Part 48 (2/2)

”'Begin a new life' upon a heap of ashes, without one spark among them to ignite the smallest flame!” was the mocking rejoinder. Then, with a burst of agony, she continued: ”Oh, G.o.d! if you had taken a dagger and stabbed me to death in that room to-day, you could not have slain me more effectually than by the words you have uttered. Begin a new life with you, after your confessions, your pleadings and protestations to Isabel Stewart? Heaven! Never! I hate you! hate you; hate you! with all the strength of my Italian blood, and warn you--beware! And now, begone!”

The woman looked like a maniac as she poured this wild torrent upon him, and the man saw that she was in no mood to be reasoned with or to consider any subject; that it would be wiser to wait until the fierceness of her anger had spent itself.

He had broached the matter of their future relations, thus giving her something to think of, and now he would leave her to meditate upon it by herself; perhaps, in a few days, she would be in a more reasonable frame of mind, and look at the subject from a different point of view.

”Very well, Anna,” he said, as he arose, ”I will obey you. I do not pretend to claim that I have not given you cause to feel aggrieved in many respects; but, as I have already said, that is past. I simply ask you to do what I also will do--put all the old life behind us, and begin over again. I realize that we cannot discuss the question to any purpose now--we are both too wrought up to think or talk calmly, so I will leave you to rest, and we will speak of this at another time. Can I do anything for you before I go?--or perhaps you would like your maid sent to you?”

”No,” she said, briefly, and not once having removed her wild eyes from his face while he was speaking.

He bowed, and pa.s.sed out of the room, softly shutting the door after him, then walked slowly down the hall to his own apartment.

The moment he was gone Anna G.o.ddard sprang like a cat to her feet.

Going to her writing-desk, she dashed off a few lines, which she hastily folded and slipped into an envelope, which she sealed and addressed.

She then touched the electric b.u.t.ton above her desk to summon her maid, after which she sat motionless with the missive clasped in her hands until the girl appeared.

”Dress yourself for the street, Mary, and take this note to Mr.

Clayton's office. Be quick about it, for it is a matter of importance,” she commanded, while she forced herself to speak with outward calmness.

But Mary regarded her mistress with wonder, for, in all her ”tantrums,” as she termed them, she had never seen the awful look upon her face which was stamped upon it at that moment.

But she took the note without comment, and hastened away upon her errand, while Mrs. G.o.ddard, throwing herself back in her chair, sat there waiting with an air of expectation that betrayed she was looking for the appearance of some one.

Half an hour later a gentleman was admitted to the house, and was shown directly up to my lady's boudoir.

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

RECORDS SOME STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS.

The gentleman caller referred to in the last chapter was closeted with Mrs. G.o.ddard for fully two hours, when he quietly left the house.

A few moments later, however, he returned, accompanied by two other men--clerks from a neighboring drug store--whom he admitted with a latch-key, and then conducted them up to Mrs. G.o.ddard's boudoir.

The strangers did not remain long; whatever their errand, it was soon finished, and they departed as silently as they had come.

Mr. Clayton remained some time longer, conversing with the mistress of the house, but their business being finally concluded, he also went away, bearing a package of papers with him.

Emil Correlli returned just in season for dinner, which, however, he was obliged to partake of alone, as Mr. and Mrs. G.o.ddard did not make their appearance at the table.

The young man paid slight heed to ceremony, but after eating a hasty meal, sought his sister and informed her that he was going to start for New York on the late evening train.

The woman gave him one wild, startled glance, and seemed strangely agitated for a moment over his announcement.

He could not fail to notice her emotion, and that she was excessively pale.

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