Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-08-27

Il have told Mrs. Brownlow not TO
/ expect either Of us tonight. Of course,
even you will not think of going now, -
he added, as she did not speak.
! No, ah, no; at least, not there said
/ Sylvia, SO quietly that she astonisned
/ herself and disguised her husband.
But, as we have at least part of the
/ evening before us, l think we may
! spend it not unproftably here" She
I threw off her cloak and seated herself
James looked at her He had been
prepared for a row, tears, recrimina-
ton, and, indeed, as he was primed for
fight, reception like this put him
sadly out of his reckoning. However,
his turn would come later.
Il must have something to eat was
all he said.
please tell Sarah said Sylvia. Il
don't think there is anything nice in.
l dined as usual with the children at l.,
and We had boiled mutton. If Sarah
hasn't eaten it, there should be little
bit left. That and some tea will do, as
no doubt, you intend to join Mrs.
Brownlow's party later; and she is al
ways careful of your comfort
He pulled the bell sharply.
Sarah, please bring the cold mutton
and some tea for Mr.. Lee"
James was liyid.
Till the distinctly frugal meal was
placed on the table nothing more was
said Sylvia came to the table and
poured out a cup Of tea former nus
band. Her heart beat quickly and she
shivered as she did so; for she knew
that after tor ight life was not to be the
same to her, and she realized that The
moment had come when she must de-
clare herself free or forever hold her
peace.
YES" she said presently, as if in
reply to something he had said, the
time has come for a little plain speak
ing between you and me, not as nus
band and wife, but as man and woman
"a very different thing.
James affected to select a piece Of
mutton with extreme care.
you have, Mrs: Brownlow tells me,
a pretty taste in history, and | want
you to look over mine with me-"
Sylvia spoke quite easily and dispas-
sionately now, as if she was stating
the affairs of some one else.
LAS you know" she proceeded, Il
was seventeen when you married me.
I regarded you then, and for a week or
( two. as a god, l thought you also, for a
week or two, the wisest and best of
men, and, if a trife selfish, not more
than a man should be-
1 James did not relish the glance his
wife gave him.
Don't let US have much more Of this
/ damned nonsenser' he said.
Il can remember yet how frightened
| was the first time you swore at me, ,"
said Sylvia. What q goose l must
have been. | believe, funny as it
seems, if l had sworn at you you would
have respected me more. But that S
| only a parenthesis. l don't think |
quite found you out till our first baby
came" She went on Il remember how
weak l felt and how l longed for sym
pathy; and | remember, too, it was
about that time you began to feel the
want of frequent change.
eff you can spare time from these in
teresting "reminiscences, he said, in a
tone which had often made Sylvia
vince, Il should like another cup of
tea"
She refilled his cup. LAS time went
on [ realized that l was nothing TO
you but a convenience. You were a
good, a moral young man; you wanIed
a housekeeper, not a companion. 1
was more submissive more respectable,
and less expensive than a mistress;
hence my elevation to the honorable
position of your wife
Are you mad?"
mot now; but 1 think 1 must have
been mad all these years to let you
treat me as you have done, to let you
crush me and destroy my identity" she
said sadly.
do you know what you have been
saying?"
Perfectly; and l have something
else to add. | am tired of my long
slavery" Sylvia rose. Il am giving
notice" she laughed. Tonight l
throw up my situation as your bond
woman" and she laid her wedding ring
on the table before him.
He looked from it to her. He rose
Not so fast,sif you please" he be-
gan, feeling that he was about to play
a winning card. LAS to what you have
! said" contemporary, with a single
exception, it is not worthy of notice
! from any sensible man. The exception
is this and he pointed to the ring.
In renouncing this you renounce the
children"
/ Il know" said Sylvia, choking back
! the sobs that were struggling for utter
ance. 81 know thai children are sup
posed by men to insure their wives
remaining at home under any circum-
/ stances, unless, perhaps, they are so
unfortunate as to fall in love with other
men: but it does seem difficult for a
man to believe that he himself may
make even a womans children but a
poor crown for a martyrdom. Had it
been possible, 1 would have stayed for
the children"
Your religious convictions"-
I do not think, James, I need delay
my departure to discuss the religious
aspect of the question with you. 1t is
growing late, and l must CO."
Eyes, you must go, and, remember,
you can never come back"
Believe me-" she said, solemnly, Il
never will come back"
May ask how you propose to live?'