Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-17

piled. You have every reason 70
wishing to be rid Of me- Under Mrs
BonsaPs guidance, you will find n,
difficulty in coming to the conclusion
which you DESIRE
Laura looked at him with contempt
I wish to learn the truth" she sait
| qultely. Il am not looking out for al
| excuse to leave you. | wish to satisfy
myself as to the truth. 1t would be ne
pleasure to me to do you an injustice. )
William Tankerlane was silent. He
mad long foreseen the possibility OF
the present situation, and had resoly
ed, if ever it did occur, to leave the
scanty protection which tissue of lies
would afford him, and to come out anG
do battle in the open The situation
mad, however, been sprung rather sud
denly upon him, and it was Lard tc
make up his mind to go back on the
words ne had spoken in the nrst stress
and confusion of the conflict.
Yet, if he had to confess. il would
be better to confess now, than haze
the confession forced on him by the
result OF Lauras Investigations. He
could, at any rate, plead to ner in the
name OF love, ask forg vcness, poin,
out how he had sinned through the
sheer strength Of his passion.
Laura watched his inscrutable face
with her steady, fearless eyes, but
she could read nothing OF the thoughts
lhat were passing through his brain.
Inc long silence was becoming I'M
bearable to a mind that was wrought
up to the highest pitch Of excitement.
would the man never speako At last.
when more than minute had elapsed.
she could bear the STRAIN no longer.
IF you have nothing to say to me-
she exclaimed, 81 will go and pack
my things. shall leave She hotel me-
fore dinner"
lie made no reply, and she moved
away from him towards the door. But
before she could reach it, ne spran..
liter her and caught 7,- ky The a,m.
Laura he cried hoarsely ..vou
must not lcaye me. / will moi LET Won
leave me-"
She stopped, but she did not turn
her face to his.
will not lie to you, Laura" he
continued. Il will confess everything
Leonore spoke the truth. She is nv
wife,
Please leave go of my arm" she
sad, you are hurting me-
Yes, in the eyes of ms law. she
IS my wife," he continued, i3osing her
arm, but in the sight of God you, the
woman | love, are my wife"
In the sight Of God?" queried Laura
turning around on him with eyes that
blazed with scorn ''In The sight Of
God? What has God to do with on.
unholy union? But am glad YOU have
spoken the truth at Yass. will wish
you goodbye, here, in this room: now,
at this moment. Do not let me see
you again! Leave the hotel till +
have gone from it! Every moment
mat l see you or hear your voice
seems to drive me still deeper into
the mire."
You shall not CO." he cried. "I
VIII not let you 60 Do you realise
now much love your" The mask had
1ropped from the mans face. He was
N earnest now, and the fierce hunger
u love was in his eyes. The time for
acting had passed. On the brink of
great crisis he barred his heart and
'oul 10 the light. No one who look
cd on his face could doubt that his
owe was fierce and scorching as the |
Tres of hell.
realise what you have done to
ne,' she replied, ito me, the women
'ou profess to love. l married Won to |
Jain your silence, for the sake of the
nan | love. Even an honorable
marriage was heavy price to paw,
'ut this was not enough for YOU Moth
ng less than my ruin would satisfy
ou. hope you are satisfied. A lit
lie while ago l was an innocent girl.
'oday am the thing you have made
ne! | wonder that you dare to speak
me Of love. The very word, as it
ONES from your lips, is too foul
hing for decent people to listen to-"
Il love you" he said, suddenly
lasping her in his arms, and drawing
er close to him, "and l will not let
GU go. You are mine, and l will
old you fast. I have sinned against
GU because my love was stronger
han my conscience. l wished you to
e mine, and nothing else mattered
Ionour? Morality? Truth? What are
II these in the path of love? Straws
, be whirled away in the storm of
asslon, dust to be scattered to the
our winds of heaven. | love you,
aurle, and nothing else Matters
othing else has ever mattered."
She lay white and still in his arms
he poured out his stream Of pas
tomato words. She did not even
truggle to free herself from his
rasp. All her strength seemed to
ave left her. His voice sounded like
distant echo. She felt the grip of
is muscles like vice, and then when
le voice had died away in silence she
elt his burning kisses on her lips, her
row, her neck, her cheeks And
very kiss seemed to scar her soul as
hite hot irons sears the flesh.
'Laura!" he cried, fiercely. Speak
me! Tell me that you will not leave
le."
The sound Of Tankerlanes voice
roke the spell which his furious pas
ION had cast over Lauras mind. The
lood rushed to her white cheeks, and