Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-11-25
cHApTER xX11.-tContinued.l


yer, she seemed not to recognize the
handsome husband she loved so well.
They stood in silence for several mo-
ments, and then she spoke. Harold"
she asked, quietly. I've a great blank
In my mind since got well. / remem-
Der much, too much, in some ways, and
in others / can't remember at all. Since
I've been better this last week I've
been asking why you are in jail here,
more closely than did before, and
I've been wondering why you never
sent me any messages nor any reply to
those sent you when was SO i'll and
80 delirious. And they've tried to ex-
plain things to me, and I've got my
circumstances of the things / used
to do out In India, all mixed up with
what they've told me. Harold, don't
you remember how I used to ask you
there were two Mes, and how you
used to laugh at me? How used to
say had seen myself walking through
the garden, and wonder If 1t were my
mothers ghost, my mother and were
SO alike, you know? And don't you
know how I used to tell you that had
Weakened from sleep at your side to see
another me bending over you, kissing
you? Harold, what did it mean?"
Harcourt had grown whittier than the
gardenias his wife wore. He put his
hands to his forehead as II he would
implore her to stop, but apparently
thought better of it. Plaintively her
sweet, childish voice went on:
They couldn't seem to make your
trouble clear to me, Harold, and yes
terday they brought me the newspa-
pers I've read the whole story, and
can't understand it. / can't see why
you should write so much like this
Hamley Hackleye, / can't see why that
letter they found that blew from your
wallet, should be a letter addressed to
you by 'Cerisse.' can't get this Ce-
risse woman straight in my head Do
you know anything about her? Why
did she look so much like me? And
that girl that came to my room that
night? remembered about it when l
read it in the paper. Harold. did you
know this woman? This Cerisse
Wayne? And if you did, who was she,
and what was she. to you? You are
my husband still, Harold, and my dead
babys father, and all possess will be
yours to clear you from this unfortu-
nate state of affairs, only be frank with
me, Harold Tell me the truth! And
Harold, do you know that they say
that since quit taking the medicines
you used to tell me never to miss, I've
been so much better. My recollection
Of my childhood is coming back
Why, Harold, what is the matter?"
Harcourt had tainted. Mrs. Har-
court cried out and the turnkey came
in an instant. In a Jiffy they had Har-
court on his feet again. ASK her to
go away" he begged. ASK her to go
away"
But Mrs. Harcourt stood firm. Philip
Hartley and the doctor, summoned by
the confusion, entreated her to leave
Harcourt alone, but she turned deaf
ear upon them.
Il have asked only those questions
that a wife has a right to ask her hus-
band" she continued. TT is half a
year since 1 have seen my husband
Let him answer me. or shall not 60"
Harcourt realized the corner in which
he was placed. He knew, too, that
Narcisse, in her normal health, or even
partially so, was force to be gainsaid
In estimating her powers of persist
ency he knew we'll the host with which
he had to reckon. Obstinacy would
never do, that he knew. An appeal t.
her emotions might He staked all or
one throw. ''Narcisse," he begged, TN
sick, weak. unnerved, and sight of you
dear, after all this weary separation
has been most Misunderstanding. 1t ha.
brought up all the old loneliness anC
-"
But Narcisse was not deceived. TIL,
days when the wool had been lightly
shifted over her eyes were sped.
Nonsense" said she, tersely. 'Ther,
is a woman dead and buried out Their,
In the cemetery so like me that peopl,
mistook her for me. They found let
tiers in your handwriting, and address
ed to her among her belongings. The,
found letter in your handwriting in
dited to some 'Cerisse' in your wallet
along with a picture which l have seei
and which never was my picture
though 1t is a likeness of me. Thos
were the papers that blew from you
wallet that night in the hotel, and yo,
lied to me and told me they were pass
ports. Tell me, 1 demand it, what wa
Cerisse Wayne to your"
TIarcourt braced himself before h
answered. Then he shouted hoarsely:
she was my real wife! And tn
woman I lovedl"
Mrs. Harcourt did not move, though
Hartley stood ready to catch her. Sh
tainted. The guards had walked ava,
and only DR.. FothergilI and Hartle,
had heard the brotal answer as Har
court gave it. The doctor spoke FIRST
"And Mrs. Harcourt hered?"
am4 FTarcourt answered sullenly, IT mar
4{her. But / never lived with he
gtsfor that first year. After tn
A ,,,a,.,l,,rTre 1 hated her. I learned t.
AZ. . s$e-she was a woman!"
tno e, and your WIFE" breathet
rsVehts t'.They were like as two peas
mower Tel" expostulated Harcourt "St
nd excluobeam like it's picture! So Il
p the soil !, like flannel Cerisse-sh,
cath OF the wind, the spiri
10 get THE essence of life. Mar
chronicle eVt-an ivory idol, nothing
wayne woman-whers die