The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-09-03
EIE5 Ct TIE LAW
Why an Austrian Countess Fell
in Love With Her Amer
lean Husband.
BY MAUDE J. PERKINS.

Il think Elliot is on this train. !
! 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
i 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 tho
; whole insane escapade, ever since she
had left Vienna four weeks ago. Tho
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
I ther 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 marriage! The words had fair
~ 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
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 friend Of
Ristoris, 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 60.
I ing to from New York. He had
bungalow there, 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"
Il am going to leave you at Benning-
ton. have wired to Kusick. the old
caretaker at my place. and either he
or his daughter shall meet you at the
station. shall 60 on into the smoker
where Elliot is. and distract his atten.
ton. He will think you are still on
the train. Later may return and see
that you are we'll cared for, until we
make final arrangements"
She shivered. She had always hated
fnality. And he spoke Of their separa.
ton casually. Suddenly she turned
and looked at him one swift. searching
glance from her dark eyes.
"HOw rOld hloodod vou Apoorico .