The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-08-10

1t makes no difference" she answer
ed Paul Is sometimes fierce and rough
but he Is generous. and all his life he
has worshiped me. lie behaves strange
ly at times. but know that he cares
all the time more. perhaps. than l de-
serve"
And there is no one elsa" Bernadine
asked softly. who can claim even the
smallest part OF your hearth
Monsieur the woman begged. you
must not ask me that. 1 think that you
had better 20 away
Bernsdine stood quite stili for several
moments. II was the climax towards
which he had steadfastly guided the
course OF this mild intrigue.
Madame" he declared. you must not
esnd me away. You shall not"
She held out her hand.
Then you must not ask impossible
things" she answered.
Then Bernadine took the plunge He
became suddnly vry grav.
sophia" he said. Il am keeping m
great secret from you and 1 can do ~ no
longer When you speak TO me OF your
husband you drive me mad. II believed
that you really loved him, | would 60
away and leave IL to chance whether or
not you ever discovered the truth AZ
1T is"
"Wellf' she interposed breathiessiy
As II Is" he continued. - am going
TO tell you now. Your husband has de-
, eeived you-he Is deceiving YOU every
moment
She looked at him incroduously.
You mean that there is another
woman
Bernadine shook his head.
Worse than that" he answered.
Your husband stole even your love I'M
der false pretenses. You think that his
life Is strange one that his nerves
nave broken down. that he flies from
place TO place for distraction. for change
OF scene. II Is not so. lie left Rome
he left Nice. he left Paris. FOR one and
the same reason. lie left because he
wnt In pril of his life. ] know little OF
your history, but l know as much as
this. II ever "a man deserved the fate
from which he flees. your husband de-
serves IT,"
You are mad" she faltered.
NO. l am sane" he went on. 1T is
you who are mad. not to have under
stood Your husband goes ever in fear
OF his life. His real name is one brand
ed with ignominy throughout the world.
The man whom you have married, to
whom you are so scrupulously faithful
is the man who sent your father to
death and your brothers to Siberia
Father Palu!' she screamed.
You have lived with him. you are his
wife" Bernadlne declared.
The color had left her cheeks; her
eyes. with their penciled brows. Were
fixed in an almost CHASTITY stare. her
breath was coming in uneven gasps
she locke dat him in silent terror.
1t Is not true" she cried at last, 1t
cannot be true
Sophia" he said. your can prove IL
for yourself. know a little OF your
husband and his doinss. Does he not
carry alawys with him black box which
he Will not allow out cf his sighty"
ALWAYS" he
you know by night his hand rests upon
1t By day. IL he goes out. IL Is In my
charge"
Fetch IL now" Bernadine directed.
and will prove my charge"
She did not hesitate for a moment. She
disappeared into her inner room; and
came back. only few moments absent.
carrying in her hand a black leather
despatch box.
You have the key" he asked.
Yes. she answered. looking at him
and trembling. but l dare notch,
dare not open IT."
sophia he said. II my words are
not true, / will pass out OF your life for
always. ! challenge you II you open
that box you win know that your hus-
band IS. indeed the greatest scoundrel
In Europe"
She drew key from a gold chain
around her neck
There are two locks" she told him.
The other ~ q combination. but i know
tie word. Who's that
she started suddenly. There was a
loud tapping A. the door Bernadfne
threw an antimacassar half over the
box. but he was too late he Grost and
Hagen had crossed the thres hold The
woman stood like some dumb creature.
Hagen. transfixed. stood with his eyes
rivetted upon Bernadinc. Ills face was
distorted with passion lie seemed ike.
h.afr.4
came slowly forward into the middle or
the room.
Count Won Hcrne." he said, 4 think
that you had better leave"
7 he woman found words
Not yet she crica. not yet Paul
terrible thiug"
Tie breath seemed - come through
liagon's teeth like "a hiss
He has told you"
Listen Co me- she continued II is
TIE truth which yog must tell now be
SAYS that you -ynu are Father Paul
Iiagou did not hesitate Tor a second
IL - true" he admitted
Then there was a. sIleuce--snort. h1t
traglcnl iloEan seemed ike man who
bad collapsed. De- was lIks man u.s
has Just had a stroke De- stood m4t-
tcrirE 90 himself
1T is the enI-.trIs- fhe end. he ..lf
in a low tona- sophia
She D. '-sfc< away rnm .Im De drew
flashed inlh FACE.
U vaF for Jour cake Dol salf sim-
p.f fHr ynYr sake. sophia came OBJ
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