The searchlight., 1910-03-25

suddenly slipped into the recess
where the farmhouse joined the engine
skylight She stood sSill. and he in
stantly ranged himself beside her.
They were quite out of sight Of the
others. and of the bridge. and even II
it had been daylight they could not
have been seen except by some one
coming from aft.
Il 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 1t towards her, to hear
better what she was going to say.
1T has pleased you to keep up this
comedy for "a hours" she began.
He made slight movement. which |
was natural under the circumstances.
II do not understand" he said. In |
his oily voice. What comedy? l real |
ly have no"
Don't go on" she answered, inter.
rupting him sharply. Listen to what
I am going to tell you. and then de-
eide what you will do. l don't think
your decision will make very much
difference to me, but 1t will make
difference to the world and to your
self. / saw you from window when
you brought Mr.. Van Torp to the
hotel In Bayreuth. and I recognized
you at once. Since this afternoon !
have no doubt left"
Il never saw you till last night"
kv yxrtth
prise In his tone, and with perfect as
surance.
do you really think you can de-
ceive me any longer?" she asked. Il
told you this afternoon that II you
could come back from the dead. and
know the truth, We should probably
forgive each other. though we had
many differences. Shall we!" She
paused a moment. and by his quick
change OF position she saw that he
was much moved. Il 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 I.
You wanted to marry me because
was pretty and smart. and l married
you because l wanted to be married.
and you were better looking than
most men. and seemed to have what
l thought was necessary-fortune and
q decent position. No. don't interrupt
me. We soon found out that we did
not care for each other. You went
your way. and | went mine. I don't
mean to reproach you. for when l
say you were beginning to be tired OF
me l did nothing to keep you. | my.
self was tired of II 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 &C,
count for 1t. never used 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 II
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 tina,
beard. But you had 1t when We were
. married. and ! knew you at once. and
when l heard you were to be OF the
!, party here. l made up my mind al
= once that l would accept the invita-
ton and come too. and speak to yol
as I'm speaking now. When l be
= lieved you were dead l forgave yo,
everything. though was glad yo,
,, were gone: frankly. l did not wisl
= you alive again. but since you are
God forbid that l should wish yo,
dead. You owe me two things In ex
change for my forgiveness: First
yours. II treated you ungenerousL
or unkindly: and. secondly. you ough
. to take back every word you ever sait
!, TO me about Mr.. Van Torp. for ther,
!, was not a shadow Of truth In wha
!, ysu thought. WIN you do that!
a ask nothing else"
q Indeed l will. my dear Maud" sal.
" Count kralinsky. In q voice full O
a emotion.
n. Lady Maud drew q long breath, tha
"a trembled q little as II left her heate,
,. lips again. She had done what sh
i. believed most firmly to be right, an,
q 1t had not been easy. She had NO
1. been surprised by his patient silenc
while she had been talking: for sh,
II had felt that It was hers to speak an,
4. his to listen.
i. Thank you." she said now. Il shall
z never go back to what l have said
Is and neither Of US need ever allude 4
1t old times again during this trip. l
le will not last long. for shall probabl,
le go home by land from the first por
n we touch. and it il not likely that VI
In shall ever meet again. II We do.
le shall behave as II you were Coun
Kralinsky. whom have met abroad
ID neither more nor less. suppose yol
d viii have conscience enough not +
n marry. Perhaps, II thought anothe
| wOman.a haDDfneaa demanded ON II