The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-02-06


cling" he retorted. "You know that |
wish you to explain why you are un-
willing to live in your husbands
house. l wish to know why you were
not here tonight, when you expected
me to arrive. Finally, you must tell
me why you were visiting DR.. Deer
ing"
II am willing to go to your house in
another month, Eric; and | visited the
doctors office to consult him about
Julian
You are willing to postpone COM
ing home for another month, although
you are the subject of gossip while you
remain here. Is that the way you
guard the name have given you?"-
She had drawn herself up to her full
height, and was regarding him with
naughty displeasure. But he contin-
ued:
'If Julian was acutely i'll, you might
have an excuse for running to his ply
stefan for advice; but even then you
would have servants to summon him.
Julian is apparently no worse than he
will be ten or twenty years from now.
He drove past the doctors door and
could have stopped and asked for ad-
vice if he had needed it. Your visit
was plainly superlluous, and | would
like to hear what excuse you offer for
it."
81 will offer none whatever, and ]
will submit to no further catechism.
That appears to be your only sub
terfuge," he said, cuttingly. Your
behavior has been inexcusable. But
have come to put an end to your disre-
gard for conventlonalities. l will take
you home with me tomorrow"
She left his side suddenly, and went
CROPPING about the room in quest Of
matches. When she found one, she
lighted the gas and came back to him.
She appeared feverishly restless now.
"Eric," she said u can't explain
but it will be impossible for me to &C
home so soon. Give me another month
here, and afterward | will never leave
you
He had spoken harshly to her, but
something in her manner softened his
mood for the moment.
"Try to explain" he said.
81 do not wish Julian to be away
from his physician. In a month DR..
Deering viii return the city, and
then
you will be ready TO accompany
him. His face was so terrible that
she shran!l from him. you want to
give credcnce to the story that you are
still infatuated with this coxcomb.
You have not the slightest desire to
accede to your husbands wishes. You
would make the shallow pretense that
Julian must be near his physician and
you in attendance upon the patient
Yet you know that Julian is not de-
pendent upon Dr. behring's services,
There are thousands of better physi-
clans than he. And you consider me
such an imbeciIe that / will submit to
your outrageous proposal! | require
you to go home with me tomorrow OF
not ut all"
DO you mean that, Eric? Would
YOU not receive nc if came to YOU il
another month";"
He caught her wrists in his hand:
and pushed her back under the gas
| light, where he could scan her face
| His countenance was so stern, so re
lentless, SO nearly contemptuous, tina
! she could not bear to look into hi!
| face.
You ought to know by this time
! that | mean every word / utter. |
you refuse to 90 with me, shall neve
respect you nor think of you as m,
wife again. / will crush out every bi
OF love for you, and | shall despise you
as you will deserve"
She struggled to free her hands. He
eyes were humid, and she wished tt
cover them, but he would not releas,
her.
Look in my face" he said, "ant
make your choice. Will you 60 will
me tomorrow or nOt?"
No" she replied, almost inaudibly
II can not go so SOON"
He would have been glad to hav,
left Newport that night, but there wer,
no western-bound trains before thu
morrow. He had left his wife withou
q word..had almost cast her from hin
had stSode out of the cottage with
out onces glancing back at the woman
| whom he intended never to acbnowl
edge again. There was a hotel mex
door, and he took a room there for tn
night, but he did not enter it at once
He was tramping for hours on tn
rocky shore and trying to keep from
thinking of the wife he had lost:
Thorndyke was exhausted at last
and sought his room. Even then h,
was too restless, too wretched tt
try to sleep. He threw himself into {
chair before a window and looked a
the cottage next door. There was Mt
light in his wife's room. Had sh,
turned it out and gone to sleep? Wa
she absolutely Indifferent to the los
of his love and confdencep
1t was after midnight when MAJ
cautiouSIv crossed the grounds Of Mrs