Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-07-10
EXCHANGE OF ROLES.

quite ready to admit that his morals
were somewhat faulty. Sometimes he
admitted it genially, sometimes with a
mild self reproach, but always with the
mir Of being quite irresponsible for his
failings, and indeed he was one Of those
men whom scarcely any n judges
hardly. Good looks, a pleasant smile,
an easy affectionateness and a generous
hand are excellent covers for very seri-
Gus faults IL o too fervid liking for the
good things Of this life, including wine
and women, is to DO counted among
them.
"Hang it, you know, q pretty woman
can always make q fool of me, " he used
to acknowledge. "and | positively can
not help it. Lillian knows it too"
Lillian was Mrs. Stanhopo, and she Ger.
tainly had abundant reason 70 know it.
Charlie had married her in q fit of in
fatuation for her beauty and amid the
ominous prophecies Of their friends as
to their future happiness, and if the
husband and wife had been philanthrop-
ically inclined they might have had
the satisfaction Of knowing that they
still afforded a thrilling topic Of onver-
sation to their social circle.
In the course of five years Of married
life there had been much for Lillian TO
forgive, and Charlie had n habit Of sud-
denly confessing himself to her and re-
ceiving absolution for his sins, under
the shadow of which for n month he
would live irreproachably, forswear his
club, going to nc supper parties and es-
corting his wife to afternoons and balls
and reverting altogether to the hus-
band 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 m
"Zou are a saint, Lillian, my puro
white lily" he often said in his fits Of
remorse land I'm "a black brute, not fit
10 kiss the hem of your dress"
And he thoroughly believed it, too,
for tho time being.
So when II 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 n hand awkwardly slopcd the wrong
way and obviously feminine, and bore
the ominous signature, "a Well Wish
er, " and contained nothing but a saw
age and coarse attack upon his wife,
coupling her name with that Of a man
who had Just been VIGOROUSLY expelled
from a smart club for cheating at cards.
Charles handsome face flushed darkly,
aud he muttered asavage oath under his
breath.
"What devils some women arel Can't
they even leave Lillian alone? She, of
all women in the world, to DO written
of sol It's that jade, Maud Bellair, I'm
certain. She has never forgiven me fol-
refusing to introduce her to Lillian.
Well, l may be a blackguard my self
but my wife shall never speak to suel
women. She must never know Of it. Il
would half kill her, and if l showed i
TO her she might, perhaps, think l sus
pected her. 1 suspect Lillian Grea
heavens, what would the world lie com
ing to-and to couple her name will
Hugh Dacre'sl It's "a pity she didn't tr.
to invent something a little more p'oba
BILE"
His faith in his wife was not shaker
for an instant. No devout worshipe
would think of d%ethroning his pure
white idol because some miscroan
throws a clod Of dirt at it, but the word
of the letter fascinated him, as thing
impossible and monstrous do, and b
was so absorbed in II that no did no
heed a footstep coming through the opel
door, and started violently when n ham
was laid ON his arm and Liiian's voic
said:
Whatever are you scowling at so fe
IociouslyG'
"Oh, nothing Of any consequence
stupid letter, +" he said confusedly, try
ing to crumple it up; but his wife pu
her finger ON it.
Are you so anzious l shouldn't Sc
iti'' she said reproachfully.
at isn't what you think at all, Lii,
Inc said, guessing her suspicious. 1T
not a letter from a wOmau-at least
mean it's Of no importance.
LET mo see it, then, " she p%orsiste
gently, trying to draw it away.
IN, dOn I Iehu ~ utaf. II : ~
a~bominable, shameful letter. Iwouldn'
have you pollute your eyes by roadin
IT," he said, taken of his guard. II on
treat you not to read i'll"
''Why you must think l am some
thing more than a woman to refrain aft
err that, " said Mrs, Stanhope, smiling a
she drew il from his reluctant fingers.
She was a very lovely woman. slende
and fair, with pathetic gray eyes and
s~erenely sad mouth, and the smile CAV
just the last touch her beauty wanted.
Don't think / heed il for an instant
i know we'll enough who's done 1t,
said Charlie nobly, but she held up he
hand for silence. as she quickly read tn
sheet. He could see her eyes ~travelin
from line TO line; could SEQ a lus
quickly rise to er forehead, and q
swiftly change 10 whitoness.
"Ah, lii, my darlingl l knew 20