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

Holland he was a bit disappointed 10
find the young man out.
Lately his jealous hatred had grown
to such an abnormal extent that he
dreaded losing sight of either OF the
guilty pair for one moment. lest they
had fled the agony they were endur-
ing. And today he proposed finally
showing his hand, on this first ami
versary of his marriage.
He had not quite decided what hui
initiation he would heap upon Holland.
Selma's was already arranged, a hu-
initiation that lacked nothing OF re-
finement and dignified. courteous
cruelty. He smiled as he tapped his
coat pocket where a jewelers. little
box lodged which was to be his pres
ent TO her
As he started to leave the room, the
title. Toxicology. seemed fairly TO
leap from the cover OF the opened
book lying amid the table litter and
strike him between the eyes. He
picked II up curiously, turning II
over in his hands, reading fragments
here and there at the place where II
had been opened. Then he examined
the little vial with the red skull and
cross bones on its label that had
rested beside the book.
A grayish shadow turned his
healthy color to dull leaden COM
promise Of hue. as he slowly replaced
the little bottle. For a moment he
stood there undecided. then, with a
shrug OF his shoulders. turned and
closed the door softly behind him.
while he lives shall be true TO
him" That was what Selma had said
that night in the garden when he had
seen her abjure the love she admit
tedly desired. while he lives"
Dwight resumed his library chair,
wondering this new phase OF the sit
uation in his household Yes. were he
in Hollands place he would probably
see 10 II that his rival did not live
long. What had allied the doctor that
he had postponed the act this length
OF time?
Impatiently he looked at his watch.
The time had dragged terribly, the
hour before the guests arrived for the
banquet, the hour Immediately before
which he intended unnerving his wife
so the feast would be torment to her.
Slowly he rose. pausing a moment
| TO compose his expression into the
one Of tender solicitude he had used
as a mask for a long time now. He
moved up the stairs, light as boy,
tapping softly at his wife's door and
dismissing the maid with nod She
submitted to his caresses YEARLY, the
fresh beauty of her a trifle dropping.
He had intended speaking a few
commonplaces first, but as his eyes
| took in the dropping corners to her
| mouth. the haggard lines about the
ewes and realized what had put them
| there. he could not trust his self-con-
| troll. She opened the box YEARLY, try
| ing to simulate a delight at the pres
ent which she knew she could not feel.
| Once she looked up and caught his
| eyes upon her eager, cruel, gloating.
| Her fingers trembled as, instead OF
bit of jewelry. she found a crumpled
note. opening it slowly. She did not
| tremble. did not cry out as again she
| lifted her eyes to Dwights, after read
| ing the letter from Charles Iced, tell
ing her that her fortune had been
wiped away. Her dulled brain re-
fused to work, her aching heart re-
fused to regard the question OF where
he obtained possession of that note as
of any Importance.
He motioned her to pick up the card
| that remained in the box and she
turned II over and over in her hand:
"A reminder from your husband
that you lied to him and that you have
only served the first year of long
sentence" She read it aloud the sec
ond time Then her lips parroted the
words slowly, as would a child learn
ing his lesson. And gradually the
threat dawned upon her and she
looked hurriedly about her as though
seeking some means of escape.
That note from Leed-He knew
that she had married him for hi!
money. But what else did he know
this man of superlative cruelty? Die
he know of Holland?
VI.