Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-05-20

ness. Strange to say, these marks of
suffering did not detract from her APP
pearance, but rather enhanced her
poise and distinction.
I'm awfully glad to see you, Mrs.
Cortlandt," be said as she extended
her hand "But do you think it was
wise for you to come?'
She shrugged. people can say no
more than they have already said My
name is on every tongue, and little
more gossip can make matters no
worse. had to come. 1 just couldn't
stay away. I wonder if you can real
ize what 1 have been through"
ct must have been terrible" he said
gently.
Eyes, 1 have paid. It seems to me
that have paid for everything 1 ever
did. Those newspaper stories nearly
killed me, but it wasn't that so much
as the thought that you were suffering
for my acts"
''I'm very sorry. You never thought
for a moment that 1 did what they
claim?"
mo, no! It has all been a mistake
from the first. was sure of that
''You heard what those two men tes.
tifed?"
'Bah! That issRamon Alfarez. But
he ca.n~dO nothing. YOU will forgive
me for what l said that night at the
hotel, won't you? 1 didn't really mean
to 1njure you, Kirk, but 1 was half
hUcforioa1 hod CT, fforo1 CO &Loeo l., ~
few months that / was ready to do
anything. 1 never dreamed there was
way out of my misery, way so
close at hand. But somehow, even be-
fore General Alfarez's voice on the
phone told me what had happened,
knew, and II felt'-
Il know you had a great deal to put
up WITH" he said, ''but for both our
sakes wish it had come in some 9TH
err way
"Oh, l don't care" she cried reck-
lessly. "The one thing can grasp in
all this turmoil. the one thing that
rings in my ears every moment. is that
l am free. free. That is all that mat
tiers to me. You showed your loyalty
to Stephen more than once, and, though
your scruples angered me, honor you
for them now
Your husbands death can make no
difference with us. Mrs Cortlandt," he
said gravely.
eve have talked openly before, and
there is no need to do otherwise now.
You mean by that that you don't care
for me, but | know better. I believe
there is love so strong that it must
find an answer. Although you may
not care for me now as you care for
some one else-I know that can make
you forget her and put me in her place.
| can help you, oh, so much!'
Waltz he said harshly. You force
me to break my word l don't want to
tell you this, butt am married"
''You-never told me that! 1t was
some mad college prank, l suppose"
mo, no. 1 married Gertrudis Cara
vel that night at the Tivoli"
'Oh, that can't be. That was the
night Of the dance. Why didn't you
tell me? Why isn't she here? Why
does she leave you alone? No, no!
You hardly know each other. Why.
she's not old enough to know her own
mind"-
But know my mind, and love
her"
Her white hands strained at each
other as she steadied her shaking
voice. "Lovew she cried. "You don't
know what love means, nor does she.
She can't know, or she'd be here.
She'd have this prison torn block from
block"
"You don't know what you're saying.
You're hysterical, Mrs. Cortlandt.
love Gertrudis so deeply that there's
no room in me for anything else and
never will be. Heaven only knows
what they have made her believe about
me, but l don't care. I'll upset this
little plot of Alfarez', and when she
learns the truth she will come back
again"
This little plotw Edith cried in
distraction. "And suppose you wish
me to give you back to her? But
won't help her. I'm not that sort. I'm
SolHSn WOMAN. We always UecA
selfish because I've never had anybody
to work for But have it in me to be
generous"
I'm sorry" he said. "You have suf-
fered, l know. Don't trouble any
more about me-please."
"Oh, I'd rather face the gallows as
you face it than what is before me,
and I'm not sure l could help you, aft
er all. You are in Latin America now,
remember. and your enemies are
strong"
81 am Darwin K. Anthony's son."
he protested. "He won't allow it,
bah! He is an American, and these
are Spanish people. You have seen
how they like us, and you have seen
what Alfarez can do. He's rich, and
he'll perjure more witnesses; he'll
manipulate the court with his money.
Yes, and I'd rather he succeeded than
sec vOu-nO not What am | saving?