Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-01-31
Continued.

.you are not strong enough now
az any trouble OF that sort, but later
an az course, some arrangement must
he come to. ''By the way, what will
vour father and mother say of thisl''
"They will not say anything" she
said bitterly, "they will silently Won
der together in the library"
"And Dacre-
"Dacre is a fool
.sIyhe world 2" he asked.
He felt quite interested in the an.
aver; the shock was beginning to
freeze the pith in him.
81 don't think the world will speak
of me- | have no quality 1t can seize on
for gossip No gossip has any SAVIOR
unless it deals with sexual relations
and until now / thought / was abso-
lutely sexleSs," she said slowly, look.
ing bankly out into space.
Her faoewas awful, her husband
turned away from it.
"Gwen, Gwen" he said ait last, COM
1ng back to her, do you understand
what you are doing?"
81 do" she said heavily, ~ cannot
bear this shame in your presence; l
should lie down and die under it. Can
you think / do this lightly, can you not
understand the awfulness of speaking
such things aloudY'
81 understand it all, dear, but have
YOU counted the cost, you will be weak
and ILL., perhaps in danger, can you
bear it all? If you finally decide to 60
alone to your home | will start the
sane day for Africa. I have been
asked to undertake That expedition for
the relief Of Broad, my old friend, the
missionary told you about. I do not
intend to treat this resolve of yours
as a freak, Gwen, or to give 1t the
grace of one, You are strong woman
and from your own point of view,
sane. Once again, have you counted
the coSt?"
Il have lived virtually alone all my
life" She said; think can bear sick
ness and pain alone Humphrey,
Humphrey, let me make one excuse
for myself. l did not know what
marriage was when tried the ex-
pertinent"
He looked down on her upturned
face with great tenderness.
Il don't blame YOU, dear You are
SHINING terribly, but you know not
what you do. Your sin is unnatural,
for 1t Is against yourself; you have
let a morbid spot in you grow sick
10 r,1 IN
child, you will suffer as few women
know how to suffer; you are SHINING
ignora,ltly, and your punishment will
come, but from another hand than
mine. But there is one thing l will
speak Of" he said, with grave stern
ness, "see that you are not ashamed
of your motherhood. Forget, If you
like, that the child Is in part mine,
do not forget that it is wholly yours,
bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh;
beware. at least, of SHINING knowingly.
You have had warning, Gwen, in
this, profit 10y il, don't let this child
grow up without knowing the every
day uses of a mother. Don't let any
other human creature suffer in this
AS YOU have suffered"
Gwen listened to him with bent
head. and every word dropped into
her soul like molten lead.
There was an awful resistleSs final
ity in every word of his in every tone
He had to stoop to catch her answer,
and her face was almost hvid.
II will try and be a good mother;
have no wish TO fail in every relation
of Efe"
Don't move until l return" said
her husband He went into the dining
room and brought back some wine
she turned on him a look of dumb
protest but she drank it. "And now,
come W 'lg'S sofa and lie down"
she obeyed him as If she were in
dream, wishing with vague pain
that he would touch her, even If it
We're only once.
After few minutes she turned from
tle light to shut out his face. He
heard her and drew down the blind
s'ftly; he seemed to her all-heartng
as well as all-seeing.
m ~ Dllii Lit were IOOls SHe
cried TO herself. Il might endure it,"
The room was cool and still, and the
lowered blinds tapping lazily in the
breeze We're like a lullaby. Gwen was
worn out body and mind, and as she
'ay IN the coolness, her heart stopped
Wsthlng. her poor foolish shame ceas-
e1 20 burn, her fingers relaxed softly
ahd forgot to clench themselves. and
]" iaSt she fell asleep like tired
child,
her husband went softly to the sofa,
Sne started slightly, and twist OF
lslln came into her brow. He smiled
grimly.
Even in her sleep" he muttered,
and ! am ready to swear that all the
1ilne it is only an idea. And now this
I'ild-the best shot in my locker, seems
soont to run an awful mucker in the
o.S-hess All. Gwen, If you only knew
s slat you cast from yon in your splen-
M "ay!-Ah we'll. there's one salts
.ae1loh' If you're not mine. my Gwen
s'a NJ no mans. All. my poor Gwen.
49,