Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-09

he cared to wait. He nodded assent. He did
not care TO wait, but il was necessary for him
TO do 30.
In an hours time Marie de Ia Mothe ap.
peared She looked radiantly beautiful, and
had evidently spared no time or trouble over
her toilet. As rule he chaffed her about
her unpun ctuality but today he rose TO his feet
and took her hand in silence She glanced at him
uneasily.
What has happened2" she said abruptly.
"The worst" he replied, not daring to look
her straight in the face.
"The bank" she cried, laying hold of his
arm. "Impossibei You told me twenty-four
hours at least-and why are you herej why are
you not-W
"It is not the bank, Marie" he said in a low
voice She loosed his arm and looked xeenly
into his face.
"Not the bankl" she exclaimed, what is IL,
then? Why do you look away from me? What
is it? Something you are afraid to tell me"
''I have come to say goodbye, Marie" he re-
piled, II may not see you again"
Her face grew pale. Her eyes flashed danger
ously and she laughed.
Goodbye" she repeated. eyes, yes, Of
course" she added nervousy ''How you fright
ened me. You go tomorrow, but in months
time-you silly, old Jack, IL is only g. month
after all'' and she clung lovingly to his shoul-
der.
"It is for longer than that, Marie he said,
slowly. Then he swung around sharply and her
hands dropped from his shoulder.
"What has happened" she cried.
"My wife is dead he answered in a low
voice
"Your wife? Dead?" she repeated. you have
not And she shrank from him with a look
of horror.
"I have killed her, he said in hard voice.
"you may well shrink from me. In the eyes Of
the law I am not murderer. But have killed
| 4 I'LL
| The woman's face frightened. '1 do not un-
derstand you, jack she said. "How did she
die? Why do you say that you have killed herr"
"She died natural DEATH" he replied. "She
died of broken heart"
| sudden look of fury into the womans
| face, but it passed quickly as it came She
grew very white and her lips were pressed close
| for quite minute. Then Marie de la Mothe
| came I'D to him and laid one hand upon his
arm.
Jack she whispered, you free"
"1 am Free" he replied mechanically.
"Why do you say the worst has happened"
He was silent. How it be the worst when
vou are free?" she continued. "You did not
love your wife, and she-you have often told me
of your home lfe' She looked up into his
tsss and P zedy at the V Window
F"Why do you not answer?" she murmured.
care you not glad that you are free?
"Marie,' he said, "do you not understand
that what happened last night has made 1t i'm
possible for us to marry?'
'I should have thought" she replied quietly,
"that it has removed the only barrier to our
marriage"
"Do you not understand?'' he continued
scarcely needing her Interruption We'll, l will
try and make it clear to you,' and be told her
briefly the story of the night before
II uaenned iY,,r1a aaaiv
w. for one whose whole fate was bound up in
the narrative. When he had finished, she
laughed.
Il understand" she said, you miserable cow
ard! You do not love me. You have been act
ing lie. You have-bah! why should l talk
of It? You have made the first excuse that
came ready to your hand. 1t is poor one, Jack,
a verv poor one. And /" She sank into a
chair. and, burying her face in her hands, Sob
bed passionately
He came to her side and laid his hand upon
her shoulder. The struggle within him was ter
rible.
But-but this has risen between us. love you,
and it is that which will be my punishment. |
have much to atone for; and then there is my
child"
She did not look up, but her whole body was
shaken with sobs.,
leave England until my wife is buried. And
any moment may be arrested. He is the son
of thief"
"NWhy do you not leave tomorrow, and take
him with you?" she broke in, raising tear
stained face from her hands
"T cannot go until my wife is buried" he
said doggedly.
"Why not!"
81 cannot co." he repeated.
"You mean you will not?"
"I cannot co." he said sternly. 'T have some
decency left in me"
She came close up to him and grasped him by
the arm.
"You must co." she said slowly.
"1 intend to stay"
He had made up his mind on this point, and
nothing could move him now If by going he
could have saved his child from shame he would
have perhaps, yielded But it was merely a
question of his own punishment. Whether he
paid the penalty of his crime, escaped from
Justice, his child's position would be the same.
He would be the son of common felon. For
his own sake it would be best to 90. But he
thrust all thought of self aside
"I intend to stay" he repeated 'T have made
rmy plans The funeral will take place in three
DAYS time It is possible shall not be found
out for week. Directly the funeral is over I
shall leave England"
"Alone?" the woman said, in tender voice
with my child" His voice trembled and
the woman was quick to notice his emotion.
Without word she flung her arms about his
neck, and burst into tears.
Marie, Marie" he whispered, ut is not be-.
cause do not love you that do this. l was
ready to give up everything for you, to leave my
wife, to sacrifice my honor. But what has hap.
pened has risen between us like cloud. II is
better for both of us to part. We can never be
happy with this shadow upon us. am muir
=. nd I uy1n