New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-08

Better daysV echoed Mrs. Twinfng. w ell,
then, we ought to shake hands. I think she's just
the plainest huubug over saw, with her continual
brag about altered circumstances. But I'll take
your word for it. Francis. The next time sec her
Pltell her we're fellow unfortunates. Well compare
our better days together, and cslc'late who's seen
the mostn
TwinlnR gave faint sigh, and looked down.
Then hc raised his eyes again. and o new spark lit
their mildness Something tonight had made him
lack his old patient tolerance.
"Pm afraid Mrs. Carmichael would have much
the longer list" he said.
"Oh you think sop
II know SOL
Mrs. Twining tossed her head. The gloss was
still On her dark HAIR whose gray threads had yet
to come LATER in the Grscnpoint days. She was
still, as the phrase goes, fine figure of q woman
Her black had not lost their fire. nor her form
Its imposing fulness She raised herself little
from her chair, rs she now spoke. and In her voice
there was the harshness that well fitted her bris-
Ting. aggressive MEN,
"Oh! you knop So do You - she said. in hostile
undertone. Then her next words were considerably
louder. I" But happen to know, Francis Twining,
Esquire who and what I was whom you took me
from comfortable home to land me up here at the
end OF the world, where Pm lucky If can get hold
OF yesterdays newspaper tomorrow, and cross over
to the cars without leaving shoe behind me in the
mudw
The least flush had tinged Twinngs pale
cheeks. He had locked very steadily at his wife all
through this speech. And when he now spoke, his
voice made Claire start. 1t did not seem his
You were poor girl in third-rste boarding
house when / married you" he said. "And the
boarding -house kept by relatives who disliked
and wanted TO be rid Of you. l don't sec how you
L,... l.ll. =. -
wife. But II you think that you have so fallen,
beg that You will not forever .taunt me with idle
sneer,. Of which am sick TO the soulp
Mrs. Twining rose from her chair Her dress was
Of some darkred stuff, and as the stronger light
struck it's wool the wrath of her knit brows seemed
to gain lurid augment She had grown pale. and
little mole, just inch or so to the left of her as
sertive nose. had got new clearness from this
cause. She did not speak, at first. TO her husband.
She addressed the fatgued and heated maId who
waited TO hand Twining his share Of the doleful
beafsteak-in this true burnt Offering.
"You can go into the kitchen, Mary Ann" she
said. with tones that had kind Of rumble. like the
beginning of large Handicapped, before its threat
has become fury. "see TO the range, you know.
Dump all the coal ont, and then sift IT,"
Mary Ann went uneasily toward the door. She
understood that this order thinly masked COM
mand for her absence. Mrs. Twining slowly turned
her head. and followed the poor factotum with her
kIndled black eyes till she had quilted the room.
Then she looked with stern drectness at her hus-
baud.
"Tvs stood n good deal from you,D she said,
pitching her voice In much shriller key "but
amt going 10 stand this Francis Twining and it's
time told you So"
Twining rose. He did not look at all
angry. There was weary distress on his
face, mixed with an unhabitual frmness.
"what have you stoodf" be asked.
Being brow-beat by you. sir. because see ct to
talk out my mind, and amt tho weak-spiritcd
goose you'd like 10 have mep retorted Mrs.
Twining. all rage and outcry.
81 don't want quarrel said Twinipg. calm as
marble. "God knows | don't, janet But the time
has come for me 10 speak plainly. have never
brow beaten you. IL has been quito tho opposite.
have already borne too much from you for the
sake OF peace But no peace springs from that
course. So now mean TO try another. You and
mus. live apart. since we can't agree" He turned
70 Claire at this point and reached out one hand.
resting II on the girls head Lot our child choose
which Of us abe will 60 WITH" he added.
Claire started up sprang to her fathers side, aud
nestled herself against him. catching one Of his
hands In both her own and drawing his arm about
her neck She was trembling with what seemed
sudden fear rs she looked up into his face.
Father" she cried. an 90 with you! couldn't
live alone with mother. II yos go. take mo with
you! Promise-peass promise! Mother isn't good
TO me bit. couldn't live alone with her. She is
cross nearly all tho time. when you're not here, and
she struck me yesterday. aud she often does It, and
didn't ever tell you before, because knew 1t
would trouble you 80 to knowp
These words were spoken in a high. pleading.
plantiyc voice. The child's sad little secret had
been wrung from her by sheer terror Of desertion.
There was no accusative resentment in her tones
she might have gone on for a long time hiding the
truth; IL had leapt to her lips now only in the
shaps Of an impetuous argument against the dreaded
chance OF being left behind. should her fathers
menace of departure become fact. Mrs Twining
moved from her own side OF the table to whore her
husband aud daughter stood. She looked persist
emily at Claire during this action. and had soon
drawn very close TO her.
"You sly young vxenw she exclaimed. Her cry
had husky note, and she raised one hand. IL was
plain that she meant wicked work to Claire. Twi-
ming pushed Claire behind him, quick as thought.
and seized his wife's hand while II fell. He had
grown white 10 the lips. His clasp was not weak
about the wrist which he still retained. He did not
appear at all like man in passion. but rather
like ono filcd with the resolve which gets new
sinsw from excitement "You shall never strike
that child again. Then no released his wifes
wrist, and half turned, putting his arms round
Claire, while she again nestled at his side. Il will
do ali can for your he went on. "but neither she
nor shall live with you after tomorrow. II was
had enough 10 have you make things bard for me,
but you shan't spoil her with your own coarsensss."
The next moment he turned to Claire wrapped her
still more fervently In both arms. and kissed her
twice OF thrice on the uplifted forehead.
Mrs. Twining stood quite STILL for short while
She was watching her husband intently. Some
thing new In him had revealed itself to herj 1t
blunted the edge of her anger; she was unprepared
"a. "a paraonaI dafiancn In TMlning mi Qht merely