The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-03-09

court OF law, and have questions
asked She told herself that Dan
guessed as much, and thought he
could, in consequence, treat her as he
liked. During the past three months,
the months that had elarsed since
Jem's desertion. circumstances had
moved fast.
The dinner party at Carronlea had
led to nothing. In one of their quar-
rels, she had told Dan roundly that
this was his fault. thereby still fur
ther embittering their relations.
One solitary invitation card appear
ed in the frame of the mirror in her
boudior as she called 1t. An invita-
ton to the huge garden party at the
Court, to which, as she knew, all the
leading tradespeople We're bidden,
since Lord Bunbury's younger brother
sat for that division of the county.
She felt as though that invitation were
the crowning insult.
One afternoon she felt more lnclin-
ed to cut her throat than ever in her
life before. The night previous there
had taken place the worst scene as
yet enacted between them. when Dan,
half tipsy and goaded by her cold CON
tempt had openly tainted her with
her childlessness and had used Ian
guage beside which his personal vio-
lence seemed pardonable Il was a
woman very near the edge Of despair
who sat brooding in her motor-car
as it shot through the summer lanes
There had been two or three wet days
and a thunderstorm, and the air was
not very warm. The raindrops still
trembled upon the ferny banks and
upon the leaves of the grand trees
which made all the land like one huge
park. Her loneliness had reached the
pitch when she felt she mast have hui
man intercourse or go mad. So she
was going to call at Carronlea. She
did not care whether she owed a call
o" not-as a matter of fact she did not.
See the face of some creature of her
own sex, she felt she imperatively
must, even if the accustomed snub-
bing should be the result
She was richly dressed, as usual,
and her very careful makeup hid the
fact of her extraordinary pallor. AS
she was whirled along the eyes of her
mind were fixed upon her bruises
She had shown them to the house
maid that morning. Something that
Dan had let slip the previous night
had encouraged her to hope that there
might be more grounds for a divorce
than she had known.
Arrived at Carronlea, she was told
that Mrs. Bardsley was in the garden
but should be summoned. She was
ushered throught the hall. always
since Vernon first came, bower of
flowers and fragrance; and into the
chintzy cool and half-light of the long,
low drawing room.
A gentleman was sitting in the WIN
dow, busily writing at a small table
At the sound Of the opening door, and
Of some one entering, he turned; and
Laura stood gazing into the face of
her husband, Lionel Gladwyn.
He leaped to his feet. Neither of
them had changed enough to make
recognition difficult. There they stood
mute, paralyzed. In Lionel's ears the
words Mrs. Trent" which had an
nounced her appearance, floated
vaguely.
So here was the end. She had
known, somehow, that afternoon, that
it was in sight. But here it was in
deed. The last chapter.
Neither knew how long they had
stood thus, facing each other with
such different thoughts. To him she
had come too late. Had he divorced
her years ago, he told himself that
Vernon would be his wife now. To
her he was like the executioner as
though. in a most unusual manner,
she faced him after the striking OF the
fatal blow.
Well" she said at last, in a voice
that was steady, if rather faint. well,
so it is you. There is no need for
heroics, is there?"
None at ALL" he replied.
81 may as well tell you before other
people come in, as I suppose they will,
in half a minute, that I am married.
Must you ruin me?"
ut is fairer to tell you at once that
I must. 1t is vital to me that [ should
be free. I have been in England
month looking for you"
With a sang-froid which astonished
herself she took out her card-case and