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

a Worlds Pure Food Exposition
W Chicago, 1907.
Then it so happened that Mr.. Bon
sal felt passionately in love with 9
girl, and as I subsequently found out
persuaded the girl to marry him
though she did not love MIN.
Fate brought me once more on the
scene, and found Mr.. BoIsal, under
another name, apparently married to
this girl. The girl knew nothing OF
the truth, and believed that she was
the mans wife.
Two courses were now open to
me; l could keep silence or | could
proclaim the truth. I had no thought
OF myself in the matter, l did not
even consider Mr.. Bonsa.. l only
wished to do that which was best for
the girl"
"And what did you do?' Laura ask
ed eagerly
II told the truth. l argued that, if
the girl did not love him, she would
perhaps be glad CT an escape from
bondage; and that, whether she loved
him or not, it would be better for her
to know the truth, | intended, II she
wished it, to divorce him, so that he
could be legally married to her"
You did right cried Laura fierce.
! iy. "You did right. And what hap
pened them"
CHAPTER X-Continued.
| 81 believe" continued Mrs. Bonsal,
as though she had not heard the ques-
| ton, chat | did right-am sure that
| I did right But it was a cruel blow
to strike"
"And what happened them" Laura
repeated, with her eyes fixed on Mrs.
Bonsals face.
The actress did not answer Her
story had come to an end. The rest
lay in the future. Her fertile brain
could easily have Invented a conclu-
sion to the tale, but she wished to
arouse Laura's suspicious Of the truth,
and, in order to do this, she kept sill
ence.
Surely that Is lot the end of the
story" continued Laura, with logged
persistence. Did the girl love the
man or not? Did the result justify
your action?"
"rhe girl did no. love the man
Mrs. Bonsal replied with downcast
eyes, and an intentional hesitation In
her voice.
what did you do?" asked Laura,
She had as yet no suspicion of the
truth.
The situation was becoming unbear-
able.
Mrs. Bonsals heart beat very fast
She had resolved to tell everything,
but she had no wish to do it in so
many words. She wanted Laura her
self to guess the truth She was
again silent, and twined her fingers
together nervously. She desired to
let her actions speak for her. 1t seem
ed impossible that anyone could fail
to misinterpret her confusion.
"That is a lame end to the story
Leonore," said Laura, after a long
pause. "Why don't you look at me?
Is the end painful? All, ! see. things
did not turn out right after all. You
found that you had not acted for the
best. Well, don't tell me any more,
dear. l am sure that you were right
in what you did My husband sup
pose, thought that you were wrong.
AS friend Of Mr.. Bonsals, he
thought you had acted from motives
of jealousy and spite But you were
right. No good no right-thinking
woman could have acted otherwise"
Mrs. Bonsal was silent. and her
face grew very white and haggard.
She had failed to arouse any sus-
picion of the truth. 1t would have
to be spoken openly. 1t was a cruel |
piece of business, but it would have
to be carried through remorselessly. |
NO delicacy of speech Of language
could hide the brutality of it. Mrs
Bonsal rose from her chair, and, fall
Ing on her knees, by Lauras side,
took hold of the thin white hands and |
pressed them to her lips
What is it. dear?' said Laura. Il
am so sorry-I wish had not asked |
you to tell the story
Laura" replied Mrs. Bonsal in a
voice that hardly rose above a whis-
per, lis it possible that you do not
l have tried so hard to
make you UNDERSTANDINGS hard,
Laura" She bowed her head over the
girls hands, and the white fingers
were wet with tears.
Laura looked down on the dark
of lustrous hair, and wonder
ed why this woman had flung herself
at her feet. 1t almost seemed as
though she were praying for forgive
ness. But still no suspicion of the
truth entered her mind
"Oh, why can't you understand"
cried Mrs. Bonsal, raising her tear
stained face, and looking at Laura
with her large bright eyes. Must l
tell you in so many words; must | tell
you that there Is no end to the story
you have just heard, because-the end
has yet to Gomez" and once more the
woman bowed her head, as though she
we're about to receive a blow.
Laura looked at her for few mo-
nents In silence, with a puzzled ex.
on her face. Then suddenly
the truth came to her like a binding
Hash OF light. 1t leapt into her eyes
like fire, and famed forth in crimson
On her white cheeks and brow. Mrs.
Bonsal could not see her face but
she knew by the thrill that had pass
ed through the girls body that at last
she understood
Laura she murmured in broken