Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1895-03-08

Gould Janet so to herr"
II will,'' said Silence, and vanished
from the room.
"1'hat wife of yours is the very kindest
of women, Rody; but l hope she will not
ovcrfatigue HERSELF" remarked Bella,
politely. though making no effort to pre-
g the fatigue. She always had a trick
of never doing for herself what another
was willing to do for her. And as she
sat in the armchair. her feet OH the
fender. she looked the very picture of
luxurious ease, except for the haggard,
restless look so sad to see.
II must leave you," Rodcrick said.
you know, Bella, l am a working man
now, and get my own living"
"ics. she told me. 1t must be very dis
agreeable"
son the contrary, / rather like it. Daily
bread. honestly earned, is far swcctcr
than the old idleness.
us it? Then l wish 1 could earn nine"
you have no need, having your w
independent fortune"
"Yes: he can't get it, mercifully: NAM
ma tied it up too safe. But neither can l
unless she choose. She will do nothing
for mo unless l stay with my husband
like a respectable woman as she says.
l doubt if she will ever forgive my run
ming away-cven to my w brother"
WHO. 1 suppose, is not respectable"
said Roderick, bitterly. Nevertheless,
she must be told. Shall 1 telegraph to
her for you this morning:"
He spoke firmly, having already made
UP his mind to this; but he was not pre-
pared for the agony of terror and misery
which came over the unfortunate wife.
ssvl>,1l hos n,I .l,nNl <ol pv husband
and lie will come and fetch ME. Not that
the sake of appearances. oh, Hody, don't
tell anybody. Keep me safe-hidc me
If you only knew what l nave suffered"
My poor Bell, my Heather Bell" said
lie, tcnderly, using the old pet name he
had invented for her in the days when
they played together 'among the BROOM"
At that she quite broke down.
ooh, l wish l were a girl again. 1
wish-J wish I had never married. Some
body once said to me that a woman has
always n future until she is married, then
she has none. Tied and bound-tied and
bound forever. And 1 nm but %seven-and-
twenty"
That look, half appeal, half despair. it
went to Roderick's heart, for he knew it
was only too true. She was "ticd and
bound with the chains she had herself
rivcted. Even her own brother, however
he pitied her, was powerlcss to set her
free.
.Only seyen-and-twenty," she repeat
cd. "Such Il long life before mellow
am to bear it? Till death do us part
And 1 can't die. And hc-he won't die;
these sort of people never do"
..Hush!" said Roderick, turning away
nchast. You don't know what o are
saying"
II do know it only too we'll. Many a
time, when, after raving like q mailman,
he has sunk to a mere drunken dog, and
lain asleep on his bed like a log of wood,
/ have thought of Jael and Sisera, or
Judith and Hclofernes, and others of
those holy murdcrcsses. If it would only
please God to take him, us our minister
saws! He would be much better in heav-
EN-. He couldn't get any drink there"
This CHASTITY mixture of the horrible
and ludicrous, added to what he knew OF
the utter rccklessncss of Belln's nature
when reused, was almost too much for
Roderick to bear. He looked instructive
ly round for the one who was always ut
hand, helping him to bear everything;
but Silence was still absent upstairs.
Then, laying u firm hand on the poor
violent woman, Mt once violent ana weak
it is SO often thus-he placed her back
in the chair.
You are talking nonsense. Bella; you
know you are; the most arrant nonsense
or worse. Don't be afraid; you nave a
brother still, who will do his best to tax
care of you; but you must let me 90 II IN
.the right way. Nothing cowardly, nothing
,1 go. ,,,ottar 0f lon Of mnSC
he told where you are. My wife says so.
Sbo and 7 were talking it over this morn
Ing"
cit was kind and wise, too" was the
grave reply. Silence is the wlsest woman
know"
"And I the most foolish! 1t looks like
II. Very well. Cast me off if you like.
Turn me out-of-doors. I'll take the child
and 60"
But it was only a hysterical impulse
which ended in n flood of hystcrical tears.
Utterly bewildered and p%erplcxcd, Rod
erick went to the foot of the stairs and
called "Silence" i'll the sharpest tones lie
had used since his marriage.
'.Why do you leave me? You know ]
can't do without you," he said. Then add
cd, as she descended with the wailine
child in her arms, lit is hard lr you, too
my wife. Our peaceful d-ys are all
DONE"
Not quite" she said, s%miling-it was
wonderful the sweetness of her smile
whenever she had that baby in her arms
~ sce." when she perceived Bella, and
heard her frantic sobbing. "My friend
the loving mon ami which she still USED
sometimes), you are of no use here
Leave her to mc-womcn understand
women. She will be all right soon. Take
your hat and so. Outside work is quite
hard enough for you. Good-by, my dear
est-denrest!"
She lifted up her face to be kissed-tht
pale, firm, peaceful face, such a contras'
to the other one-opened the door, shu'
1t after him, and watched him safe away
Then, with n great sigh of relief, sht
went buck to her unfortunate sister-in
law.
CHAPTER XIV.
When Roderick came home at night
NOT without a certain masculine annrehen