The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-10-14
CHAPTER XIV.


ner, Norman and Mathilde drifted from
discussion of the relative charms O.
summer and winter landscapes into a re-
view Of their favorite pictures. Safe in
an impersonal topic, Mathilde had been
talking a bit more freely than was her
wont Of late.
''There are pictures Of the year." she
said, that seem so marvellous at the
time. and yet one thinks of them after
wards without ever wishing to see them
again. Jean Beraud's 'Crucifixion on
Montma rtre' fascinated me when saw it,
and / could never pass it in that big end
room without wondering over it; but one
could never long afterwards for another
sight Of it as one longs for lie Pages
Joan of Arc or Duez's st. Francis of
Assist"
Norman turned and looked her straight
In the eyes, and before he spoke she felt,
with incredulous surprise, the shock of
the coming enmity.
'You were in Paris, them" he said, and
there was something in his slow, distinc;
tones that hushed the other speakers and
turned them into listeners, three years
ago, when that picture was exhibited.
How much l regret that l did not know
of your being there
He was her open foe, then, and she
knew that to venture on such a declara-
ton of war he must have heard those
words Of Hudson's few hours ago.
For it could be nothing save declara-
ton of war when each person at that
table knew his speech TO be an accusa-
ton Of deceit and falsehood. While Ma
thilde stared round helplessly, there was
a general movement.
Steware leaned forward iercely
"What does it matter to you?' he began,
but Mrs. Hertert's voice, shrill and high
pitched from excitement, overpowered
his:
1T seems a strange time to have been
travelling, when the child was photograph
ed in the Northwest that spring, only two
months DID, 1t almost seems as though
the voyage when that youth met Miss
Thorne' must have been subsequent to
that"
1t was like trs nsforma ton scene in
a theater, the swirl. change from well.
bred calm to recrimination. Stewart was
the first to spring to his feet, and the
others instinctively did the same.
With grim face and dull fire burning
In his eyes, he said hoarsely:
"You shall not insult my wife in nv
fathers house !'
But Mrs Herbert's rage was now eoual
to his own. Your wife?" she jeered
"How could Miss Thorne in Paris be youl
wife in Canada? I am going to Sil
James 10 ask if he wishes to have sucf
women brought into his house. II hs
does, / shall leave it,
She turned towards the door, but Stew
art sprang before It.
"You shall not leave this room on sucf
an Grand he said.
"ShalI | notT' she painted mockingly
and swiftly turning, fed through the pan
try door.
Stewart, as transformed from his usua
elf as she, ground out an oath. Whits
and dazed, Mathilde grasped the back Of
her chair, while Nellie sat whimperins
from fright, and clinging to Norman.
arm.
"She will kill my father IL she burst.
in on him like that. / must go to him,
Jem said quickly. "Mathilde, / dom
want you to stay in the room with thai
cur Go upstairs until / come"
"Cur!" Norman started forward, bu
he met the look that Mathilde turned OF
him and shrank back. In after years b,
would have given much to have forgotten
that look.
az am not responsible for what ma
yirago says or does" he muttered uneas
lly: but no one needed him save Nelly
who chung to him, crying:
"Oh, Norman, dearest! Don't quarre
with him"
As Stewart was about to hurry of
Nathilde gathered force to speak:
"Wait! % she cried. You shall no
distress Sir James for me! 1 want no:h
Ing more from you or from him. Onl!
let me go away"
She hardly knew what she was saying
and Stewart hardly listened.
al cannot wait to talk. Do as / said,
be answered, and was gone.
Mathilde looked st the two before her
Is one looks at anything that is past ant
gone from ones life. She smiled slowly
You have worked hard to do me harm
but I wonder what benefit you get b,
It."
''That remains to be SEEM" Norman an
swered with brave attempt at his usua
manner. at was only self-interest tina
leo me into war against you, for, believ,
ne, liked you from the first"
II would must rather not believe 1t,
she answered, and, turning. left the room
Swiftly her vague plans crystallized int
decision.
She had failed In the task that sh
had undertaken for Stewart, and witt
that failure their bond, which was onl.
one Of self-interest, was broken. With
out success she could not bear to keel
for one day longer the benefits that b
had heaped upon her. If she could onl.
slip away now, without their meeting
and tomorrow be far away.