Evening star., 1907-08-19

know me. and whom you call Jack Ben
SON."
The thing was Incredible to her, on any
other theory than that had lost my mind
temporarily and was now recovering It
the look of sorrowing love in her eyes. 1t
| paled also the clear daIEask of her cheeks.
Try to think" she urged.
For an instant I did not know what to
twas lever In this condition before7"
I aSe': aSs.!sd'
| II hoped I had been." said. stammer-
l ing. ''for that would account for it,
Il have telegraphed to DR.. Thompson.
Unfortunately he is out Of town. But he
will return tomorrow. and then he will
come straight here. He is safe man:
other people and is the finest specialist in
| the city.''
The thought Of an interview with this
Sssa t,ssseIea
What II should say again that am not
| your husband?"
She tried to laugh merrily.
| wife"
But I doubt it myself" urged. Even
Julian" she saId earnestly. Il have
| been studying mental diseases. I took 1t
up through some charity work which made
me acquainted with DR.. Thompson And
have continued It for no other reason than
to occupy my mind somewhat and because
the subject fascinated me-"
"a strange subject to fascinate 80 beauti-
| full. 80 calm-eyed a woman.)
$50. II you should tell me. and persist in
saying It, that you are not my husband.
| should simply know that you are not mem
| tally right. 1t is phase Of certain mental
| troubles this denial Of identity. But II you
don't deny 1t shall feel better, for then
shall know that you are better"
Then 1 won't deny it, answered, striv
ing for gayety.
It seemed that was to have an excuse
| for my lying Every liar who ever lived
| hoods even Ananias 1 tried to smile. But.
heavens. where was this to end? was
| getting deeper in every minute.
Yet there was one soothing thought not
this extraordinary adventure, my chances
| Of winning this woman for my vito were
much better than If l had never met her
| at all: with which you will, Of course.
agree.
As I sat there listening to her voice.
| drinking from the wells Of her clear blue
eyes. noting the perfect contour of the now
| too pallid face mentally lashing myself at
| moro firmly my determination that out Of
this. through this. or in spite Of 1t. would
yet win this woman for my wife. She
should become to me even what she now
accomplished did not know and could not
guess. but that did not shake my determi-
nation.
When Jack Benson and Miss Hansbor-
IDENTIFY to leave US alone together. Mrs. Ran
| dolph drew her chair against mine.
Julian" she said. with catching Of
cherished the hope from the frst that you
were not dead. even though But we will
not bring back that horrible dream"
Then she was crying softly On my
shoulder. The overpowering feeling Of my
0aAAnoaR shook her head rested
thus. It crowded down and killed my long
ing to put my arms round her and comfort
her: or make the pretense.
1.-The whole thing is too bad was all
could say.
"Oh. 1 am so glad-glad." she cried.
I patted her hair namely.
Don't cry" urged
you must have thought me heartless.
the way I acted when I saw you?
wanted to scream and Jump out Of the
carriage. I don't know how I restrained
myself. But I was afraid, Julian -
"Yes?" I said. while the blood sang hot
in my head. and l cursed myself, with
mental gnashings Of my teeth.
II didn't know how you would receive
laughed 80. and conducted ourselves like
silly schoolgirls. When you had remained
away so long was afraid. when saw you.
Of mental trouble. and that you might go
thing has been too strange for words,
and"
Entirely too strange for words"
But I knew you would come back to me
some time. IL you were living. Julian. For
you did love me. You told. me so more
than once" D.
Then she cried out. again. weeping on my
shoulder:
"Oh. Julian. I am so glad-slad'
The breaking point had come for me;
could not stand 1t longer.
II feel strangely weak and bewildered."
said. brushing her hair with my lips. "and
if-if you are willing. I should like to 80
up to my rooms for q little while until"
I stammered and broke down.
Yes, yes." she said. starting up.
She looked at me. her face white with
anxious fears. ready to yield any point
without opposition.
1T is nothing" I urged; "is will pass off
Remorse sripped me. could not 80 on
Shall I send q servant with your she
asked her lips tremulous.
mo. no." calculated.
''.Or your valet? Jerome can be called at
once. Let me send Jerome"
kind
put aside her olinsng hands.
promised. weakly.
Then fed. basely cowardly. fearfully:
climbing the broad stairs with trembling
and hurried feet to the rooms had been
told were my own. I wanted to rush out
into the street. but at the moment lacked
the necessary courage Of self-denial and
was still too hesitating. And doubted II
that would be proper treatment OF Mrs.
Randolph. I knew l must see her again.
Thought of excluding myself from her was
already impossible.
AS l dropped weakly into a chair I be-
came conscious that heavy perspiration
had broken out all over my body. AS soon
as I had strength l looked again at my
reflection in the pier glass. wondering how
my inconsiderate flight would be viewed by
Mrs Randolph-my wife. My god, my
wife!
sank into the chair again. quite un-
nerved. and passing a trembling hand over
my smoothly shaven face: 1 looked at the
clothing I was wearing - his, her hus-
bands. My misery and self-denunciation
racked me until I groaned. The thing l
had entered into with all the abandon OF a
comic opera character had resolved itself
into this.
The comic opera villain extricates him.
self easily from the drest situations. to the
great amusement Of the spectators; or falls
ingloriously. equally to the amusement of
the spectators. But what was l to do?
This was not comic opera.
1 began to walk the room furiously.
feverlshly. Once I stopped before the
glass; and was sensible OF my ridiculous
comic opera attitude-hands thrust deep
into my pockets. shoulders drawn together.
head down In collar like a tortoise trying
to retreat into its own shell. face chastity