The Yale expositor., 1894-10-26

OuJ lOr Weeks phSb ne mas become so
silent and self-absorbed that there
was no getting word out
of him, and then he took
to going out by himself, and.
when | asked him. would not tell me
where he went and | got snappish
and -and rude, Tom, positively
rude.
worried about something" said
Tom, thoughtfully.
'And he would not answer me.
Tom-always answer your wife, dear,
when you have got one, unless you
wish to drive her mad-and always,
always give her the last word
ii think dad always let you have
that. mother" said Tom broadly
but | behaved very badly that
day-the day separation was agreed
upon" said Mary, hanging her head
and flushing vivldly. "I--l actually
asked him to hit me, Tom, that |
might get a divorce.
'Motherm
"Yes, Tom-may Heaven forgive
mo- Did ever you know such an un-
womanly woman And said-O |
thought 1t clever then, but ! see now
how vulgar it was-I told him that
after all / didn't want a divorce, as
might get married again, aud |
didn't want to make a second mis-
taker'
Tom put up his hand to hide
grin, he thought his IN other had
been going it with vengeance.
dad knew you didn't mean it," he
said soothingly. at isn't your way
of talking at all Bat has it struck
you. mother" he added with sudden
gravity, that perhaps father has
been losing money! You know if
our youngest child does get an idea
into his head, it is generally wrong
one
NO said Mary with her heed in
the air. lit has not struck me at all.
Mr. Goldsworthy has managel our
affairs for years, and he would
never allow it. No, it is nothing
about money"
Mary, like most women, would pre-
fer to hear that her husband had lost
every sixpence that he possessed
rather than know that the smallest
corner of his heart had been filched
from her by another woman.
"Then what have you quarreled
about, mother?" said Tom point
blank.
Mary blushed.
How could she tell this boy that
his father was treating her so i'll?
Naturally he loved his mother best,
and tho words would stick in her
throat.
Your father does not care Tor me
any longer" she said in n low voice,
her eyes fixed on the blossoming
earth. ''He was willing that we
should separate. he hurried it up
as fast as he could, and don't be.
lieve he breathed freely till / was
packed out of the place. and sent
here like a naughty child in dis
gracem
"But mother" said Tom helpless
ly, dad simply adores you, he thinks
of no one on earth but you, and he
did not even take me into mo
menG's consideration. There must
bc some frightful misunderstanding
somewhere. ~
mo" said Mary doggediy, "thcro
is none"
"He never even cared to cultivate
his friends" went on Tom. He
seldom spoke to a man, and never
looked at q woman"
Mary's cheeks famed and her eyes
flashed, thereby letting in light on
Toms not altogether unsophisticated
nina.
"Wh-o.w" he whistled. "Why,
mother" and he began TO laugh soft
ly as at an irrosistibly absurd idea.
'fancy the poor old dad flirting
Why he doesn't even know the way
and if he did he's much too lazy to
take the trouble"
Mary made no reply, and tried not
to look unuttcrable things.
Il think, Tom, she said after q
little pause, "that some weak people
find tho courage TO do things that
strong people are positively afraid to
do, and they will go on doing it too
perseveringly. though they know 1t
is wrong, and they suffer horribly
for it right away through"
TOMS face had grown very grave,
even stern at his mothers words.
IF father has been serving you
badly. mother" he said. hotly, then
paused abruptly 1t was an upside
downness of every thing that the
youngest child" the care OF the
whole establishment, should have
revolted against the love that had
always surrounded him. and that he
should banker after strange women
was past Toms comprehension.
Mother dear" he said. "you have
got some wrong idea in your head,
and that you wrong father am Ger.
tain. 1t is much more likely that he
has lost money, and is afraid and
ashamed TO tell you, but feels he
cannot be with you and keep il
back
"No," said Mary very distinctly
''it is no mistake and | read her let
ter, and he wrote TO me admitting it,
and asking me to forgive him. But
| have lot forgiven him and I will