, 1884-02-15

enchantmont Of him was already 20 com
plete that he was even disagreeably af-
fected by the tone Of her voice; it was al
most as repellent to him as the exhibition OF
unrestrained bad temper which abe seemed
perfectly careless TO conceal.
II confess you surprise me-" he said,
coldly.
The reply produced no effect on her. On
the contrary, she became more insolent than
over.
II have a fertile fancy" she went on, sand
your absurd way of taking a joke only en-
courages me. Suppose you could transform
this sour old wife Of yours, who has insulted
me, into the sweetest young creature that
ever lived by only holding up your finger
wouldn't you do itfr
This passed the limits of his endurance. ~
have no wish" he said, ito forget the consid-
Grafton which is due to a woman 1 have
but one alternative; l must leave the room"
She ran to the door as he spoke and placed
herself in the way of his going out.
He signed to her to let him pass.
She suddenly threw her arms around his
neck, kissing him p~assionately, and whis-
pered, with her lips to his ear, "Oh, Ernest,
forgive mel Could / AVE asked you to
marry me for my money, II 1 had not taken
refuge in a disguiser'
When he had sufficiently recovered to
think be put her back from him. as there
an end to the deception nowT' he asked
sternly. AAm 1 to trust you In your new
characterf'
"You are not to be harder on me than 1 de-
serve" she answered gently. add you ever
hear OF an actress named Miss Maxf'
BE began to understand her. "Forgive me
1 spoke harshly," he said. @You put me to
a severe trial"
She burst into tears ELoye," she MUIR
INJURED, lis my only excuse"
From that moment she had won her mar
don. BE took her land and made her sit by
him.
@Yes," he said, l have heard OF Miss Max
and OF her wonderful powers of p~ersonation
and 1 have always regretted not having
seen her while she was on the stage"
Did you hear anything more OF her,
Ernestrr
Eyes, I heard that she was a pattern Of
modesty and good conduct, and that she gave
up her profession at the height Of her success
to marry IN old man."
WIN you come with me to my roomr' she
asked. II lave something there which / wish
to show you"
1t was the copy of her husbands will.
Read the lines. Ernest. which begin at the
top Of the page. Let my dead husband speak
for me.S
The lines ran thus:
@My motive in marrying Miss Max must be
stated in this place, in justice to her-and, !
will venture to add, in justice to myself. /
felt the sincerest sympathy for her position.
She was without father, mother, or friends;
one Of the poor, forsaken children whom the
mercy Of the Founding hospital provides
with a home. Her after life on the stage
was the life of a virtuous woman; prosecuted
by profigates; insulted by some OF the baser
creatures associated with her, to whom she
was an object Of envy, 1 offered her a home
and the protection OF a father-on the only
terms which the world would recognize
as worthy of U.s. Ny experience Of her since
our marriage has been the expert
ence of ~unvarying goodness, sweet
ness, and sound sense. She has behaved SC
nobly, in q trying position. that l wish her
even in this life to have her reward. / en-.
treat her to make q second choice in marriage,
which shall not be n mere form. firmly be
heve that she will choose well and wisely
that she will make the happiness of a mar
who is worthy of her-aDd that. as wife and
mother, she will set an example OF inesti-
mable value In the social sphere that she 90
cupies- In proof OF the heartfelt sincerity
with which l pay my tribute to her virtues,
/ add to this my will the clause that fol
lows
With tho clause that followed Ernest was
already acquainted
"Win you now bolicvo tha. I mover loved
till l saw you face for the FIRST timer said
his wife. II had no experience TO place me
on my guard against the fascination-the
madness some people might call it-which
possesses q woman when all her heart Is
given TO a man. Don't despise me, my dear
Remember that l had to save you from dis
grace and ruin Besides, my old stage re
membranes tempted me. / had acted In a
play in which the heroine did-what l
have donel 1t didn't end with me
as 1t, did with her In the story.
She was represented as rejoicing in the
success Of her disguise. l nave known
some miserable hours Of doubt and shame
since our marriage. When I went to NEE,
you in my OWN person at the picture gal.
lery-oh. what relief, what joy 1 felt when
/ saw how you admired mel it was not be-
cause l could no longer carry on the disguise.
l was able to get hours of rest from the ef-
fort, not only at night, but in the daytime,
when l was shut up in my retirement in the
MUSHROOM, and when my maid kept watch
against discovery. No, my Lowell l hurried
on the disclosure, because / could no longer
endure the hateful triumph OF my own de-
oeption. All, look at that witness against
mel I can't bear even to see it'll"
She abruptly left him. The drawer thai
she had opened to take out the copy Of the
will also contained the false gray hair which
she had discarded. 1t had only that moment
attracted her notice. She snatched it up and
turned to the fire place.
Ernest took it from her before abe could
destroy it. @Give 1t to me-" he said.
@Whyf"
lie drew her gently to his bosom and an
swered, ~ must not forget my old wife"
Ancient Japanese Art.
Chicago Timesl