Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-08-19

from the instant when he told her to
make good her escape and leave him
to brazen 1t out; task to daunt even
as bold and resourceful a criminal as
Anisty, and more especially IL he were
called upon to don the mask at min
ute's notice, as Maitland had pre-
tended to. Or, If she had not actually
known, she had been led to suspect;
and 1t had hardly needed what she had
heard him say to the servants, when
he thought her flying hotfoot over the
lawn to safety, to harden suspicion
into certainty.
And now that he should find her
here. a second time a trespasser,
doubly an ingrate-that he should
have caught her red.handed in this
abominably ungrateful treachery! She
could pretend, of course, that she had
returned merely to restore the jewels
believe her, for he was generous, She
could, but--she could not Not now.
Yesterday, the excitement had buoyed
her; she had gained piquant enjoy
ment from befooling him, playing her
part of the amateur craftsman in this
little comedy of the stolen jewels. But
therein lay the difference; yesterday
1t had been comedy, but to-day-ah!
to-day she could no longer laugh. For
now she cared.
A little lie would clear her-yes.
But 1t was not to be cleared that she
now so passionately desired; it was
to have him believe in her, even
against the evidence of his senses,
even in the face of the worlds con-
demnation; and to prove that he, too,
cared-cared for her as his attitude
toward her had taught her to care.
Ever since leaving him in the dawn
she had fed her starved heart with the
he would come to care little, that he
would not utterly despise her, that he
would understand and forgive, when
he learned why she had played out
her part, nor believe that she was the
embodiment of all that was ignoble,
coarse, and crude; that he would show
a little faith in. her, little faith
that like a pickering taper might light
the way for-love.
But that hope was now dead within
her, and cold. She had but to look
at him to see how groundless It had
been, how utterly unmoved he was by
her distress. He waited patiently
that was all--seeming so very tall,
pillar of righteous strength, distin,
guished and at ease In his evening
clothes; waiting patient but cold, dis.
passionate and disdainful.
Il am waiting, you see. Might sug.
gest that we have not all week for
our-our mutual differences?"
His tone was altogether changed;
she would hardly have known 1t for his
voice. Its incisive, clipped accents
were like knife to her sensitiveness.
She summoned the reserve of her
strength, stood erect, unsupported, and
moved forward without word. He
stood aside, holding the lamp high,
and followed her, lighting the way
down the hall to the study.
Once there, she sank quivering into
chair, while he proceeded gravely to
the desk, put down the lamp-super-
fiuous now, the gas having been
lighted-and after moments thought
faced her, with contemptuous smile
and lift of his shoulders, thrustins
hands deep into his pockets.
"Well?" he demanded, cuttingly.
She made a little motion of her
hands, begging for time; and, assent.
ing with short nod, he took turn
up and down the room, then distracted
ly reached up and turned out the gas.
when you are quite composed
should enjoy hearing your statement"
'I-have none to make"
"So!"-with his back to the lamp,
towering over and depressing her
with the sense of his strength and self.
control. THAT is very odd, isn't it?"
II have mono explanation to give
that would satisfy you, or myself"
she said, brokenly IL don't care
what you think" with a flicker of de.
fiance. Believe the worst and--and
do what you will-have me arrested"
He laughed sardonically. "Oh. we
won't go so far as that, guess; harsh
measures, such as arrest and impris.
onment, are SO unsatisfactory to all
concerned. But I am interested to
know why you are here"
Her breathing seemed very loud In
the pause; she kept her lips tight,
fearing to speak lest she lose her mas.
terry of self, And hysteria threatened;
the fiuttering in her bosom warned
her. She must be very careful, very
restrained, If she were to avert that
browning misfortune.
Il don't think ] quite understand
you," he continued, musingly; surely
you must have anticipated Interrupt
ton"
81 thought you safely out of the
way"
"One presumed that" He laughed
again, unpleasantly. But how about
Maitland? Didn't you have him in
your calculations, Or"
He paused, unfeignedly surprised by
her expression. And chuckled whep
he comprehended
(TO BE CoNTINUED)
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