Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-12


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recognized you. Well, this is a pleas
ure"
ut is indeed" said Lord Porting
ton. "And tomorrow morning, Mrs
Bonsal will awake like Lord Byron
and find herself famous
Il am pleased to meet you" said
Laura, with smile. ANY old friend
of my husbands is friend of mine
Your husband?' said Mrs Bonsal
with an inquiring glance from one tc
the other. ooh, yes, of course how
stupid of me! l got mixed up with
the introductions One always does
you know; l thought the other gentle
man was your husband. And so you're
married, are your and she turned tc
Tankerlane with a most bewitchine
smile.
ooh yes, I'm married." he replied
with a smile
I'm SO glad" she continued. "I
think every man ought to be mar,
ried. l only hope your married life
will be as happy IS mine has been.
My husband will be in Paris tomor,
row."
William Tankerlane's face was a
mere mask to his feelings as he lis
tened to these words. His features
were moulded into a polite smile Of
candid interest. Only one of the lit,
tie group knew what was passing in
his mind, and she had the exquisite
pleasure Of goading the man to mad,
ness with every word that she uttered.
Lord Portlington and Mrs. Bonsal's
companions saw nothing of the scene
that was going on before their eyes,
a scene which, if they had only
known the facts, was in it's way as
dramatic as any they had witnessed
in the theatre that night The won.
ans words were commonplace enough,
and might have been uttered by u
mere acquaintance, who took a polite
interest in the affairs of a man whom
she had met some years previously.
They did not know the bitter irony Of
them, for there was nothing in the
womans voice to betray her thoughts.
Laura Tankerlane, however, was
well aware that something lay be-
meath the surface, and that this wom-
an had been more to her husband
than mere acquaintance in the past
Her instinct had told her this d.
rectly the woman had spoken to
William Tankerlane. She remember
ed the almost impertinent attention
the actress had bestowed on her dur
ing the meal. And her observant mind
had not forgotten The unsatisfactory
way in which Mrs Bonsal had con
cealed her surprise at hearing Of
Tankerlane's marriage.
She turned to the woman with one
Of her sweetest smiles
"You and your husband must come
and see us, Mrs. Bonsal," she said
genially. I'VE shall be delighted to
know someone in Paris. Come to-
morrow afternoon, four o'clock, tea.
And if MI. Bonsal has not arrived, or
doesn't care to come, well-we shall
be just as glad to see you by yourself
We are staying at the Imperial"
Il shall be more than delighted"
Mrs. Bonsal replied.
Mr. Tankerane bit his lip with vex-
alton He had intended leaving Paris
the next day. but he was caught now
like rat in trap.
1--WE must go now" said Laura.
with sharp glance at her husbands
face" and remember tomorrow
81 shall not forget. Good night"
She held out her hand. and Laura
Tankerlane took it. Something in the
woman's face appealed to her. She
realised that this was no common ad-
ventures, but a woman Of distinc-
ton. And, If she had turned back as
she left the room, she would have
seen that there was no expression Of
anger or jealousy on Mrs. Bonsal's
face, but only a soft look of pity in
those large bright eyes
William Tankerlane hardly spoke
till they reached home. He was plan
ming some way Of escape from Paris.
"Why did you ask that woman
round tomorrow" he said, after he
had taken off his overcoat
my dear WILL" she replied sweet
ly, ''I thought she was an old friend
of yours, and, besides, like her face.
She is woman l should like to
know"
"Wen, I shan't be in at four O'Clock
tomorrow" he said sullenly "You
don't know who the woman is, or you
wouldn't have asked her"
81 can guess who she was" Mrs
Tankerlane answered with smile;
lyon were once in love with her
should advise you to be present at our
interview. She might tell me of all
sorts Of things
You wouldn't care" he cried fierce
ly. Il wish to heaven that you did.
You know how love YOU"
The smile died from her face and
she turned away from him. But
William Tankerlane resolved that his