The Washington herald., 1909-06-27

the ground-disheveled, torn, crumDled Ike wiited
flower.
"Oh the maniac" he hissed; I VIII kill him! Why
did they let him in7'
But Lucy had only eyes for the blood running
down his temple and over his face. Her womanly
EymPathss were aroused = the sight But your poor
head is bleeding" she said Come and let me mend
It for you. and viii talk afterward."
He looked into the soft kindly eyes, and there was
a curious expression his he said Lucy.
dear. you are an-an angel"
But Lucy. in her eagerness 10 help him, let the
word pass unheeded- She brought some water and
his anger gradually evaPOrated as he felt the soft
hands touch him gently on the brow and
cheek
At last he was more like himself again. and he
said. with his old smile by Jove. Lucy; Il was
close shave! The maniac said he your husband
But what made him $3.50 angry" she asked.
hesitatingly.
You see the Johnny was al right for a time
let him believe that he your husband. He said
he was. you see and-and had 10 humOr him"
Then he talked abOut-abOut little BERTHE. He
said my child" and he glanced up at her quick
ly. once more with that curious look
q said there were many men who would Ike to
hear that baby call them father BY JOve! Lucy. it's
true"
"And-y"
And said. Heaven knows who the father is"
"And you meant"
You know what meant. Lucy. but he took the
other meaning, and II reused the demon IN him-and
here I
~what-what meaning did he takeY" said Lucy
slowly. with gasp thought flashed into her
mind.
He thOught-Oh cad. Lucy. cannot tell you.
Don't you understand
But girl never lifted her eyes from the ground.
She sank into fauteuu by the fire. and the count.
he looked toward her, felt the blood bound in his
heart and shiver OF intense feeling through
him
He laid tren,bl,o~ hand ,t1btI, m bor bofr ,o-
moment. then suddenly flung himself down at her
and laid his head her breast She struggled 70 rise
look OF terror In her eyes. But with muscles
OF steel he gathered her in his arms, and rising
from his knees lifted her OF the chair Her violent
struggles 10 be free were like the strugglings OF
little bird in the hands OF strong The count.
breathing in hard gasps, kissed her again again
with burning passion.
But at last she had her opportunity. and quick as
lightning. she struck him with all her force
you beast" she said in white heat. TO take this
advantage"
But he only looked at her smilingly through half
closed eyes.
"oh, it was delicious. Lucy" he drawled. Come to
me-" and he held his arms.
In a trice her mind made up.
"Listen!" she said fercely. The maniac no
maniac. He is my husband. That is his child who IS
crying for him. glad my eyes have been opened,
even al the price OF this shame. You beast"
Your husbandT' he said in amazement, springiug
to his feet.
Yes. whom love better than life ITSELF" she
answered with q sob
Heavens. Lucy, Why did you not tell me this
before? thought-I thought"
"oh. do not say it," she groaned. What Will
I dO2"
Her distress touched the best in him.
Lucy" he said softly Lucy forgive me-
am not that of I did know. Perhaps
shall live TO wipe The OF this reproach.
I love you, Luey-how love you. But will live to
wipe out this stain. You will ind De Luneyllle has
a spark Of honor left"
And ere she could answer word he had gone
from her.
No had the door closed than Lucy arose
all white and painting. She shivered the thought
OF what had passed-of the humiliation she had en-
dured. a IRE OF in her eyes-scorn for
herself and in that moment OF her oathing she would
have submitted gladly without mUrmur any form
Of bodily ehastisement.
1t has come 10 thisg" she said bitterly Il might
have known that the count just like all the
others Why, oh, why were my eyes not opened long
ago? 1 see it now-too iate,"
Yet somehow she find it in her heart
70 be angry with the His words after he had
learned the truth that she striven hide were
still sounding in her brain. They the words OF
man. and no hend- He gradually appeared TO her in
new light and she loathed herself for the thoughts
that had surged through her mind in the moment Of
that struggle.
1T is all my fault" she said wearily It have
deliberately turned my on all that Is good and
beautiful At the impulse OF the mad blood that is
in me have eaten ravenousy Of the apples Sodom
anc now they are Oh, mOther!
She spent the remainder Of the day in such an
agony Of repaorse and loathing that slipped
trated the future. Cost what il might size had
made an end of the life Of which this misery
@ ouL the hrst fruits Not the iaintest hope Of any
thlng Ike reconciliation with her husband could
now be entertained The past. far he was con-