Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-07-24
CHAPTER XXX.
The Woman's Discovery.

week later that | grasped the situa
ton. He was looking white and
strange and as soon as he saw me
he asked me where Mr.. Marlowe
was. Somehow the tone of his
question told me everything in a
flash.
81 almost gasped. I was wild
with indignation. You know, Mr..
Trent, l don't think | should have
minded at all if any one had thought
me capable of openly breaking with
my husband and leaving him for
somebody else. l dare say | might
have done that But that coarse
suspicion man whom he
trusted and the notion of
concealment. 1t made me see scar
let. Every shred of pride in me
was strung up till l quivered, and |
swore to myself on the spot that
l would never show by any word
or sign that | was conscious of his
having silch thought about me.
| would behave exactly as | always
had behaved, | determined-and
that | did, up to the very last.
Though l knew that a wall had
been made between us now that
could never be broken down-even
if he asked my pardon and obtained
i'll never once closed the door be-
tween our rooms at night.
"And so it went on. | never could
$hVn,,1l "
husband showed silent and cold po-
likeness to me always when we were
alone-and that was only when it
was unavoidable. He never once al
luded to what was in his mind; but
l felt it, and he knew that l felt
it. Both of us were stubborn in
our different attitudes. To Mr..
Marlowe he was more friendly, if
anything, than before-heaven only
knows why. l fancied he was plan
ming some sort of revenge; but that
was only a fancy. Certainly Mr..
Marlowe never knew what was sus-
pected of him. He and l remained
good friends, though we never
spoke of anything intimate after
that disappointment of his; but l
made a point of seeing no less of
him than | had always done. Then
we came over to England and to
White Gables, and after that fol-
lowed-my husbands dreadful end"
She threw out her right hand in
a gesture of finality. you know
about the rest-so much more than
any other man. she added; and
glanced up at him with a quaint ex-
preston.
Trent wondered at that look. But
the wonder was only passing shad-
ow on his thought. Inwardly his
whole being was possessed by
thankfulness. Long before Mrs,
Henderson ended her story he had
recognized the certainty of its truth,
as from the first days of their re-
newed acquaintance he had doubted
the story that his Imagination had
built up at White Gables, upon foun-
dations that seemed so good to him.
He said: II don't know how to
begin the apologies l have to make.
There are no words to tell you how
ashamed and disgraced l feel when
| realize what crude, cock-sure
laundering at a conclusion my sus-
picion was. Yes, l suspected-you!
| had almost forgotten that was
ever such fool. Almost; not quite.
Sometimes when | have been alone
| have remembered that folly, and
poured contempt on it. | have tried
to imagine what the facts were. l
have tried to excuse myself"
She interrupted him quickly.
What nonsense. Do be sensible,
Mr.. Trent. You had only seen me
on two occasions in your life be-
fore you came to me with your So
luton of the mystery" Again the
quaint expression came and was
gone. IF you talk of folly it really
is Jolly for man like you to pre-
tend to a woman like me that l had
innocence written all over me in
large letters-so large that you
couldn't believe very strong evidence
against me after seeing me twice"
Mrs. Henderson laughed, and her
laugh carried him away with it. He
knew we'll by this time that sudden
rush of cascading notes of mirth,
the perfect expression of enjoyment;
he had many times tried to amuse
her merely for his delight in the
sound of it. "And now it's all over,
and YOU knoW-and we'll never
speak of it any more"
Il hope not" Trent said in sim
cere relief. "If you're resolved to
be so kind as this about it, I am not
high-principled enough to insist on
your blasting me with your light
nings And now, Mrs. Henderson,
l had better go. Changing the sub
ject after this would be like playing
puss-in-the-corner after an earth
quake" He rose to his feet.
"You are right" she said. But
no! Wait. There is another thing
part of the same subject; and we
ought to pick up all the pieces now
while we are about it. Please sit
down." She took the envelop con-
tanning Trent's manuscript despatch
from the table where he had laid it.
Il want to speak about this"
His brows bent, and he looked at
her questioningly. $50 do |, if you
do" he said slowly. Il want very
much to know one thing"
Tell me-"
"Since my reason for suppressing
that information was all a fantasy,
why did you never make any use