The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-01-12
CHAPTER KIN.


He entered. both hoping and fearing
that Pepeeta would be asleep. He had
q vague presentiment that he was on
the verge OF some great event The
guilty secret so long hidden in the
depths of his soul seemed to have fes-
tered its way dangerously near TO the
surface. and he felt that II anything
more should happen to irritate him he
might do something desperate.
80 quiet had been his movements
that he stood at Pepeeta's door before
she knew that he had entered the
house, and when he saw her kneeling
by her bedside he stamped his foot in
rage. The worshiper. startled by the
interruption. although she was mo-
mentarily expecting It. hastily arose.
She smiled him a welcome which re-
vealed her love. but did not conceal
her sadness nor her suffering. and. ap-
preaching him. extended her hands for
an embrace. He pushed her aside and
nung himself heavily into chair.
You are tired" she said soothingly.
and stroked his hair.
He did not answer, and her caress
both tranquilized and frenzied him.
She placed before him the little lunch
which she always prepared with her
own hands and kept in readiness for
his returned.
Take II away. How often have I
told you never to let me find you on
your knees when / come home7" he
asked. brutally.
"Oh! my beloved" she exclaimed.
you will at least permit me to kneel
to you! See! 1 am here In an atti-
tude of supplication! Listen to me?
Answer me! What Is the matter? Do
you not love me any more7 Tell me!
VIII you never love me again7"
With a violent and convulsive ef-
fort he pushed her away and excltim-
ed fercely, Leave mel Do not touch
me! hate you'll"
Hate me?" she cried. "hato met Oh.
David. You cannot mean It, You can
not mean that you hate me?"
But I dol" he exclaimed. bitterly,
Il hate you. You have ruined me. and
now you confess its From the time
that first saw you / have never had
q moments peace. Why did you ever
cross my path7 Could you not have
left me alone in my happiness and in
nocence7 Look at me now. See what
you have brought me to. I am ruined!
But am not alone You have pulled
yourself down with me. What will
you say when tell you that you are
4 involved in a crime that must drag III
both DOWN."
"A orime?" she cried. clasping hei
hands in terror.
Yes, a crime. You need not lool
80 innocent You are as guilty as
or at least you are as deeply involved
We are bound together in misery. W.
are doomed"
Doomed! Doomed! What do yol
mean? Tell me, implore you-do no
speak in riddles!"
Tell your Do you wish to know
Are you in earnest? Then will! 70,
are not my wife! Therel 1t IL out a
last!"
Pepeeta sprang to her feet and stoot
staring at him In horror.
II deceived you. You were married
to your beast of a husband lawful.
enough; but as you would not leav
him willingly. I determined that yol
should leave him any. way. And 80
! bribed the justice to deceive you"
You -bribed- the Justice to deceive
met"
Yes. bribed him. Do you under
stand7 You see now what your beaut
has brought you to?"
She stood before him white and 81
lent He had risen. and they wer
, confronting each other with their sin
and sorrows between them.
"This, them" she said. 'is the clu
to all this mystery. The tangled thren
has begun to unravel Many time
this suspicion has forced itself upo
my mind; but 1t was too terrible I
believe! And yet I. who could NO
endure the suspicion. must now sup
port the reality"
> WELL" he said, what are you go
!, ing to do about it?"
dor" she said. do? Must d
something7 Yes. you are right. w
cannot go on as we are. Somethin
must be done. But whatf Is It possi
. BILE that must return to my husband
: How can do that-I who cannot thin
Of him without loathing! What 10 III
, matterf Why do you tremble sof
II then as terrible to you as to meY
, see from your emotion that am righ
: And yet cannot see what good It wi
, dol How can II undo the wrongf
viii be a certain sort OF reparatiol
: but II cannot bring him happiness, fc
cannot give him back my heart. Oh
David. why have you done this? An
yet / see my duty! II he is my hus
band. I must go back to him. A wife
place IL by her husbands side. q
not see how can do It. but I mus
How hard II isl cannot realize
8 The very thought OF seeing him agai
I makes me shudder! And yet I mul
: gol"
1T Is impossible. gasped the tren
I. bling creature to whom she looked Z,
! confirmation.
! why impossiblef"
: Because, because-he-is-dead
: he whispered. through his dry lips.
: Dead? Did you say deadf" Pepe,
Ia cried. when did he die? How d
he die?"
Il killed him." he shouted. springir
to his feet and waving his hands wils
L ly. There, II has told Itself kne
. Il would. II has been eating Its we
Q out OF my heart for months. l shou
{ have died II I had kept II secret q
n another moment feel relieved a
. ready. You do not know what
means to guard secret night and d