“‘Justice!’ he sneered.  ’You are old enough to realize that it is but an empty name.  What could a defenceless woman, without means to help herself, do against a man of my wealth and standing.  You can effect nothing by braving me.  Look at this proposition, as coolly as possible, and reflect well before you decide upon anything permanently.  It can not be that you have more affection for me than I for you, for I am sensible that my course has not been such as would be naturally expected to win a woman’s regard.  However, I do not value your opinion in the least, so that fact does not annoy as much as you might think.  It is true, I might be more polite in stating the case, but you will agree with me that I put the facts plainly enough for your understanding.’

“’I would further advise you to proceed as I have proposed, simply from a wish to spare your feelings.  I believe you to be an honest woman, and I should dislike to be obliged to attack your character in public.  If you were to go away, of your own accord, to some quiet place, I think you would find the change agreeable.  You would, of course, resume your maiden name, and nobody, unless you chose to inform them, could, by any possibility, become aware of your former history.  I would then place in the hands of my lawyer, and subject to your disposal, a sum which I would set aside for your own use, giving you a yearly income of five hundred dollars.  You could live plainly, but comfortably on this sum.’

“‘Hush!’ I commanded.  ’Geoffrey Westbourne, how dare you add insult to injury?  You have spent, to your own knowledge, a large fortune of mine.  I blush to think that I have ever called you husband, when you offer this last indignity to the daughter of Wilbour Hardyng.  You have already said more than enough upon this subject.  We will dismiss it if you please.’

“‘Very well,’ he replied, ’I will leave you to think over it at your leisure.  Good-bye for the present.  I leave, to-day, for a neighboring city, where I shall remain a week, at least.’

“The good-bye, thus carelessly spoken, was destined to be a final one.  When Geoffrey Westbourne again returned to his home, I was not there to receive him.  I never looked upon his face but once again.  I took with me all of my clothing, and the Hardyng plate and jewels, which were my own exclusive property.  I had also a small sum of money to bear my expenses.

“My husband never sought to learn my whereabouts, content that I should have given him the advantage he desired.  After a sufficient length of time had elapsed, he obtained a divorce on the ground of desertion, and married the woman he had determined should be his.  They seemed happy to all outward appearances, and lived in absolute splendor, such as their united wealth enabled them.

“I had removed to a distant city, where none recognized in the sable clad widow, the former brilliant belle and heiress.  I once visited my old home and saw them together; and he, the false one, smiled fondly upon the usurper of my rights.  Then I crept away, weary of life, to this secluded spot, to pass the remainder of my days, where there was nothing to remind me of what I once had been.’