The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-12

lassAln VIII VII ilmaluIuNUHlUMUil from him. You come here too oft- I en-"
 You did not object to my visits in i Paris"
 Things are different in Paris" she 1 said We are in London, and people are more inquisitive in London. I think it is quite as well that you are going l down into the country" I T am obliged to you for the thought" he retorted sharply T come here often because enjoy your society, because like to see yoi. Is there any harm in it?"
 Leonore shrugged her shoulders, and, walking over to a table took a bunch of violets from a vase. and began to pick off the heads of the flowers. I 'Is there any harm in it. Leonore?" he repeated. following her to the ta- bie, and standing close by her side. She did not answer him. but she ceas- | ed to pluck off the heads of the vio- lets. and stood motionless. Her heart beat very fast and her face was very white, but he could not see these signs l of her emotion.
 Surely it is an innocent amuse- ment," he continued. T do nothing to injure your reputation. think much of your sympatny-of the kindness you have shown me. of"
 She turned round on him with blaz- ing eyes and he shrank from the look fin them.
 Sympathy. she said in a cold voice that contrasted strangely with. the passionate expression of her &face. Kindness? Yes, I have been too kind. too sympathetic. I have done my best to make you forget Laura vane--the woman who has thrown you over for | another man. But you have not for | gotten her. The mere mention of her name sends the blood to your checks One has only to look at you now-oh, You poor. weak fool why can't you be strong enough to forget?" John Shil gazed at her In ama cement and a sudden fear came into his mind. | There was something in the woman's face that even the forced coldness of her voice could not entirely conceal. Had he played the game too seriously? Had he made this woman love him? If ne had done this. he had passed all the limits of honor and morality. He saw himself as contemplate scoun- drel.
 I have forgotten her." he replied mechanically. Laura vane is nothing to me. And Lam grateful--to you for what you have done--for having made me forget her."
 Leonore laughed bitterly, and then crossing the room to small writing table. she unlocked the drawer and took out Laura's telegram. You say that Laura vane is noth- ing to you" she said quietly you say that you have forgotten her I have here telegram which received from her last night. It contains her ad- | dress" For a moment John Shil stood mo- tioniess, His face was very pale and yU q eyes as he gazed at the piece of paper in Leonore's hand.
 WelI! said Leonore coldly as she observed the expression in his eyes. Do you wish to read it?"
 Her address?" he said in a low voice.
 then you have known it all the time. You have kept it srom me-"
 knew it for the first time last night, the woman replied; but even 1T had known it all the time, wouId It not have been right of me to keen 1t from you? Laura is the wife of an- other man. It is best that you two I should never meet again, It is tha only thing that will ensure your hap- piness. You yourself have realized mat; you yourself have said Laura | ten her."
 There was ring of sarcasm in La- onore's voiceNas she uttered these last ] words, and look of scorn on her face as she watched the countenance of tbe man she loved.
 For few moments, indeed, John onhs thoughts were plainly written I on his face. His first impulse was to springs forward. and snatch the tsIse gram from her hand. His second Nfo ask for 1t. to plead for it, and give inc | lie To his own words P,+ he restraned himself and kent silence Leonore had been good friend to him, and he did moi wish to lose her friendship. He saw the possibility of obtaining the informa tio,, he desired without asking for if Ha was silent. and then, realizing that spoke "e | You are quite right" he said in a | Vo,ce that was almost unnaturally calm. Please forgive me for suggest ing tnat you kept this information from me am sure you did nothing of tba Kind: But even if you had done so, you would have been cutie right. It would have only been done from the hest ana kindest of motives. do not wish to know Laura's address. But I should like to know if she Is well and happy" I Leonore was silent, but she still kept her eyes on the mans face, It would be easy enough to tell John Shil thaI | Laura was both we'll and happy. and there the matter would have culne to an end. But Leonore's desire to do the right thing, and to ac for the hapui- ness of her two friends, had already giyen'way to more selfish motives. For the first time in her life she was ieal- ous of another woman, and her Jealousy stung her to madness. She resolved to find out once for all whether this man still loved Laura Vane.
 .Is she well and happy" John ShiI repeated fin a voice mat he meant to express a merely polite interest inaa friends welfare.
 'No." Leonore replied. q am afraid she is neither well nor happy. She is in great trouble, and she wishes to see i me at once"
 Tn great trouble?' he said mechanic ally. Laura in great trouble? He paused, and then, as though annihilated by a swift and stupendous blow, his self-control was shattered, the mask on his face was broken, and his naked soul stood out with nothing to conceal it from the woman who faced him.
 By God" he cried. If he has made her suffer, if he has ill-treated her, IL he has harmed a hair of herhead-" and then he stopped, shamed for a mo- ment into silence by the piteous look in Leonore's eyes. But the man was un- able to regain control of his feelings. His brain was in a fiery tumult, and his