The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-23

| very soul of the woman before him, Il
find you here"
Mrs Allis stared at him wildly for a
moment, then with an inarticulate cry
put her hands to her eyes as though
to shut out the sight of him, and
swayed as If she were about to faint.
rushed to her side and grasped her
arm, but at my touch she steadied
herself, took her hands from her eyes
and struck my hand away from her
with the fury of a wild cat.
Don't dare touch me. you hypocrii-
cal little beast!" she said, and / could
not help but smile at the word |littis"
for am taller than she. She misun.
derstood my smile, and her face dark
ened, while a look of such malignancy
came into it that / shrank away from
her.
What followed came so swiftly that
I did not understand it clearly until it
was all over. / had a sudden terrified
glimpse of her springing at me with
hands outstretched to claw, of Dicky's
strong arms whirling me away from
her, and of another figure that shot
between me and the Infatuated woman.
When / looked up from the shelter Of
Dicky's embrace saw that Robert Sa-
warm had gripped the Infatuated wcnl-
an by both arms, and stood thus, hold
ing her off and watching her actions
as he would those of maddened ami
NAL, while she writhed in his grasp
and hurled gasping sibilant impreca-
| tons against him.
"Sti1l at your old tricks, see, Nil
dred,' he said pleasantly.
"That Cannot Concern You'll"
At the CASUAL tone the woman in his
grasp suddenly stood still and looked
at him through narrowed eyelids. IN
tuitively I understood the change that
had come over her. / had a shreWd
guess that Robert Savarin of the old
days had not been wont to look in
such unmoved fashion upon his wife's
| outbursts of rage.
"S-o-o-o-o-, Robert!" she drawJed
at last-and I could not but marvel
at her quick turn to poise-"you are
really alive. Where have you hidden
yourself so cleverly all these years?"
That cannot possibly concern you.
Mildred" he said quietly. Then draw
ing her forward to an easy chair he
pushed her gently into it, and, releas-
ing her hands, stepped back and fold
ed his arms, regarding her steadily.
| think both of them had forgotten
there was anyone else in the room.
nd no one else in the room moved or
spoke. 1t was like witnessing the cli-
max Of a gripping drama, and all our
attention was focused upon the two
principal actors.
What Robert Savarin Knew.
Concern mel" the woman laughed
unpleasantly: 81 should say it does
concern me. You happen to be MY
husband, don't forget that, Robert
Savarin, and for Ii years / have
thought you dead. You will find that
you cannot SO easily throw wife
aside like an old shoe"
You are quite right" the man 1e
sponded, "and ] should not attempt it.
Mildred" there was deadly, signifi-
cant pause-"if you were my wife"
Over the woman's face a deadly PAL
lor. crept and clung, but her voice was
brave.
You are raving!" she Said contemp-
tuousIy. Fifteen years absence and
pretended death does not release onel
from a marriage bond, however, irk
som it be-"
NO" the man returned steadily
''but the discovery of his supposed
wife's marriage to another previous to
the ceremon yshe went through with
him is considered an effectual release,
believe
The womans bravado sfrivel1ed be-
fore his words. / saw her bite ner
lips until a tiny spot of blood came.
You mean"-she said family. az
last
Il mean that the proofs OF your first
marriage were placed in my hands |
shortly after you left me SO cruelty, |
he replied steadily.
ITO what extremity they drove IRE, |
or what has been my fate during the |
years since matters nothing to You. |
But the charge of bigamy, which SKIN |
hangs over your head ought to mean |
a great deal to YOU"