The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-12


 rb.ra stood Raoul his face dead white. and very stern in the light of the hall lamp. I had never seen nm like that before.
 sT know why you're here" began ouickIv. before he could speak. Count Godensky told me what he said to you. I-hoped you would hope.
 "Is this why you wished 10 know Y, what would do if you deceived meY hs asked with the bitterest reproach in eyes and voice. :. :
 "No. For I haven't deceived you" l .rswered. q haven't deceived you now. If you loved me. you'd believe me, Raoul."
 I nut out my hand and took his. He gave mine no pressure, but he iet me draw him into the house.
 'sFor Gods sake. give me pack my faith in you if you can," he said. It's death to lose it. came here wanting to die."
 After you'd killed me. as you saidY'
 ''Perhaps. l couldn't keep away. had to come. If you have any eNpia, nation. for the love of Heaven teii me what 1t is."
 .you know me. and you know Co., densky--yet you need an explanation of anything evil said of me by himF In this way hoped to disarm haoui. hut he had been half-mad, think, and was scarcely sane now, such a power had jealousy over his better self;
 Don't play with mes ne exciaineo' CT can't bear 1t. You sent me away. Yet YOU had an appointment with Co., densky. You took him into your car riage; and now
 "Marianne was in the carriage. If could have had you with me, l snoula have packed her of by herself. alone, that I-might be alone with you. on, Raoul, 1t isn't possible you believe tnat I could lie to you for Godenskys sake A man like thati If I'd. cared for him. why shouldn't have accepted him instead of you? Could l have changed so quickly, do you think?
 T don't think; I'm not able to think. I can only feel" he answered.
 "Then-feel sure that love you no man but you-now and always
 "oh, Maxiner' he stammered. Am I a fool, or wise, to let myself believe you?"
 You are wise" answered, as firm ly as if I deserved the full faith was claiming from him as my right. IT you wouldn't believe, without my in- sisting. without my explaining and de- lending myself, I'd tell you nothing. But you do believe, just because you love mel see 1t in your face, and thank God for 1t. So I'll tell you this. Count Godensky hates me, because I couldn't and wouldn't love him, and he hates you because he thinks love you. He" I paused for second. A wild thought had flashed like the light of beacon through my brain IT could say something now which, when the blow fell-if 1t did fall-might come back to RaouPs mind and con- vince him instantly that 1t was Co., densky, not I, who had stolen the treaty and broken him! If could make him believe the whole thing a monstrous plot of Godensky's to revenge himself on a woman who'd refused him twice, by cIeverly duplicating her in her low CTS ruin. by throwing a guilt upon her while she was, in reality. innocent! If could suggest that to Raoul now, while his ears were open. I might hold his love against the world, no matter what happened.
 It was a mad idea and a wicked one, perhaps; but I was at my wits end and desperate. Though not guilty of this one crime which I would shift upon his shoulders if | could, as a means of escaping from the trap he'd helped to set. Godensky was capable of 1t, and guilty of others, was sure. which had never been brought home to him. I believed that he, too, was a spy just as I was: and far worse, be- cause if he were one he betrayed his own country, while I never had done that, never would.
 All these thoughts rushed through my head in a second; and I. think that Raoul could hardly have noticed the pause before I began to speak again. He-Godensky--would do anything to part you and me-" I said. There's no plot too vile for him to conceive and carry out against me-and you. No lie too base for him to tell you--or others-about me. He sent me a let ter at the theatre-soon after you'd left me the first time. Tn it. he said that must give him a few minutes after the play, unless I wanted some dreadful harm to come to you-some- thing concerning your career. That frightened me, though I might have guessed 1t was only a trick. Indeed. did guess, but I couldn't be sure, so saw him. didn't want you to know - tell you that frankly, Raoul. Be- cause I'd told you not to come home with me, I hoped you wouldn't find out that I meant to let Count Goden- sky drive part of the way back with me and Marianne. ran the risk and --the very thing happened which I ought to have known would happen, As for what he had to tell me, 1t was nothing; dnly vague hints of trouble