New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-10-19


do o place my faith In newspapers
and gossip. There was always a chance
that you might have been an honest
woman. That Is why I came to Lon
don, and why I went to see your play
last night"
She was s%peechless. 1t was as II he
were speaking to her In some foreign
tongue.
II have struggled" he continued, ito
adopt a charitable view of your pro-
fessiOn. ] know that the world changes
quickly, while We, who prefer to re-
main outside its orbit, OF necessity lose
touch with its new ideas and new
fashions. So l said to myself that
there should be no mistake. For that
reason sat in a thenter last night al
most for the first time in my life. l
saw you act"
"Well?" she asked almost defiantly.
He looked down at her. All splendid
self-assurance seemed ebbing away.
She felt a sudden depression Of spirit.
a sudden strange sense of insigni6-
cance
Il have come" he said, III I can, to
buy my brothers freedom"
ITO buy your brothers freedom"
h repeated. in a dazed tone.
MY brother Is infatuated with you,"
Stephen declared. II wish to save
him."
The woman's courage began to as
sert itself. She raised her eyes to his.
Exactly what do you mean?" she
asked calmly. I'm what way is any
man to be saved from me? II your
brother should are for me. and I, by
any chance, should happen to care for
him, In what respect would that be a
state from which he would require SAL
walton? :"
"You make my task more difficult"
he observed deliberately. "Does 1t
amuse you to practice your profession
before n so ignorant and so unappre-
clative as myself? If my brother
should ever marry. it is my firm inten-
tion that he shall marry an honest
woman"
Louise sat quite still for a moment.
A flash Of lightning had glittered be-
fore her eyes, and In her ears was the
crash of thunder. Her face was sud.
denly strained. She saw nothing but
the stern, forbidding expression of the
man who looked down at her.
"YOu dare to say this to me, here in
my W hOuse?"
Dare? Why not? Don't people tell
you the truth here in London, them"
She rose a little unsteadily to her
feet, motioning him toward the door,
and moving toward the bell. Suddenly
she sank back into her former place, |
GREATNESS and helpless.
"Why do you waste your breath!' he
asked calmly. "We nre alone here,
you and I've know the truth !"
She sat quite still, shivering a little.
"DO we? Tell me, then, because l
am curious-tell me why you are so
sure of what you say"
"The world has it," he replied, that
you are the mistress of the prince of
l came to London to satisfy
myself as to the truth of that report.
you believe that any man living,
among that audience last night, coulu
the play-although you are a
actress, madam-and believe
you were a woman who was living
an honest life2"
"That seems impossible to your she
utterly impossible !"
"And to John?"
II am speaking for myself and not
my brother" Stephen replied. Men
Ike him, who are assailed by a certain
madness, are best left alone with 1t.
That is why I came to you to bargain.
( I could. Is there anything that you
ack-anything which your own sue
Tess and your lover, or lovers. have
to provide for your"
1t was useless to try to rise; she
vas pOwerless In all her limbs. Side
~ side with the anger and horror that
lis words aroused was a sense of some
hing almost grotesQue. something
which seemed to force an unnatural
augh from her lips.
$50 you want to buy me offT
II should be glad to believe that 1t
vas within my power to do so. l have
lot Johns great fortune, but I have
money. the accumulated savings of a
for which l have no better
purpose. There is one more thing, too,
o be said"
Another charger
"Not that" he told her: "only 1t Is
for you to understand that IL
turn me from your house this
,Orning, l shall still feel the necessity
T saving my brother from YOU"
Saving him from mel" she ex-
laimed, rising suddenly and throwing I
ut her arms. do you know what
on are talking about? Do you know &
hat If l consented to think Of your I
rother as my husband, there is not a I
in London who would not envy
Look at me! I am beautiful, am
not? l am a great artist. l am Lou I
'e Maurel, and 1 have made myself G
ANGUS by my own work and my own {
enius. What has your brother done O
life to render him worthy Of the q
lcrifice I should make II l chose to 7
I've him my hand? You had better 9
D back to Cumberland, Mr.. Strange
'ey. You do not see life as we see It
p here!
"And what about Johnf" he asked, a
ithout moving. "You tempted him !
way. Was it from wantonness, or do c
love hint" b
Love himT" she laughed. II hate 7
,u both! You are boors-you are !
nOrant peOule. hate fhe momen .