The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-08

I face changed A storm of passionate hatred swept across 1t. and 1t seemed like the face of another woman. She l clenched her hands and trembled from ! head to foot. She forgot that she cared | nothing for this man. She only re- membered the shame he had brought upon her. the dishonor he nad thrust into her pure life.
 For brief moment Tankeriane was | staggered by the shock. The hour. which he had long dreaded, had come at last to him. But. he quickly mastered his confusion. His strong mind re- asserted itself. He knew that he would need all his strength, all his coolness. and all his subtlety of intellect
 My dear Laura" he said. with a | laugh, are you mad
 No. am not mad" she exclaimed, though I might have been if had loved you. As 1t is have only to bear the shame of what you have done to me. Thank God. never had any love for you"
 You are not yourself. Laura, he re- piled gently. you have been i'll. Some thing has occurred to upset you. That woman. who has just left. has told you some lie. Surely 1t is better for you ! to ask me for an explanation of what she has told you than to speak 10 me in the way you have just spoken l His words. uttered in disnffied and
  l that Leonore had said a few minutes previously. That is not the kind of justice a man would require" She made an effort to calm herself.
 Give me some explanation" she saio coldiy. '"The woman who has just left has told me that she is your wife. | have no reason to doubt her words. But, for the sake of common justice, ask you whether she has spoken the truth or not?"s
 l "She has not spoken the truth" he re- piled gravely. You are my wife" T could hardly expect you to make any other reply to my question. But, | for all that, you have lied to me, and I know that you have lied to me. be- cause I know that Leonore has spoken | the truth
 'That being being the case" he re- piled sarcisticalIy, fit was hardly nec- essary to ask the question: I can so easily find out the truth" | she continued. 'Leonore can give me all the details. have only to verify them. I intend to leave you tonight. shall stay with Leonore. I shall at You will return to England alone. | once proceed to investigate the matter. If find that Leonore has not spoken the truth. shall returnafo you ana she has spoken the truth. you will nev- | CT see me again
 'The inquiry is hardly likely to be conducted on impartial lines." he re- piled. You have every reason fo. wishing to be rid of me. Under Mrs. BonsaTs guidance you will find no dif- fculty in coming to the conclusion 1 which you desire
 Laura looked at him with contempt. "I wish to learn the truth" she said quietly. T am not looking out for an excuse to leave you. wish to satisfy myself as to the truth. It would be no pleasure to me to do, you an injustice
 William Tankerlane was silent. He had long foreseen the possibility of the present situation. and had resolved, if eyer 1t did occur, to leave the scanty protection. which a tissue of Hes would afford him. and to come out and do bat tie in the open. The situation had. however, been sprung rather suddenly upon him. and it was hard to make up his mind to go back on the words he had spoken in the first stress and con- fusion of the conflict.
 Yet. if he had to confess. 1t .!ould be better to confess now. than have the confession forced on him by the result of Laura's investigations He could. ar any rate, plead to her in the name of love. ask forgiveness. point out how he had sinned through the sheer strength of his passion.
 Laura watched his inscrutable face with neT SLeAuy. IedFlSSS eyes, put could read nothing of the thoughts that were passing through his brain. The long silence was becoming unbearable to a mind that was wrought up to the highest pitch of excitement Would the man never speak? At last, when more than minute had elapsed, she could bear the strain no longer
 "If you have nothing to say to me-" she exclaimed, T will Ko and pack my things. I shall leave the hotel before dinner"
 He made no reply. and she moved away from him towards the door. But before she could reach it, he sprang after her and caught her by the arm.
 Laura" he cried hoarsely, you must not leave me. will not let you leave me-"
 She stopped, but she did not turn her face to his.
 T will not lie to you. Laura" he con- Leonore spoke the truth. She Is Thy wife.'
 Please leave go of my arm she said. you are hurting me"
 Yes, in the eyes of the law she is my wife."he continued. loosing her arm, but in the sight of God you. the woman love, are my wife"
 Tn the sight of God?" queried Laura. turning round on him with eyes that blazed with iscorn. Tn the sight of God? What has God to do with our un- holy union? But I am glad you have | spoken the truth at last. I will wish | you goodbye, here, in this room; now, at this moment Do not let me see you again! Leave the hotel till I have gone from 1t! Every moment that I see you | or hear your voice seems to drive me still deeper into mire" | You shall not go," he cried. T will not let you. Do you realize how much l I love you The mask had dropped from | the mans face. He was in earnest now and the fierce hunger of love was in his eyes. The time for acting had passed. On the brink of a great crisis he bared his heart and soul to the light. No one who looked on his face could doubt that his love was fierce and scorching as the fires of hell.
 T realize what you have done to me" she replied. ito me. the woman you pro- fess to love. I married you to gain your silence, for the sake of the man love. Even an honorable
 marriage was a heavy price to pay.
 But this was not enough for you. | Nothing less than my ruin would sat 1 A little while ago I was an innocent
 girl. Today I am the thing you have
 made me. I wonder that you dare to | speak of love of me. The very word 1 as 1t comes from your lips, is too foul a thing for decent people to listen to-" | 'I love you" he said suddenly clasp
 ing her in his arms, and drawing her | close to him. and I will not let you