The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-07-01
CHAPTER XXu.-(Continued.)

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, 1--we a great blank
in my mind since got well. l remem-
Der much, too much, in some ways, and
in others 1 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 l did before, and
I've been wondering why you never
sent me any messages nor any reply TO
those l sent you when l was so Ill ana
so delirious. And they've tried to ex-
plain things to me, and I've got my
subconsciousness of the things used
TO do out in India, all mixed up with
what they've told me. Harold, don't
you remember how l used to ask you
if there were two Mes, and how you
used to laugh at me? How I used to
say l had seen myself walking through
the garden, and wonder if it were my
mothers ghost, my mother and l were
SO alike, you know? And don't you
know how 1 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 if he would
fmplore 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, 1 can't see why that
letter they found that blew from your
wallet should be a letter addressed to
you by 'Cerisse' l can't get this Co.
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? l 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
baby's 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 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 a deaf
ear upon them
Il have asked only those questions
that wife has right to ask her hus-
band, she continued. 1T is half a
year since 1 have seen my husband.
Let him answer me- or I shall not co.
Harcourt realized the corner in which
he was placed. He knew, too, that
Narcisse, in her normal health, or even
partially so. was a force to be gainsaid.
In estimating her powers of persist
ency he knew well the host with which
he had to reckon. Obstinacy would
never do, that he knew. An appeal To
her emotions might. He staked all on
one throw. "Narcisse," he begged I'm
sick, weak. unnerved, and sight of you,
dear, after all this weary separation
has been most heart breaking It has
brought up all the old loneliness and
-"
But Narcisse was not deceived. The
days when the wool had been lightly
shifted over her eyes were sped.
Nonsense" said she, tersely. There
is a woman dead and buried out there
in the cemetery SO like me that people
mistook her for me. They found let
tiers In your handwriting, and address
ed to her among her belongings. Thew
found q letter in your handwriting in
dited to some 'Cerisse' in your wallet
along with picture which have seen
and which never was my picture
though It Is likeness of me- Those
were the papers that blew from your
wallet that night in the hotel, and YOU
Lied to me and told me they were pass
ports. Tell me, I demand it, what was
Cerisse Wayne to your"
Harcourt braced himself before he
answered Then he shouted hoarsely:
"She was my real wife! And the
woman loved!"
Mrs. Harcourt did not move thouoh
Hartley stood ready to catch her. Sbe
tainted. The guards had walked awav
and only DR.. Fothergill and Hartley
had heard the brutal answer as Har.
court gave It The doctor spoke first
"And Mrs. Harcourt here?"
Harcourt answered sullenly, .T mar
ried her. But I never lived with hel
except for that first year. After the
baby came I hated her. learned t.
love Cerisse-she was q woman!"
But she. and your wife," breathed
Hartley. They were like as two peas
Woof." expoetulated Harcourt. ..St
= = sunbeam like its picture! So Il
fed paper like flame! Cerisse- sht
Vas the breath Of the wind, the spiri,
q the hower-the essence Of life. Mar.
clsse' lnere-an ivory idol, nothins