Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-02-28
THE WIFE BElTER.

"LAiiie," she said at last, placing her
hand on Rogers head, perhaps you are
right in what you did. am only wom-
an, my boy, and so WAS a little shocked
at hearing you say you had struck Katie.
You see, wife beaters are not generally
looked upon as very noble race Of men,
and"--
~ shall never touch her again. told
her so." interrupted Roger. "and shall
keep my word"
"Of course" assented his aunt, ,"no 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 is. do not exonerste your wife
from blame. She should have had more
sense, for she L. by no means only "A silly
pretty doll"
"No, indeed" cried Roger. ~ am very
proud OF Katie's common sense. She Is
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 obedieat, 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. 1T was only that
she did not understand that l would be
master; that when 1 said thing meant
IL. 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 knowi She is a
terrible little coward, Is wee Katie, and
breads pain.
Most women do" went on Mrs Crom.
bic. "But IL was not only the bodily pain,
for don't suppose for moment that you
did hurt her much. You are not brute,
and, as you say, 1t was but toy whip.
Think a moment, and please under
stand am not pleading for Katie in the
least. am only trying TO show you the
state OF the case from her side Of view.
"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 IL one day upon her in cold
and bitter justice.
"She was wrong, very wrong; but, Rog-
er, ask you as a mana stern one, but
think a just one-are you perfectly with
out blamei"
There was silence again for some five
minutes; then the young man raised his
eyes, and they were wet with tears, 10 his
aunt's face, and said; "I see, auntie i
was blind, too, and l have sinned too.
Tell me, do you think 1t is too later Will
Katie hate me nowf
"If know anything of Katie, she will
-
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 little bewildered "A 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 II he felt somehow chilled.
BY the time he reached the gates he was
really nervous for the first time In his life.
He walked into the house and gave a
slight shiver as the thought crossed his
mind that perhaps it would always Toe so
In the future. No Katie would come fly
ing out to meet him, and he knew that II
that should be the case his life would in
deed be desolate.
"How foolish ann he muttered. "She
could not know when | was coming home.
She must be in paradise; ! will go there. !"
So he mounted the low, broad staircase
on TO little room he had furnished for
her with every luxurious triae love could
fancy, and which they had named para
disc.
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
ly Ill that a feeling Of terror came over
MIN. Was she going to die'
"Katie, my wee wifey," said Roger soft