The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-21
SHIPS THAT PASS
IN THE NIGHT.
BY BEATRICE HARRADEN.
CHAPTER XIII.
A DoMEsTIc s('iNE.


One afternoon when Mrs. Refold came |
10 say goodby to her husband before going
out for the usual sledge drive he surprised
her by his unwonted manner.
"Take your cloak of, +" ne said sharply.
"You cannot go for your drive thisnfter-
noon. You don't often give up your time
TO me- You must do so today"
She was SO astonished that she at onco
laid aside her cloak and hat and touched
the bell.
"why are you ringings" Mr.. Reffold
asked testify.
ITO send a message of excuse" she an
swered, with provoking cheerfulness.
I She scribbled something on a card ard
gave 1t to the servant who answered the
bell
Now" she said, with great sweetness
| of manner. And she sat down beside him,
| drew out her fancy work and worked away
| contentedly She would have made
charming study Of q devoted wife soothing
q much loved husband in his hours of sick
ness and WEAKNESS.
''Do you mind giving up your driver"
no asked.
"Not In the least" she replied IT am
rather tired Of sledging."
"You soon get tired Of things, Wini-
| fred" he said.
\ s'Yes do" was the answer. Il am SD
easily bored I am quite tired of this
place"
"You will have to stay here alittle long
er," he said, land then you will be free TO
go where you choose. wish l could die
quicker for you, winifred."
Mrs. Reffold looked up from her en-
broidery.
"You will get better soon, she said
"You are better"
"Yes, you've helped a good deal to make,
me better" he said bitterly. You have
been a most unselfish person, haven't your
You have given me every care and atten-
ton haven't your"
You seem TO me In very strange mood
today" she said, looking puzzled Il
don't understand you"
Mr.. Reffold laughed.
"Poor Winifred," he said. ''If it Is ever
your lot to fall i'll and be neglected, per-
hans then you will think OF me. f"
Neglected." she said in some surprise.
"What do you meani l thought you had
everything you wanted. The nurse brought
excellent testimonials. 1 was careful in
the choice of her. You have never oom-
planned before"
He turned wearily on his side and made
no answer. and for some time there was
|
her as she bent over her embroidery.
"You are very beautiful, Winifred," he
said quietly, "but you are n selfish wpm-
an. Has it ever struck YOU that you are
selfishf"
Mrs RcfYold gave no reply, but she made
a resolution to write to her particular
friend at Cannes and confde 10 her how
very trying her husband had become.
Il suppose 1t is part Of his illness, +" she
Thought meekly. but 1t is hard to have
TO bear IL.
And Mrs. Reffold pitied herself pro-
foundly. She stitched sincere pity Tor her
self into that piece of embroidery.
''I remember you telling me-" contin-
ued Mr.. Reffold, THAT sick people repell-
ed you. That was when was strong and
vigorous. But since have been i'll have
often recalled your words. Poor Wini-
fredl You did not think then that you
would have an invalid husband on your
hands Well, you were not intended for
sickroom nursing, and you have not tried
to be what you were not intended for.
Perhaps you were right, after all !"
"I don't know why you should be so un-
kind today" Mrs, Reffold said, with pa
thetic patience. II can't understand you.
You have never spoken like this before.
mo" he said, but have thought like
this before. All the hours that you have
! left me lonely have been thinking like
: this, with my heart full Of bitterness
against you, until that little girl, that Lit
! tie Brick, came along"
/ After that IL was some time before he
q spoke He was thinking Of his Little
, Brick, and of all the pleasant hours he had
: spent with her, and Of the kind, wise words
yhe had spoken TO him, an ignoEant fell
low. She was something like compan-
, | ion.
So he went on thinking, and Mrs Ref
fold went on embroidcring. She was now
feeling herself TO be almost heroine. IL
Is very easy matter to make oneself into
heroine or a martyr. Selfish, neglectful!
What did he meant Oh, it was just part
Of his illness. She must go on bearing her
burden as she had borne 1t these many
months. Her rightful position was in a
London ballroom, instead of which she
had to be shut up In an Alpine village--a
hard lot II was little enough pleasure
she could get, and apparently her husband
grudged her that
His manner to her this afternoon was
not such as to encourage her to stay IN
! from her drive on another occasion. To
: morrow she would go sledging
That flash of light which reveals our
selves to ourselves had not yet come K
Z Mrs. Reffold.
She looked at her husband and though
y from his restfulncss that he had gone &
sleep, and she was just beginning To writ
to that particular friend at Cannes To tel
her what "a trial she was undergoing whel
Mr.. Reffold called her to his eide.
"Winifred, nc said gently, and ther
was tenderness in his voice and love writ
ten on his face, "Winifred l am sorry
have been sharp to you. Little Bricl
says we mustn't come down like sltdg
: hammers on each other, and that is whn
n / have been doing this afternoon. Per
u haps have been hard. / am such an III
d ness to myself that must be an illness :
Others too. And you weren't meant 70
this sort Of thing, were your You are
bright, beautiful creature, and i am a
4 unfortunate dog not TO have been able
make you happier. know am irrita
X ] "a I..l.. ~. fYngaH 1