Middletown transcript., 1912-06-01

woman-Kirkby?"
He never mentioned your name il
connection with her"
But you must have heard it some
where" cried the man thoroughly be
wildered. "The birds Of the air didnt
tell it to you. did they?"
"She told me herself" answered
Enid Maitland.
She told you? Why, she's been
dead in her grave five years, shot to
death by that murderous dog of a hus
band Of hers"
"a word with you, Mr.. Armstrong
said the woman with great spirit
you can't talk that way about Mr.
Newbold; he saved my life twice
over, from a bear and then in the
cloudburst which caught me in the
canon"
That evens up a little," said Arm
strong. Perhaps for your sake I will
spare him"
'You!" laughed the woman con-
temptuously. Spare him? Be advised,
look to yourself, if he ever finds out
what l know, I don't believe any power
on earth could save you"
"Oh." said Armstrong carelessly
enough, although he was consumed
with hate and jealousy and raging
against her clearly evident disdain.
Il can take care Of myself, l guess.
Anyway I only want to talk about
you, not about him or her. Your faith
er-"
"Is he well?"
well enough, but heart broken,
crushed. I happened to be in his house
in Philadelphia when the telegram
came from your uncle that you were
lost and probably dead. l had just
asked him for your hand" he added,
smiling grimly at the recollection.
You had no right to do that"
Il know that"
1T was not, it is not, his to give"
Still when 1 won you l thought it
would be pleasant all around il he
knew and approved"
And did he?"
Not then. he literally drove me out
OF the house, but afterwards he said
If could find you l could have you:
and, by Heaven, have found you and
will have you whether you like it or
not"
Never" cried the woman decisive
ly.
The situation had got on Arm
strongs nerves, and he must perforce
show himself in his true colors. His
only resources were his strength. not
Of mind but Of body. He made anoth-
er most damaging mistake at this
juncture.
I'VE are alone here, and 1 am mas
ter, remember" he said meaningly.
Come, let's make up. Give me kiss
for my pains and"
have been alone here for month
with another man." answered Enid
Maitland who was strangely unafraid
In spite of this threat "A gentleman.
he has never so much as offered to
touch my hand without my permis-
sion; the contrast is quite to your dis
advantage"
Are you jealous of Louise Rosser?"
asked Armstrong suddenly seeing that
he was losing ground and casting
about desperately to account for it,
and to recover what was escaping him,
Why, that was nothing, a mere boy
and girl affair."" he ran on with a spe-
cious good humor as If it were all a
rlne. The woman was, 1 hate to
say 1t, Just crazy in love with me. but
really never cared anything espe-
cially for her; 1t was just a harmless
sort OF filtration anyway. She after
ward married this man Newbold and
mats all there was about it."
The truth would not serve him and
IN his desperation and desire he stak.
ed everything on this astounding lie.
The woman he loved looked at him
with her face as rigid as a mask.
You won't hold that against me.
Will you?" pleaded the man. 81 told
you that I'd been a man among men.
yes, among women, too, here in this
rough country, and that l wasn't
worthy OF you; there are lots Of things
IN my past that I ought to be ashamed
OF and am, and the more 1 see You
tne more ashamed I grow, but as for
loving any one else, all that I've ever
tnought or felt or experienced before
now is just nothing"
And this indeed was true. and evan
END Maitland with all her preiudice
coulo realize and understand it. ONT
oI tne same mouth, was said of old.
proceeded blessing and cursing. and
from I these same lips came truth and
lalsenood; but the power of the truth
20 lnnuence this woman was as moth.
ing 70 the power OF falsehood She
couIo never have loved him. she now
anew' a better man had won her af.
lecllohs' nobler being claimed her
neaIt' out II he had told the truth re.
sarulng MS relationship to Newbold's
wHe and then had completed If with
lAs passionate avowaI of bis nresart
love Tor her, she would have a+ 1oo'.t
admired him and respected him
You have not told me the truth .
sne .1 answered directly; you have de-.
iberately been false"
can't you see," protested tho mo
drawing nearer to her, how much 7
love you?" LUIGI !
"oh, that; yes I suppose that q
rue; as far as you can love anv one
VIII admit that you do love me-"
SO far as l can love any opeq" ba
after her. Give me a cbennS
md I'll show you"
But you haven't told the truth
bout Mrs. Newbold You have caIun,
liated the dead, you have soupb+ -
shelter yourself by throwing the bur
len Of guilty passion upon the weoI,
r vessel; 1t isn't manlike, it isn't-
Armstrong was bold fighter on,o,, J
md prompt in his decisions. He mad
mother effort to set himself right He
taxed his all on another throw of tbe 7
lice, which he began to feel were I
omehow loaded against him. 4
You are right" he admitted won