The Washington herald., 1908-09-06

me IS an interesting one, but II is very
difficult"
Why cant you leave II aIone2'' cried
TankeriarH- It cant make any differ
ence 10 you one way or the other
The problem IS a very difficult one"
she continued. as though she had not
heard the interruption. for even z she
loves you IL might be better for me 70 tell
her the truth I could. Of course. divorce
you TIN she could be legally married
20 you. and you could both live happily
ever afterward.
4 cold sweat broke out on Ta1ke-lane's
forehead This woman. more keen and
subtle Of mind than himself, presented a
fresh facet Of thought 10 every argu-
ue1t
The shame would break her heart he
said gently
Not If she loved YOU the woman re-
Piled not Il she really loved YOU The
first sting OF II would be keen: but you
would Justify your deception You would
be willing 70 make amends She would
forgive YOU she would be glad that she
had learned the truth in time; she would
think Of her children and she would be
glad
I think YOU had better leave weU
enough alone. he srammere6 lamsly- we
are happy Surely that is enough Your
motives are doubtless excellent, but I an
sure that Il you interfere you VIII only
make mischief"
4 shall see" she replied y an here
to-day for that purpose shall see Z
she loves you, and then 7 shall know how
TO act"
she loves me- he said doggedly.
, Doesn't It strike you as curious that
she has left US SO long alone together2 Il
/ almost seems as though she knew that
almost as though she wished 10 place q
. n
"A temptation said the man sco-n-
fully. she knows that I love her with
all my heart and soul. and that no wo1n-
an on earth could tempt me-
But IN spite of the scOrn in his voice he
/ lad felt the sting Of the woman's words.
II was more than possible. nay. II vas
[ probable that Laura had for some reason
or other purposely left him alone with
Z Mrs BonsaL lie moved toward the door
{ He realized that he must see Laura be
} fore she entered the room He must ask
I her. must fmpl0re her. 10 pretend 10 love
/ him while Mrs. Bonsal was present
! Then he stopped He remembered that
! even L Mrs. Bonsal was convinced Of
( Laura love for him she might sJill think
+ Il best to speak the truth He ioated be-
Z tween Scylla and Charybdis, between the
/ grinding rocks and the whirlpool Of the
sea
I And before he could make up his mind
I what course 10 take the door opened and
7 Laura herself entered with an apOlogetlc
/ smile On her face
1 7 am 50 sorry she said, crossing %
/ Mrs. BonsaTs side. But I've had an aw-
] fuI time downstairs with Monsieur TaQue
II daresay. however, you two have not
missed rna-roU have had a Ions long
talk over old times. Ell? Well, I think
/ wei have tea now
I And from that moment the whole scene
/ outwaTdlv passed from tragedy 10 the
I commonplace A stranger would have
seen nothing but the ordinary spectacle
OF a man and two women discussing
trides over theiT tes-cCps- Yet Mrs Bon
saIs whole mind was on the alert 10 dis
: cover whether Laura loved her Husband
Laura was trying TO find out whether TIE
. actress stiu loved Tankeri62e- and Tan
keria-e himself felt like a criminal Be
fore his Judge
I Yet they all three .chatted together as
though there were 80 more serious trou-
bIes in life than dressmalzer's bills. and
when they parted an hour later the two
women kissed each other On the cheek
William Tankeriane was anxious 10
leave Paris as soon as possible. but his
wife BY an irony OF fate. was taken IL
rtth influenza the day after the tea party
and IL was impossible 10 move her from
the hotel