The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-06-10
CHAPTER XIV.
CHOOSE.

"T HAVE not finished were the
| first words we heard from Car
| mel when order was restored
| and we were all in a condition
| to listen again.
81 had to relate what you have just
heard that you might understand what
happened next. l was not used to
| pain, and / could never have kept on
| pressing those irons to my cheek if
had not had the strength given me by
| my own reflection in the glass. When
l thought the burn was quite deep
enough tore the tongs away and was
| lifting them to the other cheek when
| saw the door behind me open inch by
| inch, as though pushed by ating
| touches
Instantly I forgot my pain, almost
my purpose, watching that door.
saw it slowly swing to its full width
| and disclose my sister standing in the
gap with a look and in an attitude
| which terrified me more than the fire
had done. Dropping the tongs. l turn,
ed and faced her, covering my cheek
| instinctiveIy with my hand.
II saw her eyes run over my elab-
| crate dinner dress-my little hand bag
| and the candle burning in a room
| made warm with fire on the hearth
| this before she spoke a single word
Then, with deep laboring breath, she
looked me in the eye again with the
simple question:
"'And where is hep"
Carmel's head had dropped at this,
but she raised it almost instantly.
Mine did not rise so readily.
lido you mean ElwoodT 1 asked
You know. said she. The veil is
down between us, Carmel. We will
speak plainly now. 1 saw him give
you the letter. l heard you ask Arthur
to harness up the horse. | have de-
meaned myself to follow you, and we
will have no subterfuges now. You
expect him here?
"'No,' l cried, I am not so bad as
that, Adelaide-nor is he. Here is the
note You will see by it what he ex-
poets and at what place should have
joined him if | had been the selfish
creature you think l had the note
hidden in my breast. / took it out
and held it toward her. 1 did not feel
the burn at all, but l kept it covered.
She glanced down at the words, and I
felt like falling at her feet, she look
ed so miserable.
''She glanced down at the paper and
let it drop almost Immediately from
her hand. i cannot read his words!
she cried. L do not need to. We both
know which of US he loves best. You
cannot say that it is l, his engaged
wife l was silent, and her face took
on an awful pallor. Carmel" said she,
do you know what this mans love has
been to me? You are child. warm
hearted and passionate child. but you
do not know a woman's heart. Ger
tai1ily you do not know mine. l doubt
If any one does-even he. Cares have
warped my life. l have no charms to
rival yours; l have only love, such
love as you cannot dream Of at your
age. And this is DO longer desirable
to him.
"You see that I remember every
word she spoke. They burned more
fercely than the iron. That did not
burn at all just then. was cold in
stead-bitterly, awfully cold. Ny very
heart seemed frozen, and the silence
was dreadful. But I could not speak;
could not answer her.
"'You have everything she now
went on. why did you rob me of my
one happiness? And you have robbed
me. Carmel, do you know why 1 am
here?' I shook my head. L am here
to end it ALL said she.
ITO BE COntinuedA