New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-24

| Adelaide was in the front drawing-room at the
timc and heard him turn his latch-key in the door:
| She had given orders that she would be nor NJ
| home TO anyone Who might call. Her MOTHER AFTER
a little fearful Outburst, had gone upstairs and she
felt thankful for this. Archie would undoubtedly
look into the drawingroom and find her there
| alone. -,
she raised Der eyes She had book IN her lap ana
| seemed TO have been reading IT, near shaded lamp
The moment that Archie saw her, he passed
straight into the room. His eyes never left her face
while he did so. She returned his look. mildly but
! unwaverngIy He seated himself on chair OPP
posite her, not far from where she herself SAT.
@There mnst be an explanat ion between us, ne
| said His words were measured and slow.
Adelaide put down her book. Her rcpose was per-
feet :" DO you mean about that woman !" she
He yislbly quailed and bit his lip. "No," he said
! al aeau about no woman whatever. why SHOULD
"Bccause I happened to find that yon carry with
| you the photograph of woman whose Ooasled
| claim upon you Is not TO your credit"
| ~ hO told you that e be said, with spark
| kindling in his usually soft eye.
| "She herself told me. It was before our marriage
! That woman came to my mother with some letters
from you-or at least she said they were from you-
| which she wished tO sell she mentioned price
for them. | overheard the conversation between
| my mother and herself and ordered her to depart
| at once She did so. have never seen her since
| But remember her face" 80 .,
| aAnd yOu made mention to me OF this afairf
said Archie if he forced the words from between
| II made no mention of it. knew that you had
eors' and which they are almost held in higher es-
! teen for doing Held thus | mean, by certain
people-the people whom you and meet so Inces-
lie mad searched her face while she spoke. but as
| she ended he dropped his eyes. There Was some
thing in her tones that had the evidence OF ulrect
simple, unmistakable truth ,,,.,
! Adelaide he presently said. once more lifting
his eyes to hers, have not seen tsis woman Tor
ceived day or two ago. with begging. coarse,
and silly letter. tore up tho letter and carelessy
| thrust the photograph into my eard-case. DO yon
| believe when tell you this -
| "Do believe you - repeated Adelaide.
ayes he urged leaning toward hor ana speakins
DO nothing Of the sort Adelaide broke in. al
am far from requiring il, believe you without It,
| If | thought you capable of falsehood might ask
yC aG oath
He shrugged his shoulders, and leaned back in his
| char Then you at least exoneratc me from your
suspicious It's well to learn that you pay me this
| II have never failed to pay you respect"
| How is that I" he quickly asked. lyon arc d-
rectly disobeying mo with regard to that man.
g You have never ordered me to dismiss his atten-
! SOrdered voui No! But signied my objec-
tions 20 them should not that havo been enough r
| Adelaide shook her head No." she answered.
ain this life which you desire me TO lead, every
| woman has some attendant like that Mr. Wood
bridge is no more to than nay fan my gloves.
/ make precisely the same use of him l am seen
|
| somebody else"
A bitter smile cured his lip. "You say that. But
| you very far from meaning It,"
| :" mean il absolutely she said fOu do not
| believe me- But you do me n severe injustice by
| not believing me. And why Because have just
expressed TO you my full belief regarding what you
| said about that woman"
| Archie, always 50 much the gentleman. rose In
momentary rage, then Damn that woman" he
| exclaimed 81 hate and detest herl And you
| think that because she dared do what you say she
| did you use her as means of browbeating me
now. Really. Adelaide. | don't like 70 tell you It,
doing to expect from you more recognition
| (he paused. angrily, as II for word. here "more
gratitude than get from you noS'
| Adelaide rose, then. For the first time she showed
real excitement Her checks had colored and her
% AT last = she cried at comes at lastg'
Husband and wife faced each other. both stand
What do you meant" he said. aWhat comes at
| last I"
aYour confession Of tho real spirit In which you
| me. / poor girl, You battered and dolized
| part. You might have married hundreds of others /;
You had only to lift your finger TO give the sign.
| You did So and was supposed 10 leap toward You
| with delight. That Is what everybody Thought
that did do-thst is the way the world always re-;
| CARDS any such marriage. But for once the world
| was wholly wrong / married yOn solely because
cared for you. Your wealth. your position. your
| soAcrmed desrability. had nothing whatever TO do
| with the matter. But you, courted and cajoled
almost from your brth-wbolly failed torealZe this.
You had bestowed upon me- the dignity OF yonr
|
cisely the same life after IA before your marriage
The only difference waste bc that Instead of your
giving Observation-Disclosures, was To sit at the head
| your table. You went and came ~ you pleased
could go and ~ pleased. still, after all, II
occurred 10 you that really had not the same ber
| ties Gossps declared that you devoted yourself TO
| this or that woman. You laughed at gossip. and
rather enjoyed it than otherwise. But with myself
il could not be the same. Even that poor harmless
| uoneutitv Of Woodbridge could not be too closely
| associated with my goings and comings. The thing
might do in Paris-possihly even IN London Here
| tho. Ia - atr / mn
| be warned. word would be quite enough. no mat =
| ter how careIcssly and lightly you spoke IL. OF
| course / would pay you instant obedience. Why
| should not do 80 You were my husband. hus
band has his rights of counsel suggestion direction
4 wife should not inquire into their consistency or
| their propriety. Her duty is simply 10 obey. We
were both flesh ard blood, hut fesl-and-bloOd OF
totally different stamp. Before marriage you had
| safely committed foilies which II had presumed
| TO dream of them. would have Osracized me forever
On the same principle you could pcrsevere in every
qualification of caprice or passing sentiment after
| ward. Besides, | had gained 80 much by marrying
| yOnl ! had tho honor Of yOnr name 10 uphold. and
though you might even drag II in the dust. any in
| Jury DlB part. of the sacred privilege you had
| given ne would be ranked fragrant nRratitude!
Adelaide sank back into her chair AS she finished
| speaking. She was very pale, and she was breath
Her husband sprang toward her "Adelade.7
| nc said, what ~ the meaning OF such revolt as
thisl see - he went on. with an impetuOus rebuke
in his tones; means that you have ceased TO love
moi
Her eyes were bright but hard as she raised them
| Z" IL means she said that the end has come. l
can not live as | have been living. | would rather
! die. We must separate. GIVE me what yOu please,
! to live upOn--Or give me nothing; | don't care.
| Aunt Linda will not see mamma and me starve. III
she will. can't help IT, All is over | will not beg
yOu for that which should be my right. never did
| beg any thing of yOu. have merely told you the
trnth when the truth had to he spoken. You have
pushed me 10 It at last. 10 is your fault not mine"
| Yes, it Is wholly my fault" he cried. He bent
| over her, and put his arms about hcr. never
| knew how much loved You till now" he went on.
| passiOnately, because till you never taught
me TO honor you. You right-the world hat
! SPOILED me- / took you for granted. like all the
| nLler gifts fnrLnne Ing hrnnRlt II IL shnme