The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1895-07-13

AO AAO ~
he thought the matter over, and then
partly to get away from his environ
ment and partly for a change he took
the train for New York. He walked
around the city aimlessly until about
3 o'clock, and then he went to Cen
trail park. A woman passed him and
half turned. There was something
familiar in her face and figure, and
he walked after her.
Cora" he called, and she turned
to him smilingly.
She put out her hand and said: 81
tried to avoid you, Tommy Benton,
for both our good; but" and she gave
a littlo sigh, you have made that
impossible now. I am not a fatalist,
but this meeting isn't going to be
productive of good, and she smiled
again in that enigmatical way of
hers.
Let's sit down." said Benton, and
they found a bench.
WELL" he said after a long pause,
II am disillusionized. woke up this
morning and found that I was not in
love with my wife. Possibly that
was not the underlying thought, for
the real fact of the case is that I
want my freedom. Nature never cut
me out to be a domestic man. l
haven't as much sentiment possibly
as the majority of men, but I will
say that since I have been a married
man l have always acted as such. 1
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 a divorce. If
she does not accept, well your
grandmother died suddenly, didn't
she, and there weren't any marks of
violence on the 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 di-
vorce or die a natural DEATH" and he
looked at the girl fixedly.
The girl was silent for a little
space. Then she safl, "Why should
I help you, Tom, to get an inoffen.
sive woman out Of the way?"
Because" he answered slowly, 81
want another inoffensive woman to
take her place."
"Who is she?:" said the girl quick.
ly.
Their eyes met.
"You needn't ask" he said.
Her fingers were working nervous
ly and the toe of her boot was de
scribing ungeo1netrical circles in the
gravel as she answered, IT will he'll
you"
He was trying hard to be calm, bu'
his lips shook as he asked, "Can
meet you here Wednesday after
noon?"
YES" she answered, land I viii
bring the drops with me. I hav'
given upmy position, Tom, and I an
free to do as l choose now. Othello'
occupations gone, and I think I viii
take up marriage as a change" ant
then the woman in the case dropped
the serious and began to be as othe
women, with the smile on her face
and, after a space, hiding he
thoughts. Benton took the $3.50 trail
for Philadelphia.
That night he and his wife wer
playing euchre. Benton was dealing
"Nan," he began, I'm tired of mar
ried life. Iwant to be free. Will yo1
get a divorce from me?"
There was a scared little look il
her face as she glanced up to him.
TIN perfectly sane, Nan, and tie,
ribly in earnest. I never will a thin;
unless I do it. You know me enoug'
to understand that. I'll give 20
grounds for divorce, and then yo
sue. Clubs n trumps."
"It would kill me to sue for a d:
vorce, Tom"
you'd better do it, Nan, for
: NEAR to be free. You reneged there
> I played a club, and you put a hear
on it. Your mind'sno t on the game.
She played the hand out withou
speaking. Then, when he had hant
: ed her the cards, she said tremulou!
, ly, "When do you want my dec
l sion?"
Tonight is Monday" he sale
! "Say, Wednesday morning, before
q go to business"
< "All right, Tom"
They played cards for a time, an
then she took a book and he his p,
: per.
> She cried behind her book, but /
u read the stock reports CAREFUL.
4 Then they went to bed.
, The next night they played care
= again. She was very quiet, but 81
y made many mistakes, and at last ST
. thought she'd go to bed, as she ws
> so sleepy she couldn't tell one Cal
'. from another.
I'm sleepy, too" he said, land
good nights sleep won't hurt me-
. just as they were about to reti,
J, she asked as a favor that the windo
u be closed. Its a trif1e chilly Fl
u May.N she exnlained. land I've O