Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-07-12


if [ would only die and liberate her. she
would promptly marry someone else A
nice instance of the faithlessness of
women! Perhaps | should do well to
leave her at once, and never let her
know the truth; but | can't do that I
love her still; indeed, I'm afraid that I
love her more than | ever did. No: I
will see this affair 10 the end. If she is
unfaithful | will lind her out, and then
-''
His meditations were cut short by the
return of his wife, who informed him
that she had ordered some luncheon.
and that be must meanwhile do his best
to anluse her, as there was no one else
in the house except the servants. This
style of conversation made Tom more
and more reckless, and at once he
launched out into an account of an i'm
! aginary moonlight picnic at Alden. where
so he let it appear-he had broken the
hearts of several charming girls. and
upon the whole had behaved in a highly
reprehensible manner
1T must have been very delightful, -
said Mrs. Bilbury. Il wish I had been
| there! Sometimes we have very pleas
ant evenings here. OF course, [ know
every one in the neighborhood; and, as
a married woman, [ ask whom like to
my house. You must come one night.
Mr.. TilbUry, and sup with us afterward. -
| By this time Tom was perfectly fran
tic. I'm afraid | shan't be here for
long" he said bitterly. Il am going
abroad. | can not rest anywhere .
You are worried, | see, !" said Mrs.
! II oo,,
Yes, family matters and disappoint-
ments, you know"
Disappointment! But you are
| young; and, if YOU will excuse me, not
| bad-looking. Perhaps you have merely
! lost your heart to one Of the young Ia
| lies at Alden.
"Oh no, !" he replied ''And, to tell
the truth, am doubtful whether any
woman is worth worrying about
Don't be cynical" said Mrs. Bilburv
with 4 smile. '.Perhaps you expect too
| much from women"
Il expect sympathy, fidelity, and con
sideration," answered Mr.. BiIbury
! grayely.
''But. let me ask you, doyou yourself
indulge in those virtues? All men are
very inconsistent, | fear. However. !
hope that you do not believe that women
are bad as rule
well, know to my cost that some
are bad, Yes; some even betray THEN
! husbands"
''And in such cases Tn afraid that
| the husbands are also to blame"
u don think so, said Tom CURLY.
''But you are worrying yourself, see,
| although you try to affect indifference.
| What IS it?"
worrying myself? Not bitn'crieo
Mr.. Bilbury.
L am glad to hear you say Sc" re.
| turned his wife i don t worry myself
! Cozy suppers and"
but the probable death of your hus.
| band" interiaculated Mr.. Bilbury.
"Oh am philosophical We only
! lived together for two days; we only
knew each other for q few weeks. What
am I to him? What is he to me? Life
is still before me"
thought Tom. Il wonder whether She
would like to get up Irritation with
| me. [ will draw her on little. -
''Ah!' he said aloud you have hap,
| pine3s within your grasp. and vou can
man who is so fortunate as to meet with
| q woman like You. Now, l confess that
[ have been unfortunate in my expert
ence. But if [ thought that I might
hope for your sympathy"
''Surely, Mr. Tlbury, it would be I'M
W0manly OF me to refuse it.
Tom drew his chair nearer to that OF
his wife, and continued: oh if Knight
hope for your sympathy, and look for
your regard and pity, my dear Mrs. Bill
bury, life, [ assure YOU. would soon as
sumo new complexion to my ewes
Let us be plain. Can YOU not make me
happy, and bestOW your sympathy, your
love, and your pity upon one who Will
value such gifts ut their true worth?"
Mrs. Bilbury, evidently agitated, rose.
Greatly" she exclaimed. Il was not
prepared for all this. feel the need Of
| love, love such as yours; but" Ard
she buried her face in her hands.
This, - thought Mr.. Bilbury to him
self, lis my faithful and devoted wife,
yet he was unable to refrain from seat
inc himself beside Lydia and putting his
arm round her waist. Dear Mrs. Bill
bury" he said, Il love YOU! Do you,
can YOU love me?''
She gave a scarcely perceptible ges-
ture of assent; and Tom, now thorough
ly convinced of his wife untrustworthi-
ness, sprang up and confronted her.
Mrs. Bilbury," he said, ''what would
your husband say to this? You have dis
graced him.
She looked up and held out her hands
lmploringly.
You are a vicious woman!' he con-
inued unrelentingly.
Then why, just now, did you askf
ny love?" she demanded.
Because [ wanted to assure myself
that you were as as vicious and worth
less as [ now know you to be. AS for
loving you I despise you! All! if YOU
were only a good woman!' And he APP
preached her and took her by the hand.
For an instant she stood thus; then he
raised her hand and kissed it. and final
ly he kissed his wife on the cheek
Are YOU going, Mr.. Tilbury?" she
oc1-OI