Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-12
fe should not be left alone with

wife should not be left alone with
Mrs. Bonsal.
The next afternoon at $50 p. M
Tankerlane sat alone in the sitting
room at the Imperial His wife had
not yet returned from her shopping
though she had promised to be back
at half-past three. 2-e looked anxious
ly at the clock He did not wish tc
be alone with Mrs. Bonsal.
Then, without any warning, the
door opened quietly and Mrs. Bonsal
entered.
81 must apologize" she said softly
Mrs. Tankerlane is downstairs. She
told me to come straight up. She
won't be a minute She has a row on
with the manager
Tankerlane did not answer, but the
woman, closing the door, came slowly
over to his side and looked into his
white face
well, Mr.. Bonsal," she continued
quietly, 81 said that my husband
would be in Paris today. I am glad
to find that was not mistaken"
William Tankerlane did not answer,
but there was look in his eyes which
induced Mrs Bonsal to move from his
side and seat herself in an armchair a
couple of Yards away from him.
at is funny that we should meet
again." she continued; yet, of course,
it was inevitable, directly l came out
of wayhack town in Ohio into the
glare of the footlights"
'Why have you come here?" he
said hoarsely. what right have you
to come here? All was over between
us years ago. I gave you the money
you asked-enough to keep you in
modest comfort for all your days. l
have done with you. You are no wife
of mine"
"Only in the eyes of the law she
replied softly
ooh, that's your game. is it," he
said roughly. BLACK mail, Ell? Well,
how much do you want to keep your
mouth shut?"
81 don't want anything she an
swered. 81 shall speak, if it pleases
me, and, if it doesn't please me, |
shall be silent. AS for money. we'll,
after last night, l am not likely to
starve. By the bye, is your name
Bonsal Or Tankerlane?"
"Tankerlane," he replied CURLY. 1t
was not worth while telling lie, or
he would have done so.
"And this woman, does she think
that she is your wife, or is it merely
"a temporary arrangements
He did not reply. He was, indeed,
on the horns of dilemma. He had
either to confess to bigamy, or he
had to cast slur on the reputation
of the woman he loved.
"Well?" she asked, after pause.
(Which is it? should like to know
I shall, in fact, make it my business
to know"
The struggle in Tankerlane's mind
was sharp, but decisive. It stands to
his credit that he spoke the truth. He
was man enough to defend the honor
Of the woman whom he had betrayed
"She believes that she is my wife, ?
he said gently.
81 thought as much" the woman
replied. 81 saw nothing impure in
that calm, beautiful face And so you
have betrayed her; you have lied to
her. She is your mistress, and thinks
she is your wife. Your children
bah! it sickens me to think of it. |
did not know that you were such a
scoundrel. Time has worked change
in you, William Tankerlane.''
Love has worked a change he ex-
claimed fiercely. "A man will sacri-
flee, anything to gain the woman he
loves. I am not ashamed of what |
have done. l could not get her in
any other way. You can guess how
such woman would reply to dis
honorable proposal There was no
other way, l tried to gain her, and I
will do as much again-ay, and more,
to keep her. I will fight for her,
Leonore, will fight, and if anything
threatens her happiness, l will-well,
I will remove it. if it costs me my
life. Do I speak plainly?"
(To be Continued).