The state herald., 1910-03-04
ByfMARION CRAWFORD
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= 6l EwHRI0W CRAWFORO

Torp and went back to Lady Maud
who moved as he came up to her,
made two steps beside him. and then
suddenly slipped into the recess
where the fanhouse Joined the engine
skylight. She stood still. and he in
stantly ranged himself beside her.
They were quite out of sight OF the
others. and of the bridge, and even II
1t 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 it 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? real
ly have no"
Don't go on" she answered. inter
rupting him sharply. Listen to what
l am going to tell you. and then de-
eide what you will do. / don't think
your decision will make very much
difference to me. but 1t will make a
difference to the world and to your
self. saw you from window when
you brought Mr.. Van Torp to the
hotel in Bayreuth. and recognized
you at once. Since this afternoon
have no doubt left"
Il never saw you till last night"
said Kralinsky. with some little sur
prise in his tone. and with perfect as.
surance.
DO you really think you can de-
ceive me any longer" she asked. 81
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 moment. and by his quick
change of position she saw that he
was much moved. II 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 /.
You wanted to marry me because
was pretty and smart. and / married
you because ] wanted to be married.
and you were better looking than
most men. and seemed to have what
! thought was necessary-fortune and
decent position. No. don't interrupt
me. We soon found out that we did
not care for each other. You went
your way, and l went mine. don't
mean to reproach you. for when
say you were beginning to be tired of
me 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 great deal of money for
my charity. and does still. l can ac.
count for II. l 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 that
beard. But you had II when we were
married. and ! knew you at once. and
when ] heard you were to be of the
party here, | made up my mind Mt
once that ] would accept the invita-.
sion and come too. and speak to you
ms I'm speaking now. When I be.
lieved you were dead ! forgave you
everything. though ! was glad you
were gone: frankly. ! did not wish
you alive again. but since you are.
God forbid that | should wish you
dead. You owe me two things In ex.
change for my forgiveness: First.
yours, II treated you ungcnerously
or unkindly: and. secondly. you ought
to take back every word you ever said
to me about Mr.. Van Torp. for there
was not shadow OF truth In what
you thought. WIN you do that? |
ask nothing else"
Indeed will. my dear Maud" said
Count Krslinsky. In a voice full OF
emotion.
Lady Maud drew long breath. that
srembled little ms II left her heated
lips again. She had done what she
believed most nrmly 10 be right. and
Il had not been easy. She had mo-,
been surprised by his patient silence
while she had been talking: for she
hed felt that Il was hers TO speak and
his TO listen.
Thank YOU" she said now. II shall
never no back 10 what ! have said.
and neither OF us need ever nllude to
old times again during this trip. II
will not last long. for shall probably
20 home by land from the FIRST por,
We touch. and II IL not likely that We
shall ever meet again. II we do. !
shall behave M II you were Count
kraiinsky. whom have met abroad
neither more nor less. I suppose you
Will hayo coincidence ,.rotirh mt to