The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-13
THE WIFE BEATER.

"Laddie," she said at last, placing her
hand on Rogers head, sperhaps you are
right in what you did. am only q wom-
an, my boy, and so was a little shocked
at hearing you say you had struck Katie,
You see, wife heaters are not generally
looked upon as q very noble race of men,
anda--
~ shall never touch her again. told
her So" interrupted Roger, "and shall
keep my word"
"of course" assented his aunt, mo one
knowing you would doubt your word for
a moment. You are an exceptional man,
my dear Roger, and therefore say again
perhaps you were right, perilous as the ex-
pertinent ia. do not exonerate your wife
from blame. She should have had more
sense, for she is by no raeans only silly
pretty doll"
"No, indeed" cried Roger az am very
proud of Katie's common sense She ia
often clear headed and wiser than two men
put together"
"Quite SO. All the more blame to her
for SO grossly misunderstanding your
character. She should have been more
dutiful, more obedient, should have stud
led your wishes more"--
"She always studied my wishes-al-
ways" cried the young man wrathfully,
rising from his position and pacing up
and down the room. ut was only that
she did not understand that would be
master; that when said a thing meant
1t. Otherwise she is the sweetest little
wife any one ever had"
! 'Come here, laddie. Put Your head on
my knees-so. You say you didn't hurt
her much. How do you knowf She Is a
terrible little coward, Is wee Katie, and
breads pain.
I Most women do" went on Mrs. Crom-
bic. but it was not only the bodily pain,
for don't suppose for a moment that you
did hurt her much. You are not a brute,
and, as you say, it was but toy whip.
/ "Think moment, and please under
stand am not pleading for Katie in the
least. 1 am only trying to show you the
state of the case from her side of view.
4 "She had gone on in her foolish, impe-
rious little way, thinking she was govern
ing her big husband, utterly unconscious
that he on his side was storing up every
single opposition to his will, to pour out
the whole of 1t one day upon her In cold
and bitter Justice.
"She was wrong very wrong; but, Rog
er, ask you as mana stern one, but
/
out blamesn
4 There was silence again for some five
minutes; then the young man raised his
eyes, and they were wet with tears, to his
aunt's face, and said: ~ see, auntie. I
was blind, too, and have sinned too
Tell me, do you think 1t is too later Will
;. Katie hate me now2"
4 IF know anything of Katie, she will
receive you back with love and tenderness.
But, Roger, remember one thing. She can
never be quite the same again. A woman
never forgets. Do what you will, do what
she will, she will always fear you now, al
ways be a little bewildered, little uncer-
tain, never sure of you again.
Men never understand that every true,
loving woman builds up an ideal of the
man she loves and clings to that ideal
desperately even after the god of brass has
plainly shown the feet of clay. There,
laddie, will lecture no more Goodby. +"
There was no carriage to meet him when
he got out at Althorpe station, two miles
from the Towers, and though he did not
expect it he felt somehow chilled.
By the time he reached the gates he was
really nervous for the first time in his life.
l He walked into the house and gave a
slight shiver as the thought crossed his
mind that perhaps it would always be SO
in the future. No Katie would come fly
ing out to meet him, and he knew that il
that should be the case his life would in
deed be desolate.
Il How foolish ami" he muttered. "She
could not know when l was coming home
She must be In paradise; will go there. /"
II So he mounted the low, broad staircase
on to little room he had furnished for
her with every luxurious trifle love could
fancy, and which they had named para
disc.
4 Katie was lying on a low lounge staring
into vacancy. She had been hoping against
hope that he would come, but she knew
that the train had been in some time.
She looked SO slight, so frail. SO fearful
lly i'll that feeling of terror came over
him, Was she going to die2
Katie, my wee wiley, said Roger soft
/ ly.
With stilled cry she sprang to her feet
j and held her arms out to him with touch
ling look of appeal and love- He casped
.Eher, half fninting, in his arms as he whis-
Ipered:
LOOK up, wee wiley; your big bear has
come back to you. Let MS forget the past,
and with Gods help begin afresh ~
4 But not one man ia SOC could have act
led as Roger did without being either a
Ityrant or a brute, and not one woman in
a thousand as Katie did without feeling
Iinsulted beyond bearing and having ev-
iery, atom Of love In her for the man who
struck her killed forever on the spot.-Ar-
cosy.