The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-02-03
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CHAPTER W-(contlnued.l

CHAPTER Vl.-(contlnued.l
EAST night / happened to be pass
E IL ttis Mace. had no intention OF
s ~ upon you'll never dishonored
IN Nv such acts-but fate ordained
AM i should BIZ 5ust in time to see
an aIight with Richard Mackay. The
nm 81 the lower entrance remained
M, for few seconds after you had
4 .rtared. saw your scene with him
,,asore you entered the elevator.
Never In my life had | seen such a
,hange come over a human counte-
sauce as swept hers at my words.
ma color fed in flash and her
cheeks became ashy gray. Into her
W. the instant before SO soft there
Named the glitter of a leopardess as
phs gathers herself for the leap. Tense
ena seeming to crouch, | saw the
taopardess in every outline Of her
su7yed body. Then as suddenly she
,aIa1ed; the glitter faded and the
h aees Of anger gave way to the cold
hess Of scorn. She stepped backward
sath rnocking bow. -
f #You honor me greatly, my dear sir,
md / assure you that I shall never
forget 1t. Yesterday you told me that
{ was an angel exalted above your
hope; today / am fallen thing be-
meath your contempt And all be-
cause Of miserable occurrence like
shas! And you would have left me
With no opportunity to explain my
sulitlessness had ] not forced you to
grant me that right"
"your guiltlessness!" I returned as
scily. Z have charged you with no
guilt beyond treachery to me. You
told me that no other man made love
10 you and believed you. You had
s0d me that Mackey was merely your
financial agent, and pinned my heart
upon your naked word. You have
eracifed IT, Yet could forgive you
1 we're 1t not for the fact that this man
4 i married and has q family and you
ase VOL aware OF 1t. i leave the qnes-
hon of your guiltiessness towards his
wife 10 your own conscience"
Her bosom heaved and her hands
dghtened. Listen" she said in q
Ecice hard as steel. you shall hear
4 ne out now, for there are things that
Soa must know. Not that I care for
your opinion, and not that I care to
retain even your friendship after this,
Dug because 1T is my duty to myself
Y Mud 10 Mr.. Mackay, who seems at
\ least to respect me. ! had told you
much Of my affairs, but not every
taing, Mr.. Mackay made certain In
sestInents for my husband, and 1t was
saat fact principally that brought me
eack from the Orient. He has been
nnd enough now that l am alone in
sae world to protect them for me and
! slfs me the benefit Of his Judgment
ahd experience that 7 might not have
70 exist on the charity of friends. That
makes It necessary that should some
qnes see him. AS to what the world
asfs about me, do not care the snap
my finger, for it has always ma
asned me and | do not even take the
PANS 70 deny what it may say. AS for
! .aas scene in the hail. as your high
aess seems pleased to designate 1t, !
I asse only to say this. I was taken Ill
.asl hight at a late luncheon at which
Y happened to be present with 9TH
n ~ anu ne hurried me home in his
4 ". ! was very aaint when we ar
s,seo here and he supported me with
y Y arm across the walk and into the
+ sa'aalhg. Before Abe elevator came
ao8n ! must have lost consciousness
Y moment, for when I regained
= senses ne was holding me in his
ss.as % prevent my falling and bend
y ssef me vs. he asked me what he
.sua 90 for me. In a moment I had
shss ~ my strength and requested
~ II, @ release me, which he immedi-
s, 80 aaa. he escorted me as far as
Y ooor and left me there at NV re-
n.y. NY alter had assured him that
4 s. would do all that was necessary
& le. Mr, Mackay did no more than
~ ~ osaer gentleman would have done
sa y, me circumstances
We pride Of her poise was marn;fi
~. An ana the cold dignity of her tones
s NJ q an outraged empress. Never
e wv aad she seemed SO beautiful.
sa,s ss'e' 50 Womanly. And cropping for
~. sAai'is 8. no matter how slight.
I'M I'M which to once more fasten INV
NY, s,sa.. 70 her, my jealousy and black
h,s ssssoAs once more fed before her
49, a.iag and explanation, and in their
Nm ass love and belief came surging
sl nm The terrible smothering weight
cssas AN he was lifted and could have
r.a.. aloud in the blessedness e1 INV
H. y \. fell upon my knees before
aess .s pFoKenly begged her forgive
shs s,s s,asealng her convulsively by
a.. a g, and pleading my heart out
Son. sas oe merciful. She listened In
sshss s @ my appeals until they were
fise s'sa and then told me l must
aae So. w KNOW what to say to you"
safaee as stood before her