"
With one hand she uncovered the discolored arm, with the other held the
forgery before him. For a moment Gilbert stood daunted by these mute
accusations, but just then his ire burned hottest against Manuel; and
believing that he could deal a double blow by wounding Pauline through
her husband, he ignored her presence and, turning to the young man,
asked significantly, "Am I to understand that you refuse me my wife, and
prefer to abide by the consequences of such an act?"
Calmed by Pauline's calmness, Manuel only drew the trembling creature
closer, and answered with his haughtiest mien, "I do; spare yourself the
labor of insulting me, for having placed yourself beyond the reach of a
gentleman's weapon, I shall accept no challenge from a--"
A soft hand at his lips checked the opprobrious word, as Babie, true
woman through it all, whispered with a broken sob, "Spare him, for I
loved him once."
Gilbert Redmond had a heart, and, sinful though it was, this generous
forbearance wrung it with a momentary pang of genuine remorse, too
swiftly followed by a selfish hope that all was not lost if through his
wife he could retain a hold upon the pair which now possessed for him
the strong attraction of both love and hate. In that brief pause this
thought came, was accepted and obeyed, for, as if yielding to an
uncontrollable impulse of penitent despair, he stretched his arms to his
wife, saying humbly, imploringly, "Babie, come back to me, and teach me
how I may retrieve the past.
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