Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-06-12
A WIFE'S DEPARTURE.
Detroit Fee Press.

husband late had awarded her IN
the lottery of marriage.
But Lila desired to live her own
life and not SO completely merge it
into that of another as to lose her
own identity, as she was now in
danger of doing. Besides her pres
ent mode of living meant to her
ambitious spirit stagnation. Fred
Roberts did not really plan to
make any one unhappy, least OF all
his own wife. He was selfishly fol-
lowing his own inclinations accord
ing to his ideas of the eternal fit
ness of things.
Lila regarded his wishes and i'm
INJURED herself on the domestic altar
without complaint, but she did a
great deal of thinking and came to
look upon her husband as a petty
tyrant.
She had a gift of music, and be-
fore her marriage had played and
sung at church sociables and anna.
teur theatricals with the hearty ap.
probation of her father and mother.
Fred, not to be outdone in wis
dom, began the making over proc
ess and hoped in time to model
Lila into sort of composite wife,
when he should have grated on
her budding nature all the virtues
which are popularity supposed to
belong to perfected womankind.
So after duly considering the
matter and taking no one into her
confidence Lila made a decision.
One morning when Fred was going
to business she asked him to wait
a moment, and, standing on the top
stairs of the veranda, she pinned a
knot Of purple and yellow pansies
into his buttonho'e. Then because
his face was so near she kissed him.
Goodby, sweetheart" she said,
with little nervous laugh, and he
wondered if the neighbors saw
them, and if they would think him
spoony.
Lila's pansies worried Fred all
day. He put them in water to
keep them fresh, as he wanted to
wear them home, a concession that
feretold much good if Lila had
only known.
Pshaw, I'm as sentimental as
woman !" he said to himself. Il
dare say it is dull somtimes for
Lila without me. I'll plan a trip
somewhere, in business interests,
and take her along"
Fred Roberts went home that
evening with a fresh flower about
to bloom in his soul, and Lila's pam
sizes worn at his breast. He was
disappointed to find the door locked
and the key under the mat-an oc-
casional thing when Lila visited
her parents.
He at once felt aggrieved. That
was always the way when be had
tried to do a noble deed-there
was no one to help him. Nor was
there any supper for tired and
hungry man. That had never hap
pened before.
Then he saw a note in front of
the little French clock which had
been one of their wedding pres.
ents. He tore it open and read:
DEAR FRED-Our marriage was mis-
take. Better separation than hatred.
Do not try to find me, as it will be i'm
possible, and no one knows where have
gone. Believe me, l shall do nothing
to bring a shadow on your name or the
one shall hereafter bear. LILA.
Fred went into fury. The cat
fed appalled, from the room and the
canary ceased to whistle and sing
and became dumb. When the
tempest had abated, he went out
and began a search for his wife.
The search lasted a year. He
placed his business in trusty hands
and pretended to be travelling in
its interests. His hair turned iron
gray and became him well. Pur-
pose lines developed in his face,
and the veneeriDg wore from his
character, showing the real SUBJ
stance beneath.
A friend who knew him at this
period of bis career said to him:
1.-THE world is full of women.
Why compel an unwilling woman
to be your wife7 Accept your lib.
erty and begin life over again"
you have never loved" an.
swered Fred. Il want my wife
because-I love her."
ut would be more to the pur.
nose If she loved yon." retorted his