Mountain advocate., 1914-03-13


had never dreamed.
Rosalie held three more seaDces
with Miss Bstrilla before she reached
the final vital one to which all her
diplomacies had been leading.
John is speaking through the lips
Of Rosalie lie Grange; aud Miss Es-
trilla' is answering.
Il am stronger now. The flesh In
iuence is not yet gone from me. There
was much on my soul. ! find It hard
to forgive. And know I must-little
lady" Rosalie had learned from
Constance that little lady" was Cap
tain Hanska's pet name for woman In
tender relations, and she let It out
as a venture.
"Oh, joint But consider how much
l have to forgive. All, did you ever
icve me: Yoa never answered my
letters
81 loved you perhaps too much.
over here, we can not lie. was
carried away-and ! was married."
Yes. Every one knows that now.
You deceived me. 1t is harder for
me to forgive that than the other
thing"
"Yes-but loved you too much-to
risk telling you"
was that why you kept the jewels,
thenT A hard attack came into Miss
Estrilla's tone. II was more than a
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 corre-
lation OF facts. She must venture no
further; she must have time to imag-
inc and to plan.
"I can not tell you now" said the
voice of John. 81 am-growing weak
| sinned--"
"Oh, he's gone away!" broke in the
voice of Laughing-Eyes.
Another seance. John is speaking,
Miss Estrilla answering.
"Ah. really love you. But find
it hard to forgive"
Don't you understand, John, that it
wasn't revenge? It was duty"
"I know. There is much that I do
not understand. but | do understand
that. In the flesh, 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 were two parts OF you,
John. But. oh, the better part loved
me, did you not?"
"Yes, loved you truly, little lady"
John, IL you had stolen them out
right--but to use my lovs!"
II 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.
wait!"
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 as you did?"
What WAS to do when found !
had no claim under the law? What
was to do after you wrote me that
letter."
THAT happened before passed out.
| could not see you then. And / have
not seen any one clearly. ! am not
like the better spirits. My soul was
not good when 1t left the flesh. But
/ think you came to New York Just
to get the jewels"
(This was venture on Rosalie'e
part; still there were ways Of retriev'
ing the mistake II her guess was
wrong.)
Yes. 1t was my plan, not Juan's.
have been more foolish than he. Ev'
cry day spent in the room above you
| was afraid you would discover me.
Yet when thought of you down there
Il loved you still! But my eyes were
really sick. 1t was because l cried so
much-but | promised not to reproach
you"
Little LADY, was bad. but loved
you. | think IL | had seen you.
would have restored them"
"Oh, 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
yeer away from that lead at present
! CTo BE CoNTINUED)