Part 25 (1/2)
”Well, then, what will you do, Gerald G.o.ddard, in view of the fact, as you believe, that she is alive and has learned the truth?” she imperiously demanded.
”I--I do not think it will be wise for us to discuss that point just at present,” he faltered.
”Coward! Is that your answer to me after twenty years of adoration and devotion?” cried the enraged woman, springing excitedly to her feet, the look of a slumbering demon in her dusky eyes.
”After twenty years of jealousy, bickering, and turmoil, you should have said, Anna,” was the bitter response.
”Beware! Beware, Gerald! I have hot blood in my veins, as you very well know,” was the menacing retort.
”I have long had a proof of that,” he returned, with quiet irony.
”Oh!” she cried, putting up her hand as if to ward off a blow, ”you are cruel to me.” Then, with sudden pa.s.sion, she added: ”Perhaps, after all, that doc.u.ment is in your possession--or at least that you know something about it.”
”I only wish your surmise were correct, Anna; for, in that case, I should have no cause to fear her,” said Mr. G.o.ddard, gravely.
”Ha! Even you do 'fear' her?” cried madam, eagerly. ”In what way?”
”Can you not see? If she has gained possession of the paper, she has it in her power to do both of us irreparable harm,” the gentleman explained.
Anna G.o.ddard s.h.i.+vered.
”Yes, yes,” she moaned, ”she could make society ring with our names--she could ruin us, socially; but”--shooting a stealthy glance at her companion, who sat with bowed head and clouded brow--”I could better bear that than that she should a.s.sert a claim upon you--that she should use her power to--to separate us. She shall not, Gerald!”
she went on, pa.s.sionately; ”there are other countries where you and I can go and be happy, utterly indifferent to what she may do here.”
The man made no reply to these words--he was apparently absorbed in his own thoughts.
”Gerald! have you nothing to say to me?” madam sharply cried, after watching him for a full minute.
”What can I say, Anna? There is nothing that either of us can do but await further developments,” the man returned, but careful to keep to himself the fact that he had an appointment with the woman whom she so feared and hated.
”Would you dare to be false to me, after all these years?” his companion demanded, in repressed tones, and leaning toward him with flaming eyes.
”Pshaw, Anna! what a senseless question,” he replied, with a forced laugh.
”But you admire--you think her very beautiful?” she questioned, eagerly.
”Why, that is a self-evident fact--every one must admit that she is a fine-looking woman,” was the somewhat evasive response.
Anna G.o.ddard sprang to her feet, her face scarlet.
”You will be very careful what you do, Gerald,” she hissed. ”I have never had overmuch confidence in you, in spite of my love for you; but there is one thing that I will not bear, at this late day, and that is, that you should turn traitor to me; so be warned in time.”
She did not wait to see what effect her words would have upon him, but, turning abruptly, swept from the room, leaving him to his own reflections.
CHAPTER XVIII.
”I SHALL NEVER FORGIVE EITHER OF YOU FOR YOUR SIN AGAINST ME.”