The Irish standard., 1913-08-30
EYES Of THE Law
Why an Austrian Countess Fell
in Love With Her Amer
lean Husband.
BY MAUDE J. PERKINS.

Il think Elliot Is on this train. I
shall go on with you as far as BEN
nington SO he won't suspect anything
Try and be agreeable at least"
Crosby sank into the seat beside
his wife. and opened magazine. She
never even turned her head from
the window, or showed that she had
heard his words.
The train moved out of the station,
and on through the long tunnel.
Through Yolande's mind raced the
whole insane escapade, ever since she
had left Vienna four weeks ago. The
man beside her was her husband in
the eyes of the law, yet the veriest
stranger to her. She had almost beg
ged him to marry her and take her
out of Austria. anywhere in the whole
world where she could be sure Of new
er seeing Ristori's ugly, smiling face
again.
The weeks had passed like some
strange. gray dream, the midnight
Journey from Vienna when at every
stopping place she had expected her IA
Their and Ristori to appear and reclaim
. her. The trip across the channel to
England. the few days in hiding there.
and then their marriage-such mock
cry Of a marriage! The words had fair
ly choked her as she stood beside this
tall, lean-faced American. and vowed
to love, honor and obey him, to cleave
to him until death, forsake all others,
this when she had told him fatty the
marriage was merely ceremony for
conventions sake. Just as soon as
they came to his land, she herself
q, would break the tie, and leave him.
1t had never occurred to her what
he must think of her. how she demand
ed everything, the shelter and pres.
tige of wifehood, his care and protec-
ton In this darkest hour of her whole
life, all In return for nothing.
Elliot was the man they had seen
last in Vienna. He was a friend of
Ristori's, she knew, and at every
point along the line they had seen
him silent as shadow, and as certain
to appear.
Bennington was the little seaside
place Crosby had suggested their go
ing to from New York. He had a
. bungalow there, a rough sort of
bachelor place. but comfortable, and
she could rest in, peace there until
they had made definite plans. They
had not seen Elliot in the four days in
New York. Crosby believed he had
lost the trail, yet there he was again
on the same train. Yolande shivered,
and pressed her face close to the pane
Of glass. She wished she could have
+ fallen out unseen into the darkness
they were hurting through and SO
found oblivion.
You are tired, countess" Crosbys
voice reused her. He had never once
called her by her own name, always
with the touch of formal reserve, and
by her own title. do you care for
any food or refreshments?"
Thank you, nothing z
~ am going to leave you at Benning.
ton. l have wired to Kusick, the old
.caretaker at my place, and either he
or his daughter shall meet you at the
station. shall go on into the smoker
where Elliot is, and distract bis atten.
ton. He will think you are still on
the train. Later may return and see
that you are well cared for, until we
make final arrangements"
She shiyered. She had always hated
finality. And he spoke of their separa.
ton casually. Suddenly she turned
and looked at him one swift. searching
glance from her dark eyes.
How cold blooded you Americans
are. oh, know it is nothing at all to
you, no more than to myself, and yet
Il am your wife,"
'Well?" His tone gave her no clue
to his thoughts.
Some men, men of my land, would
not permit wife like myself to slip
through their hands like jewel in an
unknown sea-"
I'VE Americans do not care fol
women who have no love for U.S." he
answered. eve do not marry unless
there is love on both Sides"
q; know" impatiently, "but you have
no ardor, no perseverance. An Italian
Russian, Hungarian, If he loves he
knows he can make any woman love
him in return If he can win her. You
: are very shy, think"
He laughed shortly. This coming
from the woman he had thrown uu
everything for to help out of family
row, was distinctly feminine. Her IA,
. Their had ordered her to marry Cheya.
ler Ristori. Crosby knew the old
count was head over heels In debt
that he had fairly thrown himself on
Ristori's mercy and offered anything
even his daughter, in exchange for !
4 few Cancelled notes.
He himself, had met the young coun.
tess at the embassy balls several times
She was naughty youngster. only q
few months out of convent life. and
still new to the dignity of long dresses,
She was motherless, almost friendless.
He had never forgotten the night she
had sent for him, and told him briefly
out of all the men she had met, she
had selected him as her knight errant
because he was an American, and he.