El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-27
The HeraId's
Daily Shsrt Stsry
"The Gods Know Best
m4s.~.

and her husband came in followed Dy
taller slighter figure. 1t was an
awful moment Madge stood up with
an icy dread at her heart, as her nus
band came towards her, and IN ms
usual breezy, genial way, introduced
her to the man she had loved and
mourned as dead.
Madge forced her cold lips into
conventional greeting. but for an IN
slant Cecil, not having any idea who
he was TO meet, was off his guard.
''Whewi" came between his set lips.
Mark turned sharply to look at him,
but the handsome face was smiling
easily now, and. he thought he must
have been mistaken; for with enviable
self control. Cecil had got over the
surprise OF meeting. and through that
evening both were careful not TO DO or
say anything to arouse suspicion.
At sight of the girl he had loved,
now more beautiful than ever, ana the
wife Of another man, Cecil's love awoke
with renewed vigor, and he determined
to see more of Madge. In his struggle
for a lucrative South African position,
he had not cared what she was SUI
fering, left behind in England, think
ing him dead. He had not wanted to-
be hampered with a wife in these first
like a selfish coward, he determined
to take advantage of her love for him.
AS he was leaving, he managed to
whisper:
'rMadge. my darling. my love. must
see you alonel Meet me at o'clock
tomorrow evening by that little pa
Wilton at the far end of the garden"
Dazed with fear, Madge understood
She would go, and Cecil would tell
her why he had been silent all that
time
Pleading a headache. she went to
bed Immediately Cecil left them. She
could not face her husband then. and
hear him discuss her former lover
How she lived through the long hours
of the next day, until the time when
she was to meet Cecil, Madge never
knew, but at last she crept to the
arbor and her heart thumped violent
". as she saw a tall figure waiting
for her
'Madge. my darling. you have conner
he exclaimed; and his hot kisses were
on her cheek With a startled cry
she drew back
"Ohi Cecil, you must not" she moan
ed. Il am his wife"
THAT can make no difference,
Madge! I love you; vow were mine
DeIOre ne ever knew your
Oh. Cecil, you swore to come back
to me within a yeari Why didn't you
keep faith with me; I waited two
years"
Z ooh, Madge. little sweetheart, it is
too long a story 10 tell you now, cir
cumstances prevented me from keep
Ing my promise. But you, Madge-
you promised to be true. You said
you would always love me, and yet 1
find you another mans wife,"
His tone was full Of passionate re-
proach; the blue eyes were alight with
love, and Madge was weak and fright
aned
foh, Cecil" she sobbed. It must
never see You again I am so miser-
abler'
And she scarcely noticed that he,
put his arm round her>again.
My little darling, my poor little
girl, we had better not stay longer
1ow; but I must see you again, Meet
ne here not tomorrow. but the next
lay. and We'll talk things over
Cecil, can't, it is wrongl He's my
husband, and is very good to mer'
You must come. Madge. you will
come! There is no harm in your COM
ng to see an old friend. 1 shall see
you on Thursday. Good night. my
larlingi"
Not once, hut many times did Cecil
'orce the girl into meeting him. He
always evaded her question as to why
ne had kept silence through three
Years and constantly reproached her
'or having married another man.
Madge." pleaded Cecil pass ionately
me day when these secret meetings
had been going on for about three
months, L have the first right to.
your love- Why are you so different
20 me now? You do not love him,
and he does not love you. He may
lave done so when he married you,
out he does not now; he would will
ngly give you up to me, and so regain [
lis freedom"
"Oh, it's not truei It's not true!"
noaned Madge. How can you say
such cruel things? I will never see
you again.
f'Madge. darling. listen to me, what
10 you think your husband would say |
he knew you had been meeting me |
ecretly like this-if he knew I was
Tour lover not only years ago. but |
low?"
Madge was about to raise her voice |
n angry and indignant denial when a !
hadow fell between them. She looked |
p and there stood her husband, every /
muscle tense, his livid face outlined /
gainst the brilliant moonlight. She
aused. silently comparing the stern
Of Mark Sherbourne with the
AGILE, half frightened attitude of her
Id lover, Cecil Mansbridge, who, com
letely taken back, stood nervously Bit
ng his moustache.
Liar" Missed Sherburne. Mans
ridge, you cur. I heard that last sem
ence- You are taking advantage Of
~ Wife You are playing upon her
Irish affections.
Mansbridge, his face distorted by his
VII passion, seized the towards
nance and as Sherbourne turned to
ddress his wife, drew a pistol and
lred point blank at his rivals head
Mark would have been dead man
ad not Madge, divining Cecirs iHten-
ION in a flush. thrown herself into
er husbands arms and received the
uHet in her shoulder
with curse Mansbridge threw
own his gun, stood for a moment. his
ice working evilly in the moonlight,
len realizing that his cowardly de-