The Springfield herald. (Springfield, Baca County, Colo.) 1887-1919, 1912-03-01
CHAPTER vI.-(contlnusd.)

CHAPTER vI.-(contlnusd.)
Last night happened to be pass
ing this place. had no intention Of
spying upon you'll never dishonored
you by such acts-but fate ordained
that l should be Just in time to see
you alight with Richard Mackay. The
door of the lower entrance remained
open for a few seconds after you had
entered. ! saw your scene with him
before you entered the elevator"
Never In my life had ! seen such a
change come over human counte-
nance as swept hers at my words.
The color fed in a flash and her
cheeks became ashy gray. Into her
eyes the instant before SO soft there
leaped the glitter of leopardess as
she gathers herself for the leap. Tense
and seeming to crouch. l saw the
ileopardess in every outline Of her
curved body. Then as suddenly she
relaxed; the glitter faded and the
heat of anger gave way to the cold
ness Of scorn. She stepped backward
with a hooking bow.
you honor me greatly. my dear sir,
and / assure you that l shall never
forget 1t. Yesterday you told me that
was an angel exalted above your
hope; today I am fallen thing be-
meath your contempt. And all be-
cause of miserable occurrence like
that! And you would have left me
with no opportunity to explain my
guiltlessness had l not forced you to
grant me that right"
Your guiltlessness!" / returned as
icily. 81 have charged you with no
guilt beyond treachery to me. You
told me that no other man made love
to you. and believed you. You had
told me that Mackey was merely your
financial agent. and pinned my heart
upon your naked word. You have
crucifed it. Yet | could forgive you
were 1t not for the fact that this man
is married and has a family and you
are well aware of it. leave the ques-
ton of your guiltlessness towards his
wife to your own conscience"
Her bosom heaved and her hands
frightened. Listen" she said In
voice hard as steel You shall hear
me out now, for there are things that
you must know. Not that l care for
your opinion, and not that l care to
retain even your friendship after this.
but because 1t is my duty to myself
and to Mr.. Mackay. who seems at
least to respect me. ! had told you
much of my affairs, but not every
thing Mr.. Mackay made certain in
vestments for my husband, and 1t was
that fact principally that brought me
back from the Orient. He has been
kind enough now that l am alone IN
the world to protect them for me and
give me the benefit of his judgment
and experience that might not have
to exist on the charity of friends. That
makes 1t necessary that l should some
times see him. AS to what the world
says about me, l do not care the snap
of my finger, for 1t has always ma
ligned me and l do not even take the
pains to deny what 1t may say. AS for
that scene in the hail. as your high
ness seems pleased to designate it,
have only to say this. l was taken Ill
last night at a late luncheon at which
he happened to be present with 9TH
ers, and he hurried me home in his
car. ] was very faint when we ar
rived here and he supported me with
his arm across the walk and into the
building. Before the elevator came
down / must have lost consciousness
for moment, for when l regained
my senses he was holding me in his
arms to prevent my falling and bend
ing over me as he asked me Whit he
could do for me. In moment | had
recovered my strength and requested
him to release me, which he imnedi-
ately did He escorted me as far as
my door and left me there at my re-
quest after | had assured him that
Janet would do all that was necessary
for me- Mr.. Mackay did no more than
any other gentleman would have done
under the circumstances"
The pride of her poise was magnifi-
cent and the cold dignity of her tones
that of an outraged empress. Never
before had she seemed SO beautiful,
SO pure, SO womanly And cropping for
something, no matter how slight,
upon which to once more fasten my
faith in her, my jealousy and black
suspicious once more fed before her
bearing and explanation, and in their
place love and belief came surging
back. The terrible smothering weight
within me was lifted and l could have
cried aloud in the blessedness of my
relief I fell upon my knees before
her as / brokenly begged her forgive
ness; clutching her convulsively by
the hand and pleading my heart out
that she be merciful She listened in
silence 70 my appeals until they were
exhausted and then told me l must
rise.
81 do not know what to say to you,
she returned as l stood before her