Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-04-29

She cau.ht his hand in both of hers.
Still she said nothing. Her large eyes
gazad up at him as If she sought to
read in his face the thoughts he might
not utter. tie memories he might not
recall. Her lips distended He saw her
mouth twitching at the corners.
''Nanette." he said again. though his
voice was not well under control and
something rose in his throat and sti1ed
him. Il appeal to you not to give way
toto emotion. You may-become i'll
again-and | would never forgive my
SELF
Still clinging to his hand. she sank on
her knees by his side. But there was
no wild burst of tears. Her sorrow
was too deep for such kindly aid.
stephen" she whispered family, Il
cannot ask you to forget. but you have
spoken of forgiveness. Can you for
giveT'
He bent over and would have raised
her. She chung to him with such en-
ergy that he desisted.
My poor wife," he murmured, ''who
am | that | should deny that which |
hope to obtain from my Creator?"
But" she painted in that unnerving
whisper. II treated you so vilely. I
left you to join the man you had
fought to save me. | deserted my hus-
band and my child for the sake of the
money he bequeathed to me. In the
lust of wealth | strove to crush you
out of my heart. And now that God
has humbled me I must humble my
self. Stephen. am not your wife.
obtained a DIVORCE
"Nanette," he cried. 81 cannot bear
to see you kneeling at my feet. l ask
no revelations. forgive you any
wrong You may have done me fully
and freely. as l hope to bc forgiven"
She yielded to his pleading and al.
lowed him to raise her. For an instant
she was clasped to his breast.
at would be happiness to die in your
arms, Stephen she said wildly. Il do
not deserve it, know, but heaven is
merciful.'
The dreadful idea possessed him that
in her weak state this passionate wish
might be granted.
"Nanette," he cried you must con-
troll yourself. If you will not promise
to sit down and talk quietly l will
leave you"
She obeyed him instantly.
81 don't care how much you scold
me- she said, but you must not go
away. l meant to see you before left
Penzance. l came here that night. l
looked through the window. l saw my
daughter and her adopted sister listen
ing to you and weeping because of a
mothers shame Then l must have lost
my senses. l ran away. | remember
nothing else until | woke up to find
Constance caring for me-in your
house"
He tried to break in upon the trend
of her thought. This was by no means
the line he had intended to pursue. His
| hope was to soothe and calm her, to
part from her in amity and without
| giving her cause to deplore loss OF
! dignity.
81 am only too pleased that when ill
ness overlook you you were committed
! W L1y CdlS anu W SOlSldAIC wi
girl! She thought you were dead"
did you tell her that?'
'No, but l allowed it to be assumed
which is the same thing"
when did she know the truth?"
I'm the hotel-after you left the
room. had to say something. 1t was
-better-for you--that l should say
you were my wife"
$50 even in that trying moment you
strove to shield me from unjust suspi
cions. Stephen, how could have acted
toward you as l did?'
Again he endeavored to lead her t.
talk of the future rather than the past
'There is one great surprise in store
for you,' he said. But it is pleasan
one in every way. Enid is Mr.. Trailri
daughter"
TO BE CONTINUED.