Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-01-01
IN INTERCHANGE OF ROLES.

All his life Charlie Stanhope had been
quite ready to admit that his morals were
somewhat faulty, sometimes he admitted
it genially, sometimes with mild self
reproach, but always with the air of be-
ing quite irresponsible for his failings;
and, indeed he was one of those men
whom scarcely anyone judges hardly.
Good looks, a pleasant smile, an easy
atfectiOnateness and 4 generous hand are
excellent covers for very serious faults,
ii a too fervid liking for the good things
of this life, including wine and women,
is to be counted among them.
Hang it, you know pretty woman
can always make fool of me- he used
to acknowledge, 'and [ positively can't
help it. Lillian knows it, too"
Lillian was Mrs. Stanhope and she GER
tainly had abundant reason to know it.
Charlie had married her in a fit of in
fatuation for her beauty, and amid the
ominous prophecies Of their friends as
to their future happiness; and if the hus-
band and wife had been philanthropical-
ly Inclined they might have had the sat
lsfaction of knowing that they still af-
forded a thrilling topic of conversation
to their social circle.
In the course of five years of married
life there had been much for Lillian to
forgive; and Charlie had a habit of sud
denly cOnfessing himself to her and re-.
celving abSolution for his sins, under
the shadow of which for q month he
would live irreproachably, forswear his
club, going to 10 supper parties and es-
Corting his wife to afternoons and balls,
and reverting altogether to the husband
lover of their honeymoon. In very truth
it is not too much to say that he loved
and respected his wife above any living
creature, only it was not in his nature to
be faithful to any woman.
or int / l,st
lily" he often said, in his fits of remorse;
land I'm a black brute, not fit to kiss the
hem of your dress"
And he thoroughly believed it, too, for
the time being.
SO when one morning he came down
to breakfast and opened and read a GER
tain letter that was lying on his plate,
he only experienced a furious anger
against the author of it. 1t was written
in 4 hand awkwardly slOped the wrong
way, and obviously feminine, and bore
the ominOus signature, "a Well Wisher."
and contained nothing but savage and
coarse attack upon his wife, coupling
her name with that of man who had
just been VIGOROUSLY expelled from q
smart club for cheating at cards. Char
lies handsome face flushed darkly, AMI
he muttered savage oath under his
breath.
What devils some women are! Can't
all women in the world, to be written of
SOL It's that jade, Maud Bellair, I'm
certain. She has never forgiven me for
refusing to introduce her to Lillian. Well.
| may be a BLACKBOARD myself, but my
wife shall never speak to such women
She must never know of it, 1t would
half kill her, and if | showed it to her
she might, perhaps, think | suspected
her. | suspect Lillian! Great heavens,
what would the world be coming to-
and to couple her name with Hugh
Dacres! It's pity she didn't try to
invent something a little more probable"
His faith in his wife was not shaken
for an instant; no devout worshiper
| would think of dethroning his pure, white
idol, because some miscreant throws
clod of dirt at it; but the words of the
letter fascinated him, as things impos-
sibe and monstrous do; and he was so
absorbed in it that he did not heed a
footstep coming through the open door,
and started violently when hand was
laid on his arm and Lilian's vocie said:
Whatever are you scowling at SO
ferOciOuSly?
"Oh, nothing of any consequence
stupid letter." he said confusedly, try
ing to crumple it up; but his wife put
her finger on It.
Are you so anxious [ shouldn't see
it % she said reproachfully.
1T isn't what you think at all, LII.
not letter from a wOman-at least-1
mean, it's of no Importance.
LET me see it then" she persisted,
gently trying to draw it away.
ooh, don't read it, dear; it's an abom-
Unable, shameful letter! | wouldn't have
you pollute your eyes by reading it., he
said taken off his guard. Il entreat
you not to read it!'
''Why, you must think I am something
more than a woman to refrain after
that" said Mrs. Stanhope, smiling as
she drew it from his reluctant fingers.
She was q very lovely woman. slender
and fair, with pathetic gray eyes and a
serenely sad mouth, and the smile gave
Just the last touch her beauty wanted.
Don't think I heed it for an instant!
I know we'll enough who's done it, said
Charlie, nObly; but she held up her hand
for silence, as she quickly read the sheet.
He could see her eyes travelling from
line TO line; could see a flush quickly
rise to her forehead, and as swiftly
change to WhiteneSs.
''Ah, Lii, my darling! | knew you
could not stand it; [ oughtn't to have let
you read it" he said, catching at her as
she swayed slightly, but she freed her
self and stood facing him, with parted
lips.
''Then you don't believe it," she said,
slowly.
Believe it! My God, what question
from you to me- My queen, my saint!
AS if I'd believe all the world against
youn' he broke out, passionately. I've
been bad lot myself. but do you think
l don't know a good woman when l
find one?"
you'd believe me against the world
she echoed, 'but if l joined the world
against myself, what would you believe
+hen?"
Il don't know what you mean. Don't
Jest on such subject, and. trust me,
I'll make the woman who wrote those
lies smart for it. -
'But they are not lies" said Lillian
Stanhope, slowly. 'It is the simple
TRUTH
He looked at her in utter bewilder-
ment What did she mean? What
was she talking of? Was she out of her
mind?
''You don't seem to understand" she
said: quietly. Every word in that let
ter is true"
He did not answer. but still stood gaz-
ing at her. She had crossed over to the
mantelpiece, and stood with one elbow