The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-10-25

cept oy mutual consent: Blackstock /
admits and I admit he didn't do 1t. /
There remain Blackstoek and myself,
neither of whom could have been con-
victed on the others unsupported evil
dence."
You are cowardly to say this TO me,
when he's not here!"
But he had a level and emotionless
look with which TO meet the impas-
stoned scorn she showed him.
Perhaps: but don't forget I asked
only the opportunity 70 say as much 10
him. Has it ever occurred to
you that Dundas, not your husband.
sent NE 10 Sing Sing-that, had Dun
das been IN my pay, BIackstock would
now be occupying the cell occupied?"
He had himself we'll IN hand. Other
wise she must have seen how deeply
moved he was. Simply TO watch her
and not give way was almost more
than he could endure. His eyes
! kindled and his face blazed, and his
| heart ached-with his love Cor her,
the longing that he must never voice.
But she did not see.
She was answering him; her words
came in a torrent, stumbling over
! one another: her voice vibrant with
| unutterable contempt sounded in his
| bearing like the hymning Of angels.
! oh" she cried in loathing-"insuffer
| able" And the desire to catch her
| in his arms and stop her lips with
| kisses was like pain. Il n-ve,
dreamed that man could be so low. SO
| vtle." she said; and he wished him.
! self beneath the foot she stamped. Il
hate you" she told him; and beneath
his breath he whispered over and
! over: Il love you, l love YOU"
4 ask nothing" he said, when she
had to stop. as much for lack of words
| as breath, more than that you think
it over. You've told me what you
think Of me-and / daresay you're
somewhat justified. But think 1t over;
you owe me and you owe yourself
that. Weigh the worst you knew of
me before Van Tuyl was shot against
| what you have learned Of Blackstock
since you married him; then Judge be-
tween us. Try to think which would
be the more likely to lose his temper
! because of drunken mans maudlin
! insolence. At best you'll admit it's
his word against mine, Dundas's word
deciding. And one way or another
| Dundas was perturer: first his tes-
timony convicted me, then his testt-
mony set me free"
demanded, impressed in spite Of her
| self
"Dundas,' he explained patiently,
Committed suicide in the Tombs a
few days ago, after signing a confes-
sion that he had testified falsly at my
trial On the strength of that con-
fession / was pardoned by the Gov
ernor You understand?
Her face was CHASTITY. You bought
that confession" she asserted between
set teeth.
He smiled painfully. Il presume /
might have anticipated that. -
You daren't deny you bought it,"
From a man contemplating sui
cide?'
That silenced her. Her poor, dis
traught wits would frame no retcrt to
his memorable logic. Pulled this way
and that by doubts, each more ter
rible than its fellow, she could no
more than sway and stare at him with
eyes blank in face like parchment.
His heart bled for her in her mis-
cry If he could he would have I'M
said all that he had said, to ease her
suffering. 4 feel like a dog be told
ha- r+-jt 1fr fold rhiG
I meant not to, but .
I couldn't. help 1t. Think and .
and Judge between US. Katherine
ut Is lie" she walled. You have
lied to me-everything you have said
was lies-all lies. don't believe you.
But you have poisoned my
life for me. Truth or lies:
what am I to believe? | am
the most wretched Of women, and you
have made me so. Why couldn't you
leave me In peace? Why must you
have come to make me suffer SO? How
am I to know what Is true, what
!. false? Oh, you are monstrQus !
You are cruel. cruel! If only you
would go and let me forget!
Go, go, and let me be!'
In his remorse, reluctant to leave
her SO, he tried to comfort her with
broken protestations that even he
knew were rank with insincerity; nor
would he willingly have gone before
| she grew more composed. But at
length, despairing, be yielded to her
unending importantly, and bowling his
| head, went his way in a daze of mis-.
cry as black and dense as the relent,