly transparent to me You feel confident enough of your ability to protect this scoundrel and yourself"
 The look on his wife's face stopped him. Tt Is unnecessary to prolong this," she said. rising, you have taken your attitude which you assert Is final. and I-I have done the same. Just one last word: If you ever find out that you have made a grave mistake. the time will be too late. shall not ask you to honor me with your trust again; once is sufficient-nay. super fiuous-as has been demonstrated. Had you seen fit to listen to me for one moment in reason and faith-every- thing might have been different But when, on the other hand. you chose to insult me (from the beginning), and unheard, why then-we must both sub- init to the inevitable" She swept past him as she finished speaking. and laid her hand on the door-knob.
 But Hoilister intercepted her. taking her roughly be the arm. T will give you one more chance to prove and establish your innocence in my eyes" he said quiveringly. Who was the man, Beatrice?"
 The woman's face did not change a fraction. except perhaps, to grow a shade whiter and a shade more deter mined. 'T cannot tell you," she said.
 You will not tell me-"
 'Very well, then, If that is more agreeable to you; will not"
 "I saw his face once, remember. and the day will come when both you and he will resert most mitterly that
 We ever lived? Doubtless. The day Is already here" She shook off his hand and pulled open the door
 Hollister followed her out into the corridor. There's one thing more," he insisted, 'T have held this back till the last, hoping that you might come to your senses without so violent an incentive. but"
 "weiie'
 'Tf you still persist in your present course. by this time tomorrow, shall have to ask you to-leave my roof"
 Beatrice HolIister seemed to sway. almost imperceptibly for an instant, and strange light flashed in her eyes. but she controlled herself mag nifcently, and acknowledged the threat with a weary shrug: he should never know. as long as they both lived, that he had stabbed her to the heart.
 Hollister went back to the library and threw himself dejectedfy into a chair. Some of his anger had begun to wear off and give place to a miser- able sense of depression and guilt In all the years of their married life. she had not once given him cause for sus- plcion or distrust until yesterday. And ttAt she had given him no small cause on that occasion, he could not doubt. There was the evidence of his own eyes to damn her-and she had nothing. She had only asserted her innocence of wrong, absolutely and emphatically. but in the very face of contrary proofs. He had seen the man put his arm about her and kiss her; he had heard the en- dearing words he used. and those spoken In reply. That was all, but certainly 1t was enough to justify the course he had pursued. But perhaps, after all had he approached, her less insultlngly, there might have been a better chance of learning the truth Her manner. belligerent enough at first, had gradually grown to impress him with an undeniable sense of his own shortcoming and her rightful claim to consideration. Still, she had blamed him for lack of faith. while most posi- lively exhibiting 1t herself!
 A clock somewhere striking nine, reused him from his reflections. He rose abruptly and turned out the gas. Afterward, he saw that the front door was securely bolted, and then went slowly upstairs to his apartments. At the door of hls wIfe's bedroom. he paused moment and listened. There was not a sound. so he supposed she must have retired. He moved away few steps, then, impelled by some un- explainable motive, he turned and went back again. tapping softly against the panel of the door There was no response, and he pushed 1t open slight ly and glanced about the shadowed apartment; no one was there. With terrible sense of foreboding, he en- tered noiselessly. The drawers and closets had all been ransacked, and a general air of desertion prevailed Hol- lister sank down in the nearest chair, and buried his face in his hands and groaned, Once he looked up and about him in sudden fright; the miserable emptiness of the room terrified him be- yond measure. Now that she was gone. a thousand different solutions of what he had taken as incontestible proofs of her guilt. flashed into his brain. He started up from his chair. as though under a lash. and lighted three of the i've gas gets. The first thing that met his glance, was a tiny white note. pinned to the cushion on her dressing table. He unfastened 1t With shaking fingers. and smoothed out the paper.
 Dear Edgar-On the eve of my de- thing. l have decided that after all. I probably owe you some sort of ex- planation of the other night The man was my father He escaped from pri- son last week and appealed to me for help Notwithstanding the circum- stances, l did not-could not refuse. He mas gone away now, and I never expect 10 see him again. When you con ltont"d me with your terrible accusa- tion' the only thought had then was rear Tor my father. I had promis- GU nm under solemn oath to tell no one-not even you-of his escape. Poor old Plan His life had been a fearful ohSSA'and l am afraid he has been far m'% slnned against than shining.
 iou cannot blame me now. Edgar? our lack of trust has wounded me ueyoho description; 1t has driven me, oroKen hearted from your home. If you had only trusted me a little while -lhinss might have been so different! put oy your own request, I am pass lhs out or your home-and life-for- ever, Beatrice