, 1916-04-13

clfnched: the veins on his forehead
mad stood out Now his passion passed
the bounds of restraint, and he fairly
shouted at her:
That's the last lie you'll tell mel"
May recoiled from him. Her body
seemed to shrink as she threw I'D both
hands to her checks, and her voice was
weak as she said:
What do you mean9"
81 mean that this address in in
Trask's handwriting"
The words struck the woman like n
blow. With a little cry she seated her.
self on the sofa and rested her head
on one hand. He followed her across
the room and stood over her as he
went on:
81 want the ruth now. You met
Trask before tonight?"
Yes"
HE came hereY'
Yes"
"When?"
Might before last"
And you arranged to go down there
yesterday? He was there? You went
down there to meet him-my Godr'
1t was her very last chance. she
thought. Doing her utmost to collect
herself. to summon up all her powers.
to call to her aid the love and trust
he had always given to her. she said:
Robert. dear
The effort failed. He was too far
gone in anger, in suspicion. In doubt.
to heed the appealing tone. His voice
had lost none of its passion as he
asked:
May. why did you go down there3
I'm waiting
She faltered. ''Because-no. no; |
can't tell you; | can't tell your
Perhaps there was a lull in the fear
full thunderstorm that was about to
break over the couple. Perhaps 1t vas
the prompting of affection for the
stricken woman that made Strickland
say
HAY. If you love me-ir you ever
loved me-
Robert, | can't; l can't"
You can't tell mel You
say it's lot true"
He paused in his distraction, still
hoping perhaps that his wife could ex
culpate herself from the horrible sus-
picion that had been gathering in his
brain. She could not answer for a
few seconds. She was gathering
strength for a last final appeal to him.
Wont you answer? Is it rue?" he
begged.
May turned to him with arms wide
spread, pleading for time, begging for
a chance. In a voice that was pre-
ternaturally calm. but s%urcharged with
emotion. she said slowly-oh. very
slowly indeed - laying tremendous
stress on each sentence:
Robert, dear, o mustn't ask me
any more questions, because l can't
answer them. There is something
can't tell you. You u trust me,
Robert We've loved each other all
these years; believed in each other
You're everything that life means to
me-you and Doris. We're going away
together now TO begin n new life. Per
haps some day when We are in our
new home I'll tell you, but not now.
You've always believed in me. Be-
lieve in me now"
Strickland strove desperately to calm
himself. but the effort failed. He ex-
claimed:
II do; | do! But there's one thing
you must tell me. What have you
been to TraskT
The woman on the sofa shuddered
and buried her face in her hands. She
tried to speak. but the words would
not come. She tried to raise her eyes
to meet those of her husband, but a
mower outside of her held back her
head. She could not look into the face
OF the man who was bending over her
begging, pleading for a full expiana-
ton from her. Her soul reVolteo
against the confession which he seem
ed determined to wiring from her.
For a full minute they were speech
less. Then he turned from her. rush
ed to the table, drew from the bag the
revolver which Doris had dropped
therein. at his bidding, but a short time
before. and ran from the room. In q
moment the banging of a door told
that he had left the home that had
been SO happy.
NAV Strickland half sat, half lay on
the sofa, with her head resting on her
arms and her body shaken by sobs.
The nerve wrecking scene had exhaust
ed her mentally and physically. and
for u few minutes she could not rise.
Her sobbing was not loud. but was dis
tlnct. and It shook her body from head
to foot At last the dreaded signih'
canoe of her husbands actions reveal