The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-05-20

Times there were when this hour
visited Selma, driving her into de-
ceptions for which she hated herself
but which caused an intense, unrea-
soning loathing to rise within her
against the price she had paid where
by 10 drug herself.
There was that terrible time when
David Dwight asked her TO drink TO
their future happiness Clear as a
deep-toned bell, two words only of the
marriage ritual dinned at her ears.
throbbed at her stupefied brain. Until
death-Until death-Until death
At her new home she bore herself
regally as she met the servants, and
was introduced to Doctor Holland, the
young man who was in constant at
tendance on her husband. AS his
hand touched hers she felt an instant,
unexplained sympathy for him.
Week trod upon the heels OF week
until Selma became conscious that
she was keeping track of time, was
counting days. She knew in her heart,
yet would not admit to herself that
time could never begin for her until
she was freed from David Dwight.
Came the fear that something of
this thought might be apparent to the
man And so by look, word and act
she strove the more zealously to de-
ceive him.
1t was the third month that she
came upon him in the library, came
upon him and paused swiftly to re-
treat II her entrance had not been
observed. She caught the rustic of
skirts and. looking up, saw Mrs.
Presley and Doctor Holland in a cor
ner OF the room. The expression upon
the companions face was peculiarly
accusing and yet triumphant, while
that upon the cOuntenanCe of Doctor
Holland, as their eyes met, was half
pity, half-she trembled violently as
she tried to analyze exactly what the
remainder OF that expression told.
Though she had fought bitterly
against it, there was something so
virile, so young, so intrepid about the
mans fight that she had admired
him, even though she knew the thing
he fought for made him the bitterest
enemy she could have owned. This
admiration she knew was more than
reciprocated.
Dwight turned in his chair and she
moved toward him. There was the
light of a great happiness in his eyes,
an expression which seemed to glorify
| the man. There was something so
| tremendously splendid about her hus-
band and something so delicately fine
| and sensitive that seemed continu-
ally asserting itself in his face. caus-
| ing such hot self-recrimination to
arise within herself that she hated
him for the torture he innocently
| caused.
There was something electrical in
the very air of the room, something
that caused her to be afraid. Dwight
took her hand, resting it upon his
| chest, fondling it tenderly. The ply
stefan and Mrs. Presley moved soft
| ly from the room. She looked at the
millionaire's face more intently, her
heart fluttering as she saw some great
change there. And now, with great
wave of self-hatred at the criminality
of the thought, she read it for what 1t
was.
David Dwight, her husband, this
| man to whom she was bound for life.
was we'll man. David Dwight had
regained his health. That life which
for so long a time had been aflutter
was now fixed and rigidly in place.
| Even as he drew her soft cheek to
his own. kissing her softly tenderly
she felt herself go cold She knew
he was about to speak, about to tell
her of the miracle and felt that she
could stand no more now. She was
sitting. She must get away before
she betrayed herself.
Muttering an excuse she lungcd
blindly up the stairs to her own room.
Snatching a scarf she CROPPED her
way to the garden, fighting down the
bitterness within her heart. She seat
ed herself on a bench in the little
summer house, staring sightlessly be-
fore her, fighting desperately.
She looked up quickly at slow foot
steps, her eyes lighting as Doctor Hol
land strolled down the walk, book
in his hand. For just second she
thought him about to pass on, after
bowling to her, then, with a little
shrug he seated himself beside her
She did not wish him there and still
she was glad of his presence. She
could not understand the conflict OF
absolutely antithetical emotions the
man stirred up within her. Looking
furtively at his troubled face she could
see he was in no mood for chatter or
trivialities.
In the furry Of the moment she
reached out to take the book from hi:
hands. 1t rested beside her, but hel
nerves seemed stunned, anesthetized
Something had seemed to breal
within the very soul of her at the con
tact of his fingers. She could mo-
move from that magnetic touch.
Slowly, gently, so slightly as to bs
almost imperceptible, his fingers
closed upon her own-just enough sc
she was aware the man knew what he
was doing. She lifted her eyes, des
perately, pleadingly.
Some power from outside herself