Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-03-23

aSobA MuuAu uAuo any OF the marin you
have worked me! But it is all over, and
the next thing you win hear Is that
have killed myselfr'
Why do you hate me 50 bitterly,
Pauliner' he asked; and he studied her
attentiyely while she answered:
Because you have been by evil
genius ever since l became your wife
If had not married you my life might
have been as happy and pleasant a.
other women's lives are. No sooner did
know that was my uncle's heiress than
my happiness was destroyed by hearing
that | was to inherit only on the condi
ton that did not marry without my
guardians consent. Thanks to you, this
condition was already broken; and my
six years of possession have been en-
FILTERED by the certainty in my own
mind that you were alive somewhere
and would surely find me some day,
and deprive me of all that had risked
so much to obtain"
Polling sighed heavily and took up his
hat.
You win let me come and see you
again?"
Why? You do not care for me in.
the least. Why should you take 80 much
trouble to be civil to met"
you are my wife. No amount of dis
like or shortcomings on your part alters
that fact. We have been very unfortu-
nate in the past. can see you are UNI
happy; and, in an indirect way, / am
the cause Of your unhappiness. would
give q great deal to make things brighter
for you, If you would let me"
She was touched by the earnestness
of his manner and tone.
"YOu are very good" she said; "and
am sorry l behaved 80 badly to you"
She stood silent for a few moments,
Polling watching her quietly; while they
so stood the clock on the mantelpiece
struck IL.
you must go now" she told him
hurriedly. II have an appointment to
ride with some friends. Come again at
this time tomorrow"
He did not attempt any outward dis
play of affection, but passed down the
stairs. He met Babette half way down.
with whom does your mistress ride
tO-dayY' he asked.
with the Baroness de Belette"-a
woman well known for the pertinacity
with which she had chung to the extreme
edge of respectable society for the last
five years. "They have a wager as to
who will ride the greatest distance on
horse belonging to Monsieur Crevin
which has always refused to carry a
lady"
Polling went on with a little unac-
knowledged anxiety in his heart. He
would go back and try to dissuade Pau
line from this mad freak, but that he
knew 1t would be useless; and any show
of authority on his part just now might
perhaps undo the little good he believed
he had accomplished.
He drove straight back to the hotel
and sat with his chin resting on his
hands at the little table in the window
of his room. He was in a strange state
of mingled hope and dread. He did not
know what he wished; he only knew that
he meant to do what he conceived to be
his duty; the rest he must leave in higher
hands.
While thus musing over the past, he
was brought back to the present by the
sight of his wife cantering by in COM
pany with several others; and, following
them, he noticed fidgety chestnut horse,
with a side-saddle on, which was being
led by a groom. Pauline looked up and
DUWGu BIdNSlyt lie T6LuIueu the
How handsome she looked! How well
she sat her horse! How proud he might
have been of her if she had never allow
ed the love of riches to crowd the wom-
anliness out of her heart! He leaned
forward and watched her as far as he
could see from the window.
An hour later Polling was stopping
over his wife's poor crushed body in one
of the little chatlets in the Bots de Bou-
logne. She had been thrown and tram
pied on, and was dying of internal hem
orrhage. Her voice was very low, and
her words came slowly, with many
pauses.
at is heavens justice! After you
had gone this morning ! made up my
mind to do as you wished. / thought
1 would try to love you--you were so
good-and we should be-happy togeth-
er. 1 had no right to be happy-after
my wickedness, and heaven has-settled
it!'
''My poor mistaken girlp'
Eyes, that is true I've been mis-
taken all-my life. No one ever-tried
to make me good. was always left to
servants-when l was-a child. Heaven
is just, and the great Judge will re-
member my-great temptations. Will
you kiss me-just once, Alec? Say you
forgive met will make my mind
easier"
In spite of his efforts not to disturb
her last moments by any show of feel
ing, large tear dropped upon her face.
She looked at him wonderingly, and put
up her finger to his cheek.
For me-" she said very softly-"you
cry for me. l do not deserve-to have
one mourner-at my death bed / have
done evil to every one-but Jack. Give
him my No. / win not leave mes
sages; they might bring a curse"
Aao%bo. .roe,,, .os,o1 10.