The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-17

loved? An. there was the difficuIfv. there was the crux of the whole prob, rem. IL was to save her lover that she had sacrificed herself in the first tns stance. Perhaps if she deserted her husband, she would undo all the good she had done. She knew nothing of the oath he had sworn to Leonore.
 Ana through all the dreary hours the visions of future happiness flashed ur and disappeared like the gieams or a revolving light. She had thrust aside the distinctions between good and evil. She did not wish to know what religion or marallty or honor required of her. All thoughts of duty | to either God or man had been buried in that tiny grave in the Laverstone churchyard She only wanted to know what would bring most happiness to herself and the man she loved
 But at the end of the two days she had come to no definite decision. The wheel of her thoughts revolved con- tinually. and she always came back to the point from which she had start ed.
 On the third day. however. NSir Yfl- liam Tankerlane asserted his authority as master of the house, and insisted on an interview wife his wife. Laura" he said humbly, as he en- | tered her room and closed the door behind him, T am sorry that had to l insist on seeing you. But 1t is inl- possible forsus to go on like this I | behaved like a brute the other night But l was not in my right senses at the time. The way you left me after the funeral to return here alone the thought of the poor little kid--I had to stupefy my brain with drink. I don't excuse myself. but ask for your for l giveness."
 Laura did not answer him. and she | nnt fttr ha,- him. She was seated in large arm chair facing the window. and she star ed out at the trees in the park; her hands were folded listlessly in her lap, and her whole attitude was one of dreamy indifference. She seemed sim guiarly beautiful in her deep mourn ing. The black dress set off the white ness of her skin. and the giinting cop per of her hair.
 The man paused for second. and bit his lips with vexation. Then he cross ed the room to her side.
 Laurie he said gently. "have you nothing to say to me?N
 Nothing she replied, without turn ing her head.
 Does that mean you refuse to for give mel"
 'It means that cannot forget"
 He seated himself in a chair facing her. and looked into her hard, pitiless eyes.
 Laurie" he said slowly, i've cannot go on like this. It will make life unbearable for both of us"
 You knew. what to expect" she re- piled. You can hardly have expected me to love you"
 'I knew what to expect" he said gravely. but when the child died, thought that perhaps--oh, can't you understand, Laurie? It was our child mot yours, not mine, but ours. And hoped that the loss might bring us nearer together"
 Tt has set us farther apart" she answered co1dly. Tt was for the sake of the child that I married you. And now" She looked at him for feet. You see how God has approved of my sacrifice" she cried fiercely. But am not crushed yet. I still have strength to live my own life. All the better part of me is dead It was buried yonder--in the churchyard. I gave myself to you for the sake of my son. There is no reason now why I should stay with you"
 'only your duty as wife," the man replied.
 Duty" she exclaimed. q have done my duty, and see how acceptable it has been in the sight of God can promise you that henceforth duty will
  science, no honor. no regard for any one but myself. My whole life has been a sacrifice-and it has been all \ in vain."
 May I ask what you intend to dor" he said clamlY.7 What does all this high-flown speech boil down to? Tell me plainly what you are going to do? We may as we'll be honest with each other"
 q do not know yet what am going to do," she replied Tt is possible that I may leave you. and find the happi- ness that can never find here"
 Tn other words" said Tankerlane you are thinking of John Shil"
 She did not answer, but, moving closer to the window, she looked out acroos the park. In the distance the spire of the village church was painly visible through a network of leafless trees.
 q shouldn't go to John Shil. if were you," he continued Tt would not be to his advantage"
 She turned on him savagely. "Ah. you'd speak, would you" she cried. But your oath holds good"
 "I am not sure that 1t does" he TO- piled, but, even if I break it, I shall only be following your example. Per haps I too. am in that frame of mind which can fling honor and morality to the four winds of heaven"
 Please leave me-" she said faintly: "I did not seek this interview. It Is cruel at such a time as this, It is an insult to our dead child. Please leave me. I shall do nothing yet. I must have time to thinks
 "Laurie!" he cried passionatcly. You know how I love you"
 She was silent, and, walking away from him picked up book and open ed it.
 He glanced at her for a moment then the look of entreaty on his face changed to a hard smile and he left the room.
 For a whole month Laura remainedat Tankerlane Court She was rarely seen outside the house and never outside the grounds. He father was the only visitor that she ever received. and though she welcomed his visits as a relief from the monotony of her life she never opened her hart to him, and the old man prayed in vain for some softening influence on the ap- parent hardness of her nature.
 In the neighborhood 1t was rumor- ed that Lady Tankerlane's mind had 1 become unhinged by the death of her oh Id. It was only natural that she should cut herself off from all society; but the servants gossip had reveal ed a most unnatural state of affairs al TankerIane Court It was reported tha tSir William Tankerlane and his 1 wife never met and lived separate lives n the same house. Thata this should be the case, in the face of the recent sad |