The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-05-11
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XXvI.
With a faint cry. Clara shrank back.
shuddering. whilst l stood motionless for
a moment, transfxed with dismay. gar
ing upon our mutual enemy.
My appearance seems a pleasure
more startling than agreeable" said
Judith. with that singing irony that
was to me worse rhan her most hendish
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 l had drawn near to
Clara. as though l 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 l are
well acquainted. He has not told you
of our connection. l presumeT
"No, no; for heavens sake. do not tell
her. il you have any mercy, l implore
your 1 interrupted. throwing myself up
on my knees before her.
1 might as well have pleaded to
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 husbandr'
For a moment Clara looked stunned.
bewildered. unable to realize the idea
those words contained: but as l made
a movement towards her, she uttered a
low cry, and shrank covering into a
corner.
mo. nor exclaimed, in voice Of
anguish.
Il dare you to deny itr' cried Judith
Deny it if you CAM"
I skunk out of the room like a beaten
dog. l dared not cast even a look upon
her. The last blow had fallen; and,
most agonizing thought Of all. felt that
had bitterly deserved it.
Judith led the way downstairs into |
my own room. and 1 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
/ had listlessly sat myself upon the |
side Of the bed "Oh. il 1 could but |
dier'. l 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,v she said, In a tone different
tor any one she had ever used to me,
were 1t not for your conduct to that
girl. / could pity you; but you have
behaved TO her like a dishonorabIe cur;
~ |
giving her the shadow of hint Of your
position"
She paused for a moment, and then
said. in low voice:
There has been a curse upon me from
my birth. Ny childhood was passed In
squalor and degradation. but my soul
Ioathed my condition. l was exquisite
y sensitive to ridicule. and trimming
over with self-love: and l was booted
1t for my red hair. and awkward figure.
and strange eyes. Oh. il had known
he power there was in those eyes. what
, revenge / would have had upon the
nockers. When my condition was bet
cred. / tried hard to cast away the past.
read. / studied, I cultivated my mind, I
nut my associates were changed only
rom vagabonds to hypocrites. Then I !
,egan to love him,s Oh. how I loved
i'm, His love was to carry me away
rom all this--to regenerate me. And
hen he left me, and Satan filed his !
lace in my soul. There was only one :
hing more wanted to complete my de-
be despised by you. You
oathe me, and yet you would lay down
our life for that girl In what is she q
0 much my superior? Were you an
o,.I a 1O.o |
Fhole heart and SOUL could never feel
or you the shadow OF love. But still
am a woman. You are my husband in
anne, at least, and / cannot forgive b
our hatred Of me-" y
''Wreak whdt vengeance you please
pom me; there is no suffering that / ;,
annot endure for her sake-to save =
err" / pleaded.
How fortunate II is that have a soul X
bove jealousy. or your passionate pray $
RS might have quite an opposite effect
pom me-" she said, sarcastically. Then,
18th a change OF tone, Acknowledge
10 as your wife before this woman,
no will be here In the morning, and / "
ill save this girl, and thus be revenged.
would have informed her grandfather d.
her whereabouts, and a great deal
ore, the moment / heard Of It, had IL
,t suited me to keep her here as an in M
rument against you Render her use
IS to me by consenting to my wishes,
I'd 1t will suit my purpose to release
r. You know that I could force you NJ
do this or anything l pleased" she
Ided. imperiously. without any such &,
d, IL chose. Now, will you do what ~
require, or will you notT
II Wilt" l answered, firmly. What y