The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-15

Let's sit down, said Benton, and
they found q bench.
.tWell." he said after a long pause.
81 am disillusionized. I woke up this
morning and found that was not in
love with my wife Possibly that was
not the underlying thought, for the
cal fact of the case is that 1 want my
/ freedom Nature never cut me out to
0e a domestic man. I haven't as much
sentiment possibly as the majority of
men, but 1 viii say that since I have
! been a married man I have always
acted as such. I want my freedom
now, and you, Cora. must tell me how
to get it..
She pursed her lips up and said. with
some show Of coquetry. '.Me?"
Yes he said You. I am going
to ask my wife to get divorce. If
she does not accept - well - your
I grandmother died suddenly. didn't
+ she? And there weren't any marks
I Of violence on her BODY
There usually isn't any mark of
violence on the body of one who has
died a natural death. said the girl.
Possibly not, - he answered, land
I want my wife to either get a divorce
or die a natural death, and he looked
at the girl fxedly.
The girl " as silent for little space.
Then she said: why should I help
you, Tom, to get an inohensive wo-
man out of the way?''
Because" he answered slowly, II
want another inoffensive woman to
take her place"
Their eyes met.
Her fingers were working nervouslv
and the toe of her boot was describ-
ing ungeom etrica1 circles IN the
gravel as she answered: Il viii help
you.
He was trying to be calm, but his
lips shook as he asked: s'Can meet
you here Wednesday afternoon2'
Yes" She answered, land I will
bring the drops with me-" Then the
woman in the case dropped the seri-
Gus and began to be as other women,
with the smile on her face. and after
space, hiding her thoughts Benton
took the $50 train for Philadelphia
That night he and his wife were
playing euchre. Benton was dealing.
Nan" he began. I'm tired of mar
ried life I want to be free. VIII
you get a divorce from me?'
There was scared little look in her
face as she glanced up at him.
I'm perfectly sane, Nan, and ter
ribly in earnest 1 never will thing
unless / do it. You know me enough
to understand that I'll give you
grounds for divorce and then you sue
Clubs are trumps-"
1T would kill me to sue for a di-
vorce. Tom
You'd better do it. Nan, for mean
to be free. You riniged there
played club and you put heart on
it. Your minds not on the game.
She played the hand on without
speaking. Then, when he had
handed her the cards. she said trem-
ulously: When do you want my de-
cision?''
Tonight is Monday" he said.
SAY Wednesday morning before 1
go to business"
They played cards for time, and
then she took a book and he his
paper
She cried behind her book but he
read the stock re ports carefully Then
they went to bed
ssI'm sleepy, too" he said. land a
good nights sleep won't hurt me-"
Just as they were about to retire
she asked as favor that the window
be closed Its a tride chilly for
May, she explained, land I've got
bad cold as it is. z"
He was just about doing off wien
he heard her getting up ''What is
it, Nan?"
My throat is parehed, Tom. and I
want some water"
Let me get it, he said, starting
up.
mo never mind, dear Pm now up.
The water is on the bureau here, and
III light the gas a second"
She lit the gas, drank tumblerful
of water, and then put her hand over
her heart as if nerving herself for an
ordeal Then she turned the light
out and crept into bed again
She put her arms around her hus-
band and said: tom, dear. may 1
put my head on your chest tonight.
and sleep as we used to when we
were first married."
Certainly, dear he said, ..only
don't forget that you give me your
answer Wednesday morning"
Il won't forget, Tom" she said
And putting her head on his chest |
she fell asleep praying
The next morning the cook smeI1ed I
gas For over an hour she smelled |
it, and then went up stairs to investi-
gate. When she came near the sleep I
ing apartment Of her mistress the
cooks mental observation was that |
either Mr.. or Mrs. Benton must have
Inadvertently left the gas on all
night
And so the coroner's jury decided /
1t was a very deplOra bic accident, |
said every body, for the couple loved /
each other so. Aud the policeman /
who opened the door when sum /
the coroner that Mr.. and Mrs Ben tOn
looked like lovers for he was srniIiuo K