Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-23

you find him? You would surely new.
er live with him again, If he treated
you so shamefully?o s.
Not for the world!" she said, with
a faint shudder. Sand yet must find
him. 1t has become the fixed pur-
pose of my life. Some money was
left me a few months ago, and this
enables me to start upon my humiliat
ing quest. Until than was poor.
had to work hard for scanty liv-
ing"
He looked at her keenly.
Il believe" he said, "that you mast
care for him STILL"
1T would cost nue. hardly a pang
to hear that he was dead" she replied.
"'And yet, I must find him. Perhaps
peoples pity had CALLED my pride, and
made me determine that my husband
should acknowledge me as his wife
under his right name, although we
should never be more to each other
than mutual bearers of that name"
You are woman whom most men
would be proud to call their wife,
he answered, seriously.
-
When they reached London Mrs.
Poole gave him all the knowledge she
possessed of her missing husband. The
details were rneager enough, and she
hadn't even photograph to aid them.
Stern found that he possessed apti-
tude for detective work, but profitless
weeks passed by.
One afternoon, however, he receiv-
ed a telegram from Mrs. Poole: MY
search is at an end" He went at
once to her rooms.
We met face to face In London
yesterday" she said. For moment
he tried to deny. me; but seeing it
was useless, he hurriedly promised,
upon my giving him my address, to
let me hear from him today! He
would not let me detain him, but
broke away from me in few mo-
ments. was helpless
What shall you do If he does not
write?" I.
But she did not answer him. Her
eyes were staring strangely at an
evening paper which he held in his
hands.
Some words at the top Of page
had caught her gaze She snatched
the paper from his hands with cry,
and read the few lines beneath the
heading.
Isis that his answer?" she ask
ed, in trembling voice.
Stern read where she indicated.
Eve regret to announce that Sir
Stephen lesson met with fatal ac-
scident in the hunting field this morn
ing. 1t will be remembered that the
unfortunate baronet came. into the
title, quite unexpectedly, couple of
years ago, three strong lives having
dropped out. Every one will sympa-
thize with Lady Gertrude lesson,
who, as Lady Gertrude Kingsley, was
the loveliest debutante of her.year."
"He was a villain all through, you
see" said Edith Poole. HE married
this woman while l. still lived. He
has ruined her life as well as mine.
What shall I do? Shall put forth
my right to this mans name, and
take 1t away from her? Or shall /
forever keep back the truth that
would strip her,, everything q, { -; \
He did not answer. His features
were fixed. He saw clearly, like "a
picture before him, a certain scene
In a Mayfair drawing oom--he heard
a woman's hard merciless voice, her
insulting words. He remembered the
utter desolation which this woman
had created in his darkest hour.
Times whirligig had turned indeed,
and brought with 1t this. miraculous
chance of crying quits with the one
whose cruelty 1t had taken him four
years to forget. The temptation grip
ped him. Why should she not be
dragged down into the dust-ter pride
hambled, as nothing else except this
one unlocked for thing could have
power to humble it? The he crushed
down the ignoble desire.
{ AS suddenly as 1t had come up be,
fore him the black past vanished in
cloud of sunshine. out from which
Ddith's pale, serious face. with that
strange, altered look that he had not.
ed in II OF late shnne forth.
What shall do?" she asked again.
Guide me-
+ He took her hand in gentle grasp.
Let this woman keep her empty
honors. And for yourself forget that
you are. this mans widow. Become
my wife"
His tone was unmistakable. She
looked at him with glowing, wonder
ing eyes. He was struck by her
sudden bewildering beauty.
DO YOU mean it?" she whispered.
There was no need for any spoken
answer, and she crept into the shell
ter of strong mans arms held out
to receive her.-Modern Society.
=