The Washington times., 1913-08-25
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued.) }

|- WAS Just sixteen when he mar
- ried me, and he was to claim
me after the war was over"
She could hardly explain why
she made that last statement. Her re-
lations to Grafton were no concern OF
this strange woman's-yet Ariadne
would not sail under false colors mo-
ment. Something constrained her 10
add that explanation.
And the war Is not over, cried
Kathleen, a little smile OF triumph upon
her lips. Il understand II now.
Understand what? There Is some
mystery here, madam. l demand to
know it,
one of those swift revulsions of feel
ing to which women are prone came
over Kathleen, who was in many ways
a creature of impulse, and for whose
alterations of thought and action there
was another excuse. Her heart was
full of sudden pity for the poor un-
claimed. unlOved wife.
Don't ask" she said; let me per-
suade you. Lie down. once more; you
are not strong"
Il am Strong enough for anything
that concerns my husband
Have il your own way, then said
Kathleen, who had been standing be-
tween Ariadne and the bed. She now
stepped aside and pointed TO Grafton:
Ariadne walked over to the bed and
pent over her husband, the unconscious
subject of all this strife. She folded
back the sheet, opened the breast OF
his nlghtshirt, shuddered at the sight
of his bandages. and there lay locket.
A little gold locket shaped like heart,
She had never seen it; she did not know
what IL contained.
''Yas'm, dat's hit," said Jeff. who had
followed the scene with interest, al
though he comprehended little of 1t;
dat de ve'y one. l done see him kiss
II an"
Ariadne closed the shirt and drew
back the cover.
Don't you want to see the picture in
side?" asked Kathleen.
No" said Ariadne, wrenching the
statement from Quivering lips; 1t Is my
husbands $ secret. ! should not dream Oh
opening that locket now.
But Ariadne was dOubly bereaved now.
She had never had a picture taken that
would go in a locket OF that size. She
knew instinctively that 1t could not be
her likeness that her husband had stared
at and kissed So often. She jumped 10
the conclusion that it might be that OF
Kathleen EirkwOOd, whose name mad
been so frequent in those letter-day let
ters from college. Yet Grafton was the
soul Of honor-he had sworn there was
nothing between them. Had he deceived
her? She could no longer doubt II. Love,
faith. hope-all went from Ariadne in
thar moment. Grafton was dying. She
could have endured that, this wife IN
name only, If she could have believed
thar he loved her. 1t was evident now
that he did not. She might have sus-
tained the loss of his affection If she
could have cherished his name in honor.
Even that was denied her. No sudden
death warrant read in the midst OF life.
10Y, peace, health, strength could have
shCcker her more.
Ft TPCTHHTt
striven TO make herself good wife! For
this drCeivcr she had cherished such
high ideals which she had striven so
ha ID 10 follow Was it for this revela-
tiOu that she had overcome bStacles,
that she had pleaded with two Presi-
dents and braved dangers and difhcuI-
ties without limit? Was il in search for
this traitor she had agOnized in the hos
pitals-had walked street after street
searching for him until she dropped?
Ariaine was of finer fiber than the
Gthe- woman. The temptation that
ureeG her TO look in that lOcket was
greater than that felt b. Kathleen.
but she did not look. The other woman
watched her eagerly. She had antici-
pated 4 moment of triumph. Ariadnc
had frustrated that expectation. Well.
she should be made to look, Brushing
aside the upresisting wife. Kathleen
in turn approached the PROSTATE Iig-
ure Ariadne watched her. scarcely
CONSCIOUS IT! tllt DIlItiuE agony III
soul Of what she was about Kathleen
nervously drew down the sheet opened
the shirt. lifted the locket. Then Ari-
adne realized.
Il forbid you to touch it," she cried.
Whatever happened she was still
Philips wife, end while he lay there
helpless hers was the decision in mat
ters in which he was involved. She
laid her hand upon the shoulder Of
the ether woman as she spoke but
Ariadne's spirit, great though II was
was no match for Kathleea's strength.
hacked by her fierce anger and jeal-
ousy.
You shall see itr' she cried We
nemently. Her fingers found the spring
Lock-" She detached It from the