For Womans Love | Page 7

to take this desertion or this death very quietly."
"What would be gained by taking it any other way?" she murmured,
though indeed she was not taking the situation quietly, but controlling
herself.

"How dare you say so to me?" severely demanded the old man,
scarcely able to control his wrath, though at a loss to know against
whom to direct it.
"You ask me a direct question. I give you a truthful answer."
"Answer me, truly!" rudely exclaimed Aaron Rockharrt, giving way, in
his blind egotism, to utter recklessness of assertion, to gross injustice
and exaggeration. "What have you done to him, Corona? Tell me that!"
She started violently and looked up quickly; her face was whiter, her
eyes wilder than before.
"What--have--you--done to him?" he sternly repeated, looking her full
in the deathly face.
"I? Nothing!" she answered, but her voice faltered and her frame shook.
"I believe that you have! You look as if you had! I have seen the devil
in you since we brought you home from Europe against your will;
especially within the last few days!"
Having hurled upon her this avalanche of abuse, he turned and strode
wrathfully up and down the room until he had got off some of his
excitement. Then, he came and stood before his granddaughter.
"How long has your husband been missing?" he abruptly inquired.
"Since last night," in a very low tone.
"When did you see him last? Tell me that!"
"I have already told you--last evening."
"Tell me all that has occurred from the time you both left Rockhold to
the time you entered this house which I placed at your disposal and to
which I sent you, to save you from the noise and bustle and excitement
of a crowded hotel, and to give you rest and quiet and seclusion. Yes!
and this the result! But go on and tell me. From the time you left

Rockhold to this time, mind you!"
"Very well, sir, I will tell you. Our journey, a series of ovations. Our
reception in this city was a triumph. We were met at the depot by a
great crowd, and by the committee with carriages, and we were
escorted to this house by a military and civil procession with a band of
music. They left us at the gate.
"We entered, and were received by the servants. As soon as I had
changed my dress we went down to dinner. After dinner we went into
the drawing room. A gentleman was announced on official business
connected with the ceremonies of to-day. He was shown into the library,
and my husband went to him. Many callers came. They talked with Mr.
Rothsay in the library. I remained in this room. At last the crowd began
to thin off, and soon all were gone. Mr. Rothsay came into this
room--and sat down by my side. We talked together for an hour or
more. Then a card was brought in. Mr. Rothsay took it, looked at it, and
said:
"'I will see the gentleman. Show him into the front room.'
"Mr. Rothsay arose and went into the front room to receive his visitor.
It was late, and I was very tired, so I went up stairs to my chamber and
retired to bed. I have never seen my husband since."
And Corona dropped her face upon her hands and sobbed as if her heart
would break. She had utterly broken down for the first time.
"Good heavens! I don't understand it all! Had you had a lover's quarrel
now in that hour when you talked together in this parlor?" inquired the
old gentleman, his insane anger being now merged in wonder. "Had
you reproached him for spending so much time with his political
friends while you were waiting here alone?"
"Oh, no, no," replied Corona, between her convulsive sobs.
"Good heavens!" again exclaimed the old man. "When did you first
miss him?"

"When I came down in the morning. I thought then that he had been
kept up all night by his friends, and that I should meet him at breakfast.
He did not appear at breakfast. The servants searched for him all over
the house, but could not find him. I waited breakfast until I was faint
with fasting and suspense. Then I took a cup of coffee. On inquiry it
was found that Jasper had been the last to see him, and that he had not
seen him since he showed the visitor in. He did not show the visitor out.
He waited some time to do so, and fell asleep. When he awoke the
visitor had gone, and the drawing rooms were empty. The man
supposed that Mr. Rothsay had seen his friend to the door, and had then
retired to bed. And so