The Washington times., 1920-08-13


was himself, but not for long:
Don Severe appeared In the
doorway.
but Ernesto is In the court yard
asking for your wife,"
Again the man was seized with
the passion that was eating away
his sould; so this was the way his
wife sought to cajole him. While
she lay in his arms her lover was
waiting for her.
Infamous" he almost hurled her
to the floor in the force OF his
anguish.
And Severe smiling, sardonically
saw the breach between husband
and wife becoming ocean wide.
fedora stumbling to her feet
covered as one struck too often by
the inexorable hand OF fate to re-
sist longer. After all there Is
limit to endurance, a limit to self
sacrifice and a limit to love. She
had been flouted and condemned,
innocent. What could she do?
Her eyes lighting on the crucifix
that hung above her husbands
head seemed to read in ii last
hope; she leaned forward, seized 1t
and holding 1t to her bosom swore
kneeling that by the cross she was
all that her husband would have
her be.
go out, Severo," said the sick
man.
by the cross, Julian, by my hope
of heaven, / swear to you that you
alone have my heart in your keep
ing"
Tears came into the eyes of the
man weak from Illness. IF I could
believe you," he muttered.
DENIES HE IS LOVER.
Don Severe, fearing the result of
the interview, silently reappeared,
"Teodora. your lover is waiting
for you"
You are wrong, Don Severe, he
is not my lover. and / do not care
to see him"
The sick man raised himself:
''But If you are innocent, as you
swear you are. you will have no
fear of facing him."
II have no fear, but / do not wish
to see him."
go to him. suddenly cried the
tortured victim, and as the door
closed: Poor, blind fool; l was
nearly convinced. l nearly forgave
her"
He sank back gasping onto his
pillow while the brother held his
hand and wondered how long even
such a powerful frame could with
stand these repeated shocks.
In agony Teodora staggered TO
the patio. Maria. Maria" The old
nurse came running.
"Carissima."
"Mv husband has ordered me to
zee Don Ernesto. Where is he?
Carissima," he is in the garden
He came to inquire whether Don
Julia was better, and l begged him
to go away; Don Severe, the snake
saw him" She put her arms about
the trembling figure of her DARING
and hugged her, knowing the nor
ror that was in her heart.
Ernesto, stepping forward matted
TO see Teodora, the woman he ad-
wired more than all others, in such
anguish.
Scarcely able to speak, she stun
hled and found herself caught in
his arms.
"I have told him, Ernesto, that we
are innocent, but he will not be-
CONCENTRATES SUICIDE.
He tried to console her. They
WOULD drive you out like leper
Theodore, and it's all my fault. III
/ had never come here.
Eyes. yes" She broke away,
overcome by the sudden tensity of
her Grief. Ear better If we had
never laid eyes on you. Before you
came / was beloved by Julian, now
he hates me: now / am suspected,
then I was trusted" and she point
Id to the doorway as though to tell
him to GO, never to return.
The young man stood during this
ordeal with bowed head, uttering
no reproach no excuse. In his own
heart he knew that his presence
was to blame for the catastrophes
piling fast on the house of Gorgas,
but even so he was conscious of his
own loyalty to the men who had
befriended him.
Seeing the deep distress of Teo-