Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-15

other on the cheek.
William Tankerlane was anxious to
leave Paris as soon as possible, but
MS wife. by an irony of fate, was taken
III win lnfuenzL lie day after the
tea party and it was impossible to
move her from the hotel.
CHAPTER x.
During her illness Laura conceived
a strange and overpowering desire for
the company of Mrs Bonsal, and all
Iankerlanes efforts to keep the two
women apart were doomed to failure.
The doctor said that Mrs. Tankerlanr
must be hundred, and so it came to
pass that Mrs. Bonsal was frequent
| visitor at the Hotel Imperial, anil al
most took upon herself the duties of
| a nurse.
/ Strange though it may seem to one
IMMERSED in the ways of women, these
TWO, who by all laws or nature should
have been deadly enemies, had form
ed friendship, in which self-interest
and desire to pry into each others
ahalrs found no part They had CON
ceiyed a genuine liking for each other.
The actress, who alone knew the
|
woman who HAD assumed her lawful
place. She had cut out Tankerlane
| from her life as completely as though
ne mad never existed. All her thoughts
were for the woman who believed her
self to be Tankerlanes wife She had
genuine desire to help Laura, and
though she could not decide whether
to tell her the truth or keep
silence, her decision would only be
Influenced by the most unselfish mo-
tiyes
laura, on the other nand, who knew
nothlng OF the truth, and who merely
suspected that at some time or other
William Tankerlane had been in love
with Mrs. Bonsal, found this suspicion
no obstacle to friendship. She did not
love the man she believed to be her
husband, and his past amours were
nothing to her. The situation was
much simplified by the fact that Meth
er OF the women had the slightest con-
sideratton for Mr.. Tankerlane.
II was not long before Mrs. Bonsal
found out what she wished to know.
Perhaps Laura, in her weak state of
health, was less able to disguise her
emotions, and to pretend an affection
that she cid not feel. Perhaps, on
the other hand. she took no pains to
hide the truth fro the kindly WON
an who attended so thoughtfully to all
her wants and comforts. But, in any
case, Mrs. Bonsal learnt the truth, and
realised that Mrs. Tankerlane was
not in love with her husband, and that
his presence was even repugnant to
her.
This discovery gave Mrs. Bonsai
much food for reflection. Such a DO
sition would have cen quite In the
ordinary course of vents If the young
couple had been married for any
length Of time. But they were still
on their honeymoon IT was probable,
therefore that Laura had married a
man she had never loved, and was
never likely to lo-e. Why did she
marry him? That was the question
which presented itself to Mrs. Bon
sails mind, and it was q question to
which she could find no answer.
One thing, however, she intended
to discover and that was, whether
she would rather have her marriage
legallsed before child was born It |
was a difficult, almost an impossible |
matter to approach, and Mrs Bonsal |
thought long and carefully before she |
decided on the most delicate method |
OF ascertaining Laura's wishes
She finally decided to adopt ruse,
which is at least as old as the days
of David and which has never yet |
been surpassed for arriving at a per
sonal opinion through the medium Of
an impersonal problem
Mrs. Bonsal waited till the day be-
fore Mrs. Tankerlane was going to
leave Paris.
you are really leaving tomorrow"
she said, as they sat alone in the sit.
ting room at the Hotel Imperial.
Yes answered Laura family, 1--WE
are leaving. My husband absolutely
refuses to stay another day in Paris
The doctor says l can travel If the
necessary precautions are taken"
Il shall be sorry to ,ose you, DEAR
said Mrs. Bonsal. Every, very sorry"
and she laid her hand on the inyalid's
thin white fingers.
Il am very sorry to 60" replied
Laura do you know, Leonore, |
can't help thinking that my husband
disl1kes you, and at he is leaving
Paris to get me away from you. He
his intention of going on
the day after We first met you"
Il know that your husband dislikes
me- Mrs Bonsal replied, "and If we
are to be friends, l should like to tell
yo~ the reason why he dislikes me.
1t Is a sordid story, but think it Is
right that you should know"
Il should like to Know murmured
Laura family 81 am sure that, what
ever you did. you would always try to
act for the best
Mrs. Bonsal leant over and kissed
her.
MANY years ago." Mrs. Bonsal be.
gan, ''your husband was a great
friend OF Mr.. Bonsal's. He did not
know me at that time, for l had been
separated from Mr.. Bonsal for some
years. We had never been divorced,
as there was no cause for divorce on
either side. We he'd merely agreed
to part
Gears the ~