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

SisLSi VI lHSI1. Gn0 ndu Deen SWep
out of touch with all the realities
Vague thoughts and ideas poure,
through her brain, but, before sh
could grasp them, they had fled. Sh'
heard faint sound in the distanc,
like the moaning Of the wind among
trees. 1t was Mrs. Bonsal crying soft
| ly to herself.
Then by degrees her mind SCENE.
to focus itself, and things began tt
show more clearly out of the whirl
ing chaos. She saw Mrs. Bonsal
crouching like some poor suppliant
with bowed head, and eyes that daret
not look at her. She moved her hands
and raised the woman's face till she
could look straight into the large
dark eyes.
For one brief moment the two WON
en- looked into each others hearts
Then Mrs. Bonsal rose quickly to hel
feet and walked away to the window
Laura stared after her, as though she
did not realise what had happened
And then 1t last she spoke.
So-you-are-Mrs .-Tankerlane,
she said slowly, as if she required
time to weigh the value Of every
word
Il am Mrs. Tankerlane," replied the
other woman in passionless voice
and without turning round.
And II" continued Laura, "Who
am n" She paused for moment
and then she rose to her feet, with a
look of horror on her face, and the
hot blood rushing to her cheeks.
What am II" she cried bitterly
"Oh God, what am II" And she bur.
led her face In her hands, not to hide
her tears, but to cover the red flush
OF shame.
Mrs. Bonsal left the window, and
coming to her side threw her arms
about her neck.
There is no shame" she whisper.
ed, for you. The shame is for Will,
| lam Tankerlane. You are innocent
enough. Heaven knows But you
had to know the truth; I had to tell
| it to you for your own sake You
yourself said that I was right to speak
the truth. Whether you love the man
| The comedy and musical elements are
Or not. l was right. But you do not
love him! l know that you do not
love him."
Laura freed herself from tte wom-
ans embrace, and laughed
Il am glad" she cried; 81 am glad,
You have set ME free! Thank God,
am free."
And again she laughed, not hyster-
ically, but rather like one whose heart
IS full of joy, like one who has long
dWeit in darkness, and who at last
has caught the first glimpse of light
Mrs. Bonsal had recovered her self
possession, and she saw that matters
would have to be brought down from
the dizzy heights to which emotion
had carried them, and placed on the
oTel ground of practical common
sense, She realised that she had yet
to complete the work that she had
begun, to justify it by some definite
act which would ensure a successful
Issue. She had set great forces in
motion. It was her duty to see that
they moved the life of the woman be-
fore her to some ultimate goal Of
happiness
Laura, dear" she said gently, "let
us talk this matter over calmly, It is
crisis in your life. have no inter
ests of my own to consider I merely
want you to do what Is best for your
own happiness, and I will help you to
do it,
She took the girl by the arm and
led her to sofa, where they sat
down side by side. The sudden burst
OF happiness had died from Laura's
face. She looked white and tired
She was calm, now that the agony
of the situation was over. The storm
had passed, and the sea, strewn with
Wreckage, was still.
For while they sat in silence.
neither Of them willing to start a con.
versation which, shorn of all senti-
ment, would bring with it a sordid
and unsavoury atmosphere Leonore,
as might have been expected, was
the first to speak The whole mat
ter had long ago been threshed out in
her mind.
We must talk calmly VI this" she
began, "and the less we talk Of it, the
better for both of us. We need not
discuss the mans conduct We have
to deal with facts as they are. Now,
what do you wish me to do? What
do you intend to do yourself?"
II intend to leave him." Laura re-
piled in hard voice. "To leave him
at once, this very day. should like
to leave before he returns. l do not
wish to see him again"
That would not be just either To
Yourself or to him. The worst Grim
inal has a right to defend himself
before final Judgment is passed on
him"
There is no Defence" said Laura
coldly. There might be extenuatfng
circumstances, but the one real fact
would remain"
1T Is possible" continued Leonore,
that am not speaking the truth.
You know nothing about me. Sup
pose that ! were mere adventures,
lying to serve her own purposes?"
i know that you hive spoken the
truth"
Leonore smiled. "That is a kind
sentiment she replied, "but it is not
Justice; it is not the sort of Justice
a man would require l think, how
ever painful the interview may be to
you, that you ought to see him"
Very well, l will see him. 1t will
at least give ne "a opportunity Of
oh! how have longed to be free. and
yet-What price to nav for frea |