Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1907-03-30

again"
thought l understood. You have
been misled, Mrs. Langdon," said
gently, plying her as the victim of
her insane jealousy. You have
Ask your wife," she interrupted
angrily. Hereafter, you can't pre-
tend ignorance. For I'll at least be
revenged. She failed utterly to trap
him into marriage when she was a
poor girl, and -"
Before you go any further" said
| coldly, let me set you right My
wife was at one time engaged to your
husbands brother, but"
Tom she interrupted And her
laugh made me bite my lip. so she
told you that. | don't see how she
dared. Why, everybody knows that
she and Mowbray were engaged, and
that he broke it off to marry me.
All in an instant everything that
had been confused in my affairs at
home and down town became clear.
| understood why | had been pursued
relentlessly in Wall street; why | had
been unable to make the least i'm.
preston on the barriers between
Anita and myself. You will imagine
that some terrible emotion at once
dominated me. But this is not a
romance; only the yeracious chroni
Gle Of certain husman beings. My
first emotion was-relief that it was
not Tom LangdoO. II ought to have
known she couldn't care for him."
Tom LangdOn for woman's love had
always made me shrink. But Now
bray-that was vastly different My
respect for myself and for Anita rose
NO" said | to Mrs. Langdon, my
wife did not tell me, never spoke OF it,
What said to you was purely guess
of my own. | had no interest in the
matter-and haven't. | have absolute
confidence in my wife. feel ashamed
that you have provoked me into say
ing So" | opened the door.
Il am not going yet said she an
grily. Yesterday morning Mowbray
and she were riding together in the
Riverside drive. Ask her groom"
What Of it," said |. Then, as She
did not rise, l rang the bell. When
the servant came, | said: Please
tell Mrs. Blackjack that Mrs Langdon
is in the library-and that | am. here,
and gave You the message
AS soon as the servant was gone,
she said: NO doubt she'll lie to you
These women that steal other wom-
ems property are usually clever at
fooling their own silly husbands"
Il do not intend to ask her. | re-
piled. TO ask her would be an in
suit
She made mo- comment beyond a
scornful toss OF the head. We both
had our gaze fixed upon the door
through which Anita would enter.
When she finally did appear. I. after
one glance at her, turned-it must
have been triumphantly-upon her
accuser. had not doubted. but
where is the faith that is not the
stronger for confirmation? And con-
firmation there was i'm the very at
mosphere round that stately. still
figure. She looked calmly, first at
Mrs. Langdon, then at me-
II sent for you,- said |, because
thought that you rather than 1, should
request Mrs. I.angdon to leave your
house"
At that Mrs. Langdon was on ner
feet, and blazing Fool" she fisred
at me. "Oh, the fools women make OF
mem" Then to Anita: "You-you
- But no. | must not permit You
to drag me down to your level Tell
your husband-tell him that you were
riding with my husband in the River
side drive yesterday.
| stepped between her and Anita.
my wife will not answer you" said
|. II hope, Madam, you will spare
us the necessity of painful scene
But leave you must-at once
She looked wildly round. clasped
her hands, suddenly bust into tears.
If she had but known, she could have
had her own way after that, without
any attempt from me to oppose her.
For she was evidently unutterably
wretched-and no one knew better
than | the sufferings of unreturned
love. But she had given me up:
slowly, sobbing, she left the room I
opening the door for her and closing
it behind her.
IL almost broke down myself" said
| to Anita. Poor womanl How can
you be SO calm? You women in your
relations with each other area nays.
terry"
Ito be Continuedl