Evening journal., 1891-02-07


pleased in spite of his fierce jealousy she
found an exhilaration; to command
creature SO much bigger than herself,
and to feel his strength and not his
weakness Obeyed, was an excitement.
To look into his savage. somber eyes
and melt them with the smile in her own
was worth doing, and intoxicating.
One day he asked her to be his wife,
adding that unless she gave him some
definite answer he would see her no
more. She was much interested.
could you leave me and not see me
again. she asked.
Yes"
"Would you shoot yourself?7
"No."
She felt aggrieved. After pause she
asked, "Do you love mey'
yes" His teeth were set, his face
pale, and he looked at her as If he hated
her
Her breath quiclrened. "Why do you
hurry me sop
because win be made a fool by no
woman"
A throb Of fear went through her
She flung her head back and made an
swer, "You may go at once" and then,
because his eyes frightened her, she be-
gan to cry and-"How do you expect
one to decide at once like that, if she
loves you? I can't, and l won't-you
can 60"
"How much time do you wants"
81 don't know"
81 will wait a while 50
"Much better go. won't be put on
time don't think l shall care for you,
anyhow, and even if did YOU are SO
ugly maybe l would not marry. Go
away and let me alone" She spoke in a
frightened rush.
Don't be foolish, e" he answered; viii
wait-a while"
During the while" he saw great
deal Of her; he curbed his temper. was
always gentle, always devoted, made no
effort TO kiss her, half strangled a man
at the club who suggested that all act
resses were alike, and looked at her half
the time rs if he hated her.
She grew frightened and meek, and
made an exhaustive study Of his tastes.
One day he spoke harshly to her; she
cried out that he must not-that she
loved him.
Thereat he took her in his arms, kissed
her and said, "Will you be my wife?" A
month from that time she married him.
Her manager protested, and a good
deal Of money was paid over. To the
wife the manager said, You are a fool;
if You ever want to come back to the
stage lei me know
Demmon carried her off to Europe.
He was suong and gentle and devoted.
There was little trace Of his sayagery,
except in iercely jealous guardianship
over her.
Now and then he ordered her around.
Once she protested vehemently; he
looked at her and answered, "You for
get you belong to me-"
He gave her all the money she wanted,
bought her anything she fancied, and
insisted upon her dressing richly and in.
dulging extravagances, but once, when
she received a check for story she had
written, he tore the bit of paper in
pieces, saying: II viii give you all the
money you wantl Don't forget"
She was happy-oh, yes Her one
thought was to please him, and TO please
him made her happy. She gave mp al
her own fancies, and endeavOred only to
meet his moods. She kept up all Of the
pretty petulance and caprice that had
pleased him originally, because some
times it amused him to see her childish
and exachng-she knew when to be 81
lent, though, and how to efface herself.
She read the PAPERS faithfully, and, by
dint Of stndy and close attention TO a
few political arguments within earshot
of which she came, she got fair grasp
Of the principles Of the party opposite to
her husbands, and argued with him very
well.
To such men as he presented she made
herself charIning-he liked to have other
men admire her; herself, she took no
interest in attracting them, and she was
always a bit afraid Of being too success
ful and so annoying her husband. Be
sides. attention from other men made
her heart ache; her husband loved her
dearly, but he did not tell her SO very
often, and sometimes when she made
mistakes he called her stupid.
OF course she did make mistakes some
times. Being very anxious to please
him, her instinct was not always true.
There were times when he liked to have
her creep to the side of his chair and
push her soft hair against his face, say
ing nothing meanwhile, unless the little
caressing breath from her lips could be
called speech but then again this an
noyed him, and he had TO be let alone.
Being very fond of him, it was hard to
come near or pass him without reaching
out hand to touch his shoulder or
cheek, and this fretted him dreadfully
when he was not in the mood Also
there were times when she wanted him
to take her in his arms and be good to
her, and find out how she felt, or when
she wanted to cry and be miserable and
be petted and coaxed out Of it; all this
was childish and foolish, but-oh, dearl
how her heart ached sometimes.
He loved her-of course she knew that
so there was no need that he should
tell her so al the time; besides, he did
tell her what an unfailingly attractive
companion be found her, and he praised
her tact and sense and the way she kept
her pretty looks.
She was happy when she was with
him. only happy when she pleased him;
and she used to cry her pillow wet very
often.
At the coming Of the child her hus-