Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-31
Continued.


You are not strong enough now
for any trouble of that sort, but later
on, of course, some arrangement must
be come to- "By the way, what will
your father and mother say of this?''
They will not say anything" she
said bitterly, they will silently won
der together in the library"
''Ahd Dacre-'
"Dacre is a FOOL
1.-THE world?" he asked.
He felt quite interested in the an.
sWer; the shock was beginning to
freeze the pith in him.
L don't think the world will speak
of me, have no quality it can seize on
for gossip. No gossip has any SAVIOR
Unless it deals with sexual relations
and until now / thought l was abso-
lutely seXless," she said slowly look.
ing blankly out into space.
Her faoewas awful, her husband
turned away from it.
Gwen, Gwen" he said at last. COM
ing back to her. edo you understand
what you are dOing?"
Il do" she SAID heavily, 81 cannot
bear this shame in your presence; |
should lie down and die under it. Can
you think | do this lightly, can you not
understand the awfulness of speaking
such things alOud?"
Il understand it all, dear, but have
you counted the cost, you will be weak
and I'll, perhaps in danger, can you
bear it all? If you finally decide to go
alone to your home | will start the
same day for Africa I have been
asked to undertake that expedition for
the relief of Broad, my old friend, the
missionary | told you about do not
intend to treat this resolve of yours
as a freak, Gwen, or to give it the
grace of one. You are a 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 | did not know what
marriage was when / tried the eX-
pertinent"
He looked down ON her upturned
face with q great tenderness.
Il don't blame you, dear. You are
SHINING terribly, but you know not
what you do. Your sin is unnatural, |
for it is against Yourself; you have
let a morbid spot in you grow sick
to rottenneSs, and as time goes on.
child, you will suffer as few women
know how to suffer; you are SHINING
ignorahuy, and your punishment will
come, but from another hand than
mine. But there is one thing | 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 a warning, Gwen, in
this, profit by it, 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 resis;less final |
ity in every word of his, in every tone I
He had to stoop to catch her answer,
and her face was almost livid.
II will try and be a good mother;
| have no wish to fail i'll every relation |
of life" J
Don't move until I 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 to this sofa and lie down."
She obeyed him as if she were in
4 dream, wishing with vague pain
chat he would touch her, even if it
were only cnce.
After a few minutes she turned from
heard her, and drew down the blind
softly; he seemed to her aH-hearing
as we'll as all-seeing.
'Oh, if only he We're a foolr' she
cried to herself, II might endure it."
The room was cool and still. and the
lowered blinds tapping lazily in the
breeze We're like lullaby. Gwen was
worn out body and mind. and as she
lay in the GOODNESS, her heart stopped
writing. her poor foolish shame ceas-
ed 10 burn, her fingers relaxed softly
and forgot to clench themselves. and
at last she fell asleep like a tired
child.
Her husband went softly to the sofa,
she started slightly. and a twist of
pain came into her brow. He smiled
g4-imly.
"Even in her Sleep" he muttered
land I am ready to swear that all the
time it is only an idea. And now this
child-the best shot in my locker, seems
about to run an awful mucker in the
business. All, Gwen, if you only knew
what you cast from you in your splen-
did way!-Ah well, there's one salts
faction; if you're not mine, my Gwen.
you're no mans. All, my poor Gwen,
my darling, God keep you.'
He stopped down over her and for
a minute or two let her breath come
and go on his cheek: then he stood up
and went to his writing table, and let
his face fall heavily into his hands.
When he looked UP at last at slight
soft rustic of silk, there had gone OUT
of it for ever the look of cool buoyant