Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-07-22
CHAPTER XXII.-(Continued.)

mead 10 loot. In this broken man, with
the hair slightly sifted over with sill
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 we'll remem-
her much, too much. in some ways. and
b. others cant remember at all. Since
Eve been better this last week I've
been asking why you are in jail here.
more closely than did before. and
Eve been wondering why you never
sent me any messages nor any reply 10
those sent you when ] was so i'll and
50 delirious. And they've tried to ex-
plain things to me. and I've got my
subconsciousness Of the things I used
=" do out in India. all MIXED up with
what they've told me Harold don't
you remember how | used to ask you
II there were two Mes. and how you
used to laugh at me? How I used to
say had seen myself walking through
The garden. and wonder if it 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
wakened 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 IL 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. l can't see why
you should write SO much like this
Hamley Hackleye. l can't see why that
letter they found that blew from your
wallet should be letter addressed to
you by 'Cerisse.' l 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? l remembered about 1t when
read 1t 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 I quit taking the medicines
nSad n toll
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 a right to ask her hus-
band." she continued. 1T is half a
year since l have seen my husband
Let him answer me, or l 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 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 rt-breaking. 1t 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
ters in your handwriting. and address,
ed to her among her belongings They
found letter in your handwriting in
dited to some 'Cerisse' in your wallet,
along with a 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. demand 1t, what was
Cerisse Wayne to you?"
Harcourt braced himself before he
answered. Then he shouted hoarsely:
''She was my real wife! And the
woman l loved!"
Mrs. Harcourt did not move. though
Hartley stood ready to catch her. She
tainted. The guards had walked away
and only DR.. Fothergill and Hartley
had heard the brutal answer as Har-
court gave It. The doctor spoke first.
-And Mrs Harcourt herer