The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-07

41,. eyes flashed, and he squared his A.saa .bo,,lders. He was fine figure of a man and the pose suited him We'll vet for all his brave bearing ne was trembling with fear. 1T this woman once learnt the truth. she would teii Laura everything. and the latter wouio accept the shame with resignation, Lnowine that the shame had given her freedom. ts-
 .srhat is what have come here for, tbA woman said slowly, just to learn the truth, that is all. The problem pe- fore me IS an interesting one. but IL is very difficult"
 aWhy can't you leave 1t alones" cried Tankerlane. .It can't make any diI ference to you one way or the other.
 ..The problem is a very difficult one, she continued, as though she had not heard the interruption, For even If she loves you, 1t might be better for ne to tell her the truth. could, or course, divorce you. Then she could he legally married to you, and you both live happily ever Afterwards
 "A cold sweat broke out on Tanker lanes forehead. This woman, more keen and subtle of mind than himseil, presented a fresh facet of thought 10 every argument. S.yrhe shame would break her heart, he said gently.
 Not If she loved you" the woman replied; mot if she really loved you. The first sting of it would be keen; put you would justify your deception. You would be willing to make amenos she would be glad that she had learnt the truth in time; she would think or herschildren, and she would be giao,
 q think you had better leave well alone. he stammered lamely; we are happy. Surely that is enough. Your motives are doubtless excellent but am sure thats if you interfere you VIII only make mischief.
 .I shall sec" she replied. T am here today for that purpose. l shall see if she loves you, and then Know how to act"
 .She loves me" he said doggedly
 Doesn't 1t strike you as curious that she has left us so long alone together! It almost seems as though she knew that--almost as though she wished to place temptation in your path.
 "A temptation?'' said the man scorn- fully. .'She knows that love her with all my heart and soul, and that no woman on earth could tempt me- k But in spite of the scorn in his voice, he had felt the sting of the woman's words. It was more than possible, nay, 1t was probable, that Laura had for some reason or other purposely left him alone with Mrs. Bonsal. He moved towards the door He realized that he must see Laura before she en- tered the room. He must ask her. to pretend to love him while Mrs. Bonsai was present
 Then he stopped. He remembered that even if Mrs. Bonsal was con yinced of Lauras love for him. she might still think it best to speak the truth He floated between Scylla ana Charybdis, between the grinding rocks and the whirlpool of the sea.
 And, before he could make up his mind what course to take the door opened, and Laura herself entered with an apologetic smile on her face.
 T am so sorry" she said, crossing to Mrs. Bonsal's side. But I've had an awful time downstairs with Mon sieur Taque. I daresay, howeveD you two have not missed me; you have had a long, long talk of old times. Eh? Well. I think we'll have tea now"
 And from that moment the whole scene outwardly passed from tragedy to the commonplace. A stranger would have seen nothing but the ordinary spectacle of a man and two women discussing trifles over their tea cups. Yet Mrs. Bonsals whole mind was on the alert to discover whether Laura loved her husband. Laura was trying to find out whether the actress still loved Tankeriane, and Tankerlane himself felt like criminal before his judge.
 Yet they all three chatted together as though there was no more serious troubles in life than dressmaker's bills.