The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-04


that he was wearing, and proceeded to take
cigar from his handsome silver case. She
stood before him motionless as a stature, in
dire perp.exity at the sang froid with
which be struck a match aud applied it to
his cigar and proceeded to make himself
length on the couch, whilst he idly gazed on
the blue smoke that curled from his lips and
assembled in spiral rings
Winifred felt like one dazed at the unex-
pected turl things hal taken.
"Oh, if bad not asked Claude to leave
meV' she thought, with a sigh over her
shurt-sightedness.
She did not know that Claude Macean
was close at hand, and that by Pulling the
tasselled bell-rope she could at once sum
mon him to her assistance.
Sir Reginald Denison watched Winifred
with cool enjoyment over her discontinue.
He felt well satisfied with the mastery
stroke he had played against woman's de-
fenseless weakness, and began leisurely to
survey the studio.
"Nice little room rhis, 4" he exclaimed after
pause, "out you will like Alverthorpe
betler."
The remarked passed unnoticed, and Sir
Reginald relapsed into silence. The
stunned, helpless feeling with which Wini-
fred witnessed her husbands determination
to remain was beginning to pass away Her
mother wit taught her the necessity of
gaining time. If she could only obtain a
respite, she thought, she could escape from
him by flight. Her husband showed no in
disposition to hurry his wife's reflections
until he grew uneasy at her long silence and
the expression of stern resolution that stole
into her face.
think better of it, Winny,n ne said
breaking the long silence. 81 am your hus-
band, and as such am entitled to the So
ciety of my wife. l claim my rights; that
is all. 1t is your own obstinacy that COM
pels me to put the matter 10 that light. If
you will acknowledge my claims, | will
spare no effort to make you happy"
"You had your an wer at York, was the
cold reply given with look Of unmeasured
contempt. 81 would sooner die than be
constrained to live with you again."
swell, here | am, and here l intend to
stay until you make up your mind to go
down with me to Alverthorpe," Sir Regin-
aid replied with an easy assumption of in
difference.
II shall certainly not accompany you to
Alyerthorpe or elsewhere, and if you per-
sist in remaining here against my wishes, l
must submit to your presence until can
find means to ascertain my rights in the
matter
"Spoken like sensible woman, 4" cried Sir
Reginald with jovial air. "You have no
have rights. A husband can compel his
wife to live with him. I don't want to en-
ploy 70 ce against you, though the law
would justify it. l would fain use milder
measures; sweet persuasion, and all that
kind Of thing. But if you do not yield,
why there you are now. There is no law
20 prevent q man taking his wife to his
home"
"You express yourself very confidently. ("
col hi rrif
uess than she felt, but you cannot expect
me to share your confidence. 1 think l
have heard that when a husband has
ceased to live with his wife, and has con-
tribuJed nothing to her maintenance, the
law protects her home and earnings |
mean to avail myself of all the protection
that can be obtained in case like NINE"
Sir Reginald was startled by this new
method Of viewing the situation. He could
not tell whether Winifred was right or
wrong in her surmise, but he knew that she
could carry her case to hearing, and,
whether she won or failed in her suit, the
prospect opened out in either case was
equally disagreeable for him to contemplate
He was impervlOus to other considerations,
but he was sensitive to scandal. A recital
of Winifred's wrongs, beginning from her
marriage and including indiscreet revela-
tions of his vices, and the gambling estab-
alarming an outlook for him to face. He
felt that his wife had succeeded in turning
the tables upon him, though he endeavored
to conceal his chagrin under an outward
show Of bravado.
you re scarcely the woman to carry
things so far" he drawled out. aye will
not disgrace yourself by courting publicity
for our unfortunate disagreement. Some
women could. but you are not one of
them"
"The disgrace will be yours. not mine"
was the firm reply. II will brave any thing
rather than submit to your will"
The idea Of resorting to force and COM
pelling Winifred to travel with him to AL
verthorpe, there to be immured until her
spirit was broken, occurred to Sir Reginald,
but only to be dismissed immediately. Ne /
do not often resort to force in free England
Sir Reginald began to think that after driv-
/ Winifred into q corner sha had sue
ceeded in delivering herself from his tolls
by master stroke that upset all his calcu-
lations, and his attention be anne concen-
trated on devising means for beating a re-
treat with as little loss of dignity as posi-
bic. He was strengthened in his purpose
by the hope that ii he retired now he might
be able TO return to the attack with more
advantage another day. Already a new
scDeme was taking shape in his mind, for
he did not slacken in his resolve to claim
the wife whom once he had despised, but
whose beauty now enthralled him; but he
wanted time to mature his plans, and he
quickly decided that it was necessary to the
success of his new scheme that he should
bring about his withdrawal without loss of
time.
lie rose from the couch on which he had
been lying. and flung his cigar under The
CRATE, and proceeded to put on his coat.
Winifred watched his movements with
eager interest, doubtful Of the meaning of
this new development.
Il am going" be said. 81 will not in
trude where my presence is not wanted.
Some day, perhaps, you will regret your
prejudices, and wish that you had accepted
the olive branch when it was held out to
you. Pray accept my apologies for carry
ing things so far" And with a bow be
turned on his heel and left her.
Win,fred's suspicious were aroused by the
sudden departure Of Sir Reginald. But,
though she felt convinced that he had left
her in order to devise fresh measures for
bringing to pass his odious determination,
she was too sensible of the relief aft orded by
the relaxation of the strain imposed upon
her by the exciting interview she had passed
through to conjecture what the next step
might be.
CHAPTER XIV.
Look up there is a small black cloud
Alone amid the skies
60 ferh In rkfnra md 80 ma RI