Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-02-27
wudSrnessss Of wn,ea sA

Resale held three more seaDcea
with Miss BstriIlS before she reached
the final vital one to which all hes
diplomacies had been leading.
John is speaking through the lips
of Rosalie lie Grange; and Miss Is
trilla is answering.
Il am stronger now. The flesh In
fluence Is not yet gone from me-. There
was much on my soul. find 1t hard
to forgive. And l know l must-little
lady" Rosalie had learned from
Constance that little lady" wal CAP
tain Hanska's pet name for woman in
tender relations, and che let 1t out
as a venture.
"Oh, John! But consider how much
l have to forgive. All, did you ever
love me: You never answered my
letters"
Il loved you perhaps too much.
Over here. We can not lie. l was
carried away-and I was married."
Eyes. Every one knows that now.
You deceived me. II Is harder for
me to forgive that than the other
thing"
"Yes-but l loved you too much-to
risk telling you"
was that why you kept the jewels,
them A hard attack came into Miss
Estrilla's tone. It was more than q
question; there was irony in 1t. Rosa
lie thought rapidly. That diamond
buckle on the stair-case-"the Jew
els"-here was a startling new CORE
lation Of facts. She must venture no
further; she must have time to imag-
Inc and to plan.
Il can not tell you now" said the
voice Of John, Il am-growing weak
| sinned-"
ooh, he's gone away!" broke In the
voice Of Laughing.Eyes.
Another eance John is speaking.
Miss Estrilla answering.
"Ah. l really love you. But l find
1t hard to forgive"
Don't you understand, John, that It
wasn't revenge? 1t was duty"
81 know. There is much that I do
not understand, but l do understand
that. In the flesh, I was always at.
tracted by the glitter OF Jewels"
This was a lead into territory only
partially explored. And the road
| opened.
81 think there we're two parts OF you.
John. But, oh. the better part loved
me, did you not?"
Yes, loved you truly, little lady"
John, II you had stolen them out
right-but to 8 my Lowell"
Il am going. | am not strong
enough yet to endure reproach-"
"Oh, ! will not reproach you again.
You must forgive. You know how
little you have to forgive. Wait. John,
waltz"
John is speaking again: Miss Es-
trilla replies.
They give me new strength every
day. But this poor ignorant woman
Is weakening. Why did you try to
get them az you did,"
What was l to do when l found
had no claim under the law? What
was l to do after you wrote me that
letter."
That happened before | passed out.
| could not see you then. And | have
not seen any n clearly. am not
like the better spirits. My soul was
not good when It left the flesh. But
| think you came to New York just
to get the Jewels"
(This was a venture on Rosalie's
part; still there were ways OF retriev'
ing the mistake II her guess was
wrong.)
Eyes. It was my plan, not Juan's. !
have been more foolish than he. Ev.
cry day l spent In the room above you
| was afraid you would discover me.
Yet when | thought OF you down there
i loved you still! But my eyes we're
really sick. 1t was because | cried so
much-but l promised not to reproach
you"
Little LADY, wal bad, but | loved
you. think II I had seen you. !
would have restored them"
ooh, John! That Is hardest OF all!
John, | can not die and join you now
i dare not-because 1t would be
wrong-and because Of Juan!"
Rosalie noted how the name OF Juan
came in again. For caution, she must
veer away from that lead at present.
CTO BE CONTINUED)