The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-12-21

consequence ensued, a bitter misun-
derstanding. An imprudent servant,
a malicious acquaintance, halfa-
dozen venomous tongues, dashed the
wife's jealousy into madness. An
explanation demanded from her hus-
band was refused with u snecr. He
had begun to think her a proud, un-
loving woman, and, under the cir
cumstances, judged selfjustification
ridiculous. The following morning
she entered his library, and with
marvellous calmness, without quav-
ering over a single word announced
to him their immediate separation
for yer Taken by surprise, Strick-
land tried to temporize acknowledged
that he had been thdughtless, did all
in a mans power to avoid the rupt-
r Bertha only replied so proudly,
and with SO much severity, that self
respect forbade him further self
defense.
They separated. Strickland ex-
ternallybore his misfortunewith quiet
ness, and, in counsel with his own
conscience, concluded his life broken
and ruined by his own want of tact.
The husband and wife met two or
three times, as people who barely
know each other. He devoted him
self to professional duties, resumed
some of his bachelor habits, and
amused himself as he could. She led
a quiet, almost solitary life, restrict
ing her pleasures to such simple en-
joyments as she could provide herself
at home, and seldom appearing in
public. On n point both agreed,
repeating such stereotyped phrases
as "Bertha is we'll, and sends her love.
l believe she wrote to you few days
ago." Gerard is we'll, and at pres
ent very busy. He will not this year
be able to accompany me to the sea-
side.
1t will be easily believed that to go
to her husbands house and to ask q
avor of him had cost Bertha's pride
a struggle. "For papa's sake; for
papa's sake!" she repeated to herself,
to steel her nerves to the humiliation,
which, however, Strickland's cold
courtesy had considerably lessened.
If he would be equally considerate on
the morrow, q little spirit, q little
selfcommand, and some clever pre-
tending might enable them safely to
conduct her father through the few
hours to be spent in town, to see him
off from Victoria, and, with a polite
bow, to separate and return to their
several e%xistences.
Dinner was ended, Mr.. Gregory
smiled contentment and happiness,
and the two actors at the opposite
ends of the table of necessity smiled
too.
Their parts had proved difficult.
From the moment of the old gentle
mans arrival they had had to call
each other by their Christian names,
and to use the little endearments of
two married people still in love.
More than once, a word, an intona-
ton that sounded like an echo of the
dead past made Strickland pale and
Bertha trembled. Their embarrass-
ment momentarily increased. The
more perfect their assimilation, the
bitterer was the secret remorse that
wrung the hearts of both of them,
whilst they exchanged for meaning
less things, words, looks and smiles,
once the most sacred signs of affec-
ton. With the fear of betraying
themselves by an in%discretion was in
termixed another, a misgiving lest,
while they acted affection, they
should be guilty of real feeling
warmer than the courteous indiffer-
ence with which they desired to re-
gard each other.
On the stairs, when Mr.. Gregory,
preceding them, was for an instant
out of sight, Bertha turned back and
bestowed on her husband a grim
look of fatigue that meant, Glow are
we to continue this?"
"'Tis only till tomorrow, Bertha"
he replied. in an %undertone, wishing
to help her. But the Christian name
(which, because he had in the last
two hours used it so frequently, I'M
Willingly slipped from his lips),
caused her to.turn herface away with
an angry frown.
By the fire in the back drawing
room Mr.. Gregory appeared actu-
ated by a desire to ask all the most
questions, andto breach all
the topics of conversation most diff
cult for his host and hostess.
"Letters are welcome, Bertha"
he said, when people cannot meet,
but I have enjoyed my little visit
more than all the pages you have
sent me. There is very little in let
tiers. Don't you think your wife
grows h%andsomer, Strickland"
81 tell her SO every day"
"And so he tells me, Bertha. His
letters are all about you. You have
model husband, my dear"
81 have, papa"
Strickland hung his head and re-
garded the pattern of the carpet
II should like to see your house,
said Mr.. Gregory, after a
moment.
The little party set out on a tour
ofthe mansion. After an inspection
of several rooms, as Strickland pre-
coded them into the breakfast room, |
the father stopped his daughter and
Bertha, where is your mothers
.portrait?"
"The frame had got shabby and
we have sent it to be regilt," replied
the daughter, promptly.
"Where does it generally hang?"
aThere."
She assigned to the picture, which
she had taken with her, the first
empty SPACE on the wall that met