The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-09-28
Her Husbands Widow

DIG COUlU nVt 0OANNO AASSoSA@ sssS
LANCER. She had loved him and him
only. But now she had done with
love forever-put It away from her az
one puts away the memory OF some
painful malAdy. She simply did not
want to hear any more about love.
A savage, sullen hatred OF men burn
ed up Ia her heart. A. Mrs. Melas had
said, they were all liars. She wished
Jimmy was not . boy. Oswald, OF
course, was q good fellow. but she
would not be able to endure his pres
ence for some time at least.
Mrs. Melas fingered little while
longer In the refreshment room, think
ing deeply At last she rose, paid the
bill which Leslie had forgotten and
left the building. In Museum street
she hailed taxi and gave Victor's ad-
dress.
Capable under the influence OF ex-
element or passion, of extraordinary
feats Of audacity, she generally found
herself the moment after trembling
before the possible results. She quail
ed at the prospect OF confessing what
she had done to Victor. but she agreed
with Leslie that 1t would be better
that he should hear 1t from her lips
than from others.
He shook hands without any show
of warmth.
Il hardly expected to see you In
London so soon," he said. did you
want to see me about anything partic-
ular?"
"You don't seem glad to see me-.
Vic" she said reproachfully. Evidently
he had not yet forgiven her for the
scene at Paris. -. fs'.@s
81 shall know better presently
whether to be glad or sorry"
Mrs. Melas gripped the arms Of her
easy chair and braced herself for the
encounter.
Her face paled as she opened fire.
DO you want that Hastings girl to
return to you?"
Not a muscle of his face changed as
he replied" The Hastings girl does
not want, as far as l know, to return
to me-
"She noted the evasion. and gulped
down an angry exclamation. II hear
she said calmly, that you went
through a form OF marriage with her"
(which form of marriage she be-
lieves to be invalid. have answered
your questions obediently enough, but
as told you In Paris, l strongly
"Oh, no doubt you resent them as
impertinences. Well. no doubt you
will be glad to hear that the adorable
and virtuous Mrs Varney-oh. l
thought her name would make you
color!-is equally interested in your
private affairs and knows all about
that girl. Perhaps it was her house
maids sister. Anyway, she has made
inquiries and found that the marriage
was valid
you mean to say that Mrs. varney
told you this?"
Yes"
For a moment the two started fix
edly into each others eyes. Then, Vic
tor sat down opposite Mrs. Melas and
leaned back In his chair.
VIII you kindly tell me exactly
what has happened-what Mrs. Var.
ney has told your"
yes will, and you need not look so
ugly. Before have finished you will
see that have got you out Of tight
fix. met Mrs. Varney this morning
when she was here on her way to see
you. OF course I was curious and at
last got it all out Of her"
You did-eh?"
Eyes. She told me that you had mar.
ried this wretched girl at Hastings
three or four years ago. and that the
girl had believed the ceremony to be
void and all that.
When you turned up again, the
dear, kind Mrs. Varney promptly con-
suited lawyer who told her that the
marriage was all right, and SO she was
going to put your hands in the girls
who doesn't want you, mind-and
bless the reunion.
She was awfully excited about 1t.
AS she is certainly keen on you her
self. / suppose she felt she was doing
something very heroic"
wait a moment" Victor interpos.
ed. Did Mrs. Varney say that-tne
girl did not want to return to me?"
Mrs. Melas laughted sardonically.
What are you still keen on the dam.
sci? wonder you didn't return to her.
long ago. Well. Mrs. varney admitted
that your temperance would prob
ably spell ruin to the kirl-yes, ruin. I,
suppose she had either married again
or is about to do SO.
1t was. OF course, q strong sense Of
duty that impelled Mrs. varney to
poke her nose into your fairs and
make the two Of you unhappy. So, Il
did bold thing, for which you may
bless me or curse me, according to the
way you look at it. But did 1t because
love you. Vivtor''
She took his hand and kissed it pas
sionately after the Oriental fashion.
He. withdrew his hand. Her eyes
flashed. Mind you she prefaced her
concession. I've spoiled your game
forever with Mrs. varney. She called
you scoundrel. and said the girl was
well rid of you"
! see. What. then. did you tell
herr"
I told her that you and were mar
ried two or three years before you met
this girl ct Hastings"
Mr.. Erdsley replaced several letters