Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28
he woman laughed harshly, but without

The woman laughed harshly, but without
mirth.
''Oh, I've played my game cute" she said.
I've schemed and laid low. Back n Kan
zus we he'd fine place out n the rolin'
kentry. all n mis- name, an he made me sign
a mortgage on t to buy machin ry with
said he'd leave me f l didn't-an' the hull
place went. Mebbe l amt worked to lay
awake nights a-pfannin' to sit this place n
my name! Mebbe l didn't git it. toor'
But will he sign the mortgage?.. asked
Darrach.
thing like a snarl. IF he don't-Tu do
what he threatened me with back II Kan
zus! I'll leave him. Her tone was ter
rible now.
Let US CO." said Mrs Dawson turning
pale face to Darrach.
He made an appointment to meet the wo-
man in town. Then they returned to the
carriage. Locking back, they saw that she
had reseated herself in the same listless
attitude on the steps. her chin sunken in
her hand, watching them with those dull,
narrow eyes.
Darrach sent the horses down the lane
at lively pace. Mrs. Dawson sat erect.
Her face was pale and troubled.
We'll, that's awful. isn't it?' said OAR
rach, cheerfully. 1T makes me suspect
that this suffrage business isn't all it is
"Oh, it is terrible" said Mrs. Dawson,
earnestly. THAT a woman should have
such feeling''-she pressed her hands to-
gether upon her knees-'I cannot help
feeling sorry for her. She Is wrong, all
wrong, now; yet 1 think 1 understand
what miserable, starved life she has had.
l believe that the hearts of millions of wo-
men would have leaped could they have
heard those words: If he'd a half given
rue my rights beforer You men have been
wrong; you have not been wise. You
brought this revolution on your own heads.
Why, what can one expect of the kind of
man that wcman's husband must be- when
my own husband-a man of refinement and
authenticated me like a dependent in
money matters?'
1.-The beast!' said Darrach She turned
a white. startled face upon him. "What"'
she stammered.
He laughed instantly, although a thick
color mounted into his face. "Oh, l didn't
mean Dawson" He spoke easily. Il was
thinking of that woman's husband"
on! Well was saying-Mr. Dawson
never gave me money unless I asked for it.
Then he doled 1t out, sometimes only dol
lar or two. Always, his countenance fell
when 1 asked for it. He seemed to fear
that if 1 had it, I would spend more than
vas necessary. So many husbands have
been like that-thoughtlessly, of course.
Some women rebel and taunt their hus-
bands with it; others bear it in silence, and
learn to hate the men they have loved.
1t has been simple as it seems; one of the
commonest curses of marriage"
Thinking deeply, Darrach took out his
knife, and, holding the reins loosely in his
left hand, tried with his right to cut off a
spray Of the syringa. There was a stumble
of the horse, lurch-and he felt the knife
cleavng the soft flesh of her arm. The
blood spurted. She uttered a faint cry.
He stopped the horses instantly and
Selling her arm with both hands, tried to
stop the flow of blood with his handker-
chief
my Godw he cried His voice trembled
With strong emotion. II have hurt you!
And I love you-better than life! God how
it bleeds! But 1t is not the artery-it will
soon stop, thank heaven! But to have hurt
you-dearer than my own life! Dearestv'
His passion had broken down his self
control The words trampled each other
in their utterance. After the last word
look at her, but he felt that she was very
white, and that her lips were set together
Il think that will do" she said, in an I'M
natural tone She drew her arm away,
slowly and deliberately. 1T is not serious u
Then they looked at each other. Her glance
was level and steady.
Darrach was trembling under the strength
of the feeling he was endeavoring to con-
troll; his eyelids qEivered with unspeakable
shame. His look was passionate in it's en-
treaty for pardon.
II do not ask you to forgive me. 1t is i'm
possible that you could. 1 can ask of you
only one thing, to remember when con-
demning me that the passion which has just
escaped my control is noble one and that
it has been long hidden"
He spoke slowly. Her expression grew
gentle, although it lost none of it's seri-
ousnesS
1--WE will think no more of it." she said