Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-05-19

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mado two steps beside him, and then
suddenly slipped into the recess
where the farmhouse Joined the engine
skylight She stood still, and he in
stantly ranged himself beside her.
| They were quite out of sight Of the
others, and of the bridge, and even IL
It had been daylight they could not
have been seen except by some one
coming from aft.
II want to speak to you" she said,
In low, steady voice. please listen
quite quietly, for some of them may
begin to walk again"
Kralinsky bent his head twice, and
then inclined it towards her, to hear
better what she was going to say.
ut has pleased you to keep up this
comedy for "a hours" she began.
He made a slight movement, which
was natural under the circumstances.
81 do not understand" he. said, in
his oily voice. What comedy? real
ly have no"
Don't go on" she answered, inter
rupting him sharply. Listen to what
am going to tell you, and then de-
eide what you will do. 1 don't think
your decision will make very much
difference to me, but it will make
difference to the world and to your
self. / saw you from a window when
you brought Mr.. Van Torp to the
hotel in Bayreuth, and recognized
you at once. Since this afternoon l
have no doubt left"
81 never saw you till last night"
said Kralinsky, with some little sur
prise in his tone, and with perfect as
surance.
do you really think you can de-
ceive me any longer?" she asked. 81
told you this afternoon that If you
could come back from the dead, and
know the truth, we should probably
forgive each other, though we had
many differences. Shall WEI" She
paused moment, and by his quick
change of position she saw that he
was much moved. 81 don't mean that
we should ever go back to the old life
for we were not suited to each
other from the first, you and L.
You wanted to marry me because l
, was pretty and smart and married
you because l wanted to be married,
, and you were better looking than
I most men,, and seemed to have what
!. thought was cessary-fortune and
= a decent position. No, don't interrupt
: me. We soon found out that we did
5 not care for each other. You went
your way, and went mine. don't
/. mean to reproach you, for when
q say you were beginning to be tired of
!. me did nothing to keep you. / my
r self was tired Of 1t already. But what
ever you may have thought, l was
, faithful wife. Mr.. Van Torp had
: given me a great deal of money for
! my charity, and does still. can ac-
count for 1t. never used a penny of
1t for myself, and never shall; and
he never was, and never will be, any
more than trusted friend. don't
. know why you chose to disappear
. when the man who had your pocket.
book was killed and you were said to
be dead It's not my business, and If
you choose to go on living under an
other name, now that you are rich
again, shall not betray you, and few
people will recognize you, at least in
> England, so long as you wear that
! beard. But you had 1t when we were
: married. and knew you at once, and
:. when I heard you were to be of the
! party here, made up my mind at
: once that I would accept the invita-.
ton and come too, and speak to you
: as I'm speaking now. When be-
= lieved you were dead I forgave you
everything. though I was glad you
were gone; frankly, did not wish
! you alive again, but since you are
!, God forbid that should wish you
dead. You owe me two things in ex
change for my forgiveness: First
yours, If 1 treated you ungenerously
or unlHindly; and, secondly, you ought
! to take back every word you ever said
! to me about Mr.. Van Torp, for there
. was not a shadow Of truth in what
\ you thought VIII you do that?
a ask nothing else"
) Indeed will, my dear Maud" saiC
' Count Kralinsky, in voice full o.
\ emotion.
! Lady Maud drew long breath, thai
q trembled little as it left her heated
'. lips again. She had done what she
/. believed most firmly to be right, and
q it had not been easy. She had no
i been surprised by his patient silence
while she had been talking; for she
i had felt that It was hers to speak anC
4. his to listen.
l. "Thank you" she said now. Il shall
& never go back to what l have said
IS and neither of US need ever allude t.
It old times again during this trip. l
le will not last long, for shall probably
le go home by land from the first por
N we touch, and it is not likely that W.
IN shall ever meet again. If we do,
lie shall behave as II you were Coun
Kralinsky, whom have met abroad
ID neither more nor less. suppose yo'
"A Twill have conscience enough not I,