The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-01

What sort Of love had been his
which so tainted before the first
breath of suspicion? Questions few
through her brain as she contemplate
ed the dread water-hole, but tn ere
was no answer to any of them. Only
the sentence rang in her ears. To-
day was the last Of her unhappy mar
riage. Tomorrow she was to be an
outcast: widow who was no widow;
a woman at whom every man with
a knowledge of the circumstances
must look askance; a woman who is
the legitimate object of woman's
sneers.
tracted, and man, too, found himself
concentrating his attention in a fresh
direction. There was the sound Ct
breaking bush and steady plod If
horses hoofs. They both knew that
the hour of noon had come.
Ferman Elwood rode slowly into the
clearing.
Mary drew nearer to Guy. The
clearing was small, and in the form
Of crescent moon, the concave edge
of which was the circular brink of
the funnel-like water-hole. AT each
horn of the crescent the bush grew
thick, and overhung the chasm sides
SO as to be absolutely impenetrable,
but the outer edge was fringed with
larger camel-thorn trees and a low
wachtein-beche scrub intersected by
narrow cattle-paths. 1t was from this
direction the horseman emerged.
He disnnounted and secured his
horse. then he turned about to face
the others. now standing side by side.
His manner was deliberate and calm,
but there was light in his eyes that
betrayed something of his condition
of mind. He lowered, a figure of
great strength, even here in the midst
of stupendous nature.
His eyes were upon Guy. Appar-
entity he wished to ignore his wife's
presence altogether His business was
only with the man.
There was no preamble. His voice
was steady, and his eyes never swerv-
ed from the others face.
''Well?" he demanded Jelly. 'You
are here to assert your claim to
Mary's affections. Do you do so?''
Guy shrugged his shoulders, throw
ing into the movement an unconcern
he did not feel. He waved a hand
in the girls direction.
''Her presence here, at my side.
should make assurance unnecessary.
"Yet I demand proof
"Elwood's words were answered By
little choking laugh. It came
from his wife, who now left Guys
side and stood out between them.
Zone moment" she said, her tenn
pies throbbing like sledge-hammers,
and her breath coming in short gasps.
"It seems to me that, as am the
plaything between you two, in a
game even a savage would hesitate 20
play, and as /, alone, can settle this
matter, I have right to be heard"
For moment she paused, her
heaving bosom and flashing eyes tell
ing all too plainly of the tension
mind and feelings were at She strug-
gled for self-control and presently
went on.
''As I understand it, the terms Of
your disgraceful compact demand
this man's-life," she said in a voice
that was hoarse with emotion, while
she pointed at Guy now standing be-
hind her; .'that isl she added, eff
he has failed to possess himself Of
of my affections
Elwood nodded gravely.
''And who are you to demand such
forfeit?'' she went on at once, with
sudden fierce outburst. who are
you that you can dictate the life or
death of your fellow man? Do you
set yourself up as a Judge? Do you
dare, you who made this filthy COM
pact, to take to yourself that high
est right among men, the right which
belongs only to those whose lives are
in themselves blameless? You shall
not! / tell you this man shall not
be your victim! You understand
me? His life shall not be forfeit'
Go Be Continued.)