Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-02-08

the door
Il shall see Nj. Temple, papa, and
will give him these"
And tell him." he called after her,
that make it a condition that the
picture shall be exhibited. Mind
that, Leslie."
YES, yes" she responded, and ran
out.
She drew her breath hard as she
paused for moment on the doorstep;
then she hurried to the quay.
A fisherman was drying his net in
the sun; but there was no one else
there, and she walked up and down,
the note in her hand, repeating to
herself the formula Of hope The
woman, Finetta, had lied to and de-
ceived her. All would be we'll Yorke
would be her Yorke still.
She had not been walking thus very
long before the bath-char, wheeled by
Grey, was seen coming on the quay.
She hurried toward it, and the
duke motioned to Grey to stop.
"Good-mornng, Miss Leslie" he
! said, peerng up at her. 1T is a fine
morning, isn't it?p Then he paused
and scanned her face curiously and
earnestly. rs there anything the
matter?"
"The matter?" she repeated, with a
laugh that sounded in her own ears
hollo and unnatural what should
be the matter? | have brought you
fathers receipt and note, Mr.. Tenn
! pie"
He took it and glanced at it.
"Humph!" he said. "Oh, yes; I'll
do anything your father wishes. And
there is nothing the matter, Miss
Leslie?" and he peered up at her
curiously from under his thick brows,
"Nothing-nothing'" she responded,
painting But wanted to ask you
the duke-the Duke of Rothbury-"
His pale face flushed and he mo-
tened to Grey to withdraw out of
hearing.
q thought So" he said. Miss
Leslie sick men like me acquire q
kind of second sight Directly | saw
you just now, | knew that you had
learned the truth"
She looked down at him, and her
face, which had been flushed feverish-
ly, paled,
"The truth? ?" she faltered.
Yes" he said, in tone that sug
gested remorse. You have been
cruelty deceived"
"Deceived?" She echoed the word as
if its significance was lost upon her.
"Deceiyed?"
"Yes, cruelty But you must not
blame him altogether"
Blame him Whom?" she said
slowly,
"Yorke- Yorke,' he said, in low
voice. at was as much NY fault as
his. ought to have told you. We
nave both deceived you wickedly, in
eXcustbly"
Leslie put out her hand and caught
the chair, and stood looking down at
him.
Blame me more than him. he
went on Blame us both. We ought
to have told you, at any rate. how
ever we kept other people in the dark.
But he was not free, and well | held
my tongue"
"He was not free?" she murmured,
mechanically,
mo, | don't ask you to forgive us;
you'd find it too hard. don't expect
you ever to understand the motive"
She put out her hand to him.
Wait. Stop! Let me think. He
has deceived me, them"
HE has, and | have-yes,' he said,
averting his eyes from the misery in
her face.
1T is hard and bitter blow,
Leslie" he said after Il pause.
Yes, she responded, almost UNI
consciously. II hoped that-that-
But it does not matter. Nothing mat
tcrs now"
lie lidgeted in his chair, and peered
at her curiously, strangely,
Anyway, you know the truth now
yes. know the truth, now, she
echoed, family "Why'-hoarsely--
why did he do ito"
IT was more my fault than his. |
ought to have told you. | did not
know did not know that YOU would
take it so much to heart. For Gods
sake, don't look so wretched so heart
brol,en," he burst forth. Leslie,
you make one feel like a criminal
She turned her white face to him.
You let me-love him, go on loving
him, knowing all the while
He hung his head and plucked at
the edge of the shawl across his knees.
Il did, he said, in a low voice, I
tell YOU So
God forgive you" she painted. God
forgive you-and him
She stood moment rs II strug'
Cling for breath then turned and