White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-06-29
MY LADY'S MONEY
An Episode in the Life
of Young Girl
BY Wilkie Collins
By Wilkie Collins

Deny it," she repeated, with flash
ing eyes What right have you to ask
the question? Am not free to do as
please?
He stood looking at her, meditating
his next words, with a sudden and sin
lister change to self-restraint Sup
pressed rage was in his trembling
hand as he raised it emphatically
while he spoke his next words
81 have one thing more to say" he
answered, "and then have done. If
am not your husband, no other man
shall be. Look we'll to it, Isabel Miller
If there is another man between us,
can tell him this-he shall find it
no easy matter to rob me of you."
She started and turned pale: but
it was only for moment. The high
spirit that was in chr rose brightly
in her eyes, and faced him without
shrinking.
"Threats?" she said, with quiet con
tempt when you make love, Mr.
Moody, you take strange ways of do
ing it. My conscience is easy. You
may try to brighten me, but you will
not succeed When you have recov
cred your temper / will accept your
excuses" She paused and pointed to
the table There is the letter that
you told me to leave for you when
had sealed it," she went on. II sup
pose you have her ladyship's orders
Isn't it time you began to think OF
obeying them?'
The contemptuous composure of her
tone and manner seemed to act on
Moody with crushing effect Without
a word of answer the unfortunate
steward took up the letter from the
walked mechanically to the great door
which opened on the staircase, turned
on the threshold to look at Isabel
waited a moment, pale and still, and
suddenly left the room
That silent departure, that hope
less submission, impressed Isabel in
spite of herself. That sustaining sense
of injury and insult sunk, as it were
| from under her the moment she was
alone. He had not been gone min
ute before she began to be sorry for
him once more. The interview had
taught her nothing. She was neither
old enough nor experienced enough I,
understand the overwhelming revolu
! ton produced in mans character
when he feels the passion of love for
the first time in the maturity of his
life. If Moody had stolen kiss at the
first opportunity, she would have re
scented the liberty that he had taker
with her; but she would have thor
oughly understood him. His terrible
eanestness, his overpower agitation
| his abrupt violence-all these evi
dences of a passion that was mys
terry to himself-simply puzzled her
! I'm sure | didn't wish to hurt his
feelings" (such was the form that hel
reflections took in her present penit
ent frame Of mindD "but why did he
provoke me? 1t is a shame to tell me
there is no other man declare be
gin to hate the men, II they are al
like Mr.. Moody | wonder whether he
will forgive me when he sees me-
again? Pm sure I'm willing to forget
and forgive on my side, especially Il
he won't insist on my being fond o.
him because he Use fond of me- Oh
dear, wish he would come back anC
shake hands. It's enough to try the
patience of saint to be treated II
this way | wish I was ugly! The
ugly ones have quiet time OF it
the men let them be. Mr.. Moody! Mr.
Moody" She went out to the landing
and called to him softly There wal
no answer He was no longer in the
house. She stood still for moment In
silent vexation "I'll go to Tommie,
she decided. I'm sure he's the more
agreeable company of the two. And
oh, good gracious there's Mr. Hardy
man waiting to give me my instruc
tons How do look, | wonder?"
She consulted the glass once more
gave one or two corrective touches tc
he hair and cap, and fastened into the
boudoir
(To be continued)