Semi=weekly graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1895-1902, 1896-08-05

happy COuSH1l u6ilCb ludB Eef aversion to
him does not obtrude itself beyond the
limits of politeness.
Her part of the contract she faithfully
fulflls, for the Singletons also have
their code of honor Her beauty, her
tact, her charm, her influence, are de
voted to his service-to the advance
ment Of his position, the furtherance Of
his ambition. Doors that would other.
wise remain closed she opens to him. So
eiety that would otherwise pass by with
a sheer sits round his table His wishes
and pleasures are hers. In all things she
yields him -vifely duty. seeks to render
herself agreeable to him, suffers in 81
lence his occasional caresses. Whatever
was implied in the bargain, thar she will
perform to the letter
He, ON his side, likewise performs his
part with businesslike conscientiousness
may, seeing that the pleasing of her
brings no personal qualification to him
self, not without generosity. He is ever
thoughtful of and deferential to her
awarding her at all times an nnYarvine
courteousness that is none the less sin.
cere for being studied. Her every ex-
pressed want is gratifed, her every
known distaste respected. Conscious Of
his presence being an oppression to her.
he is even careful not to intrude himself
upon her oftener than is necessary.
At times he asks himself, somewhat
pertinently, what he has gained by mar
riage-wonders whether this social race
was quite the most interesting game he
could have elected to occupy his leisure.
wonders whether after all he would
not have been happier over his counting
house than in these sumptuous, glitter
ing rooms, where he always seems and
feels himself to be the unlimited guest.
The only feeling that closer init
macy has created in him for his wife il
that of indulgent contempt. AS there ia
no equality between man and woman,
50 there can be no respect. She is a diff
ferent being. He must either look up to
her as superior TO himself, or down upon
her as inferior. When a man does the
former, he is more or less in love, and
love to John Ingerfield is an unknown
emotion. Her beauty, her charm, her
social tact! Even while he makes use Of
them for his own purposes he desnises
Tnem AS the weapons or > weak natuEs,
So in their big, cold mansion, John
Ingerfeld and Anne, his Ny,fe, sit far
apart, strangers to one another, neither
desiring to know the other nearer.
About his business he never speaks to
her, and she never questions him To
compensate for the slight shrinkage Of
time he is able to devote to it, he be-
comes more strict and exacting; grows
harsher master to his people, sterner
creditor, a greedier dealer, squeezing
the'uttermost out of every one, feverish
to grow richer. SO that he may spend
more upon the game that day by day he
finds more tiresome and uninteresting.
And the piled up casks upon his
wharfs increase and multiply, and on
the dirty river his ships and barges lie
in eYerlengthening lines, and round
his greasy caldrons sweating, witchlike
creatures swarm in ever denser num-
bers, stirring oil and tallow into gold
Until one summer. from its nest in
the far east. there hutters westward q
foul thing lowering over Limehouse
suburb. seeing it crowded and unclean,
liking its fesid smell, it settles down
upon it,
She rouses herself from her reverie as
John, with smile, tells her supper is
ready, and they seat themselves opposite
each other, an odd air of embarrass-
ment pervading.
Day by day their work grows harder.
Day by dag the foe grows stronger,
fiercer, more all conquering and day by
day, fighting side by side against it.
John Ingerlield and Anne, his wife, draw
closer to each other. On the battlefield
of life we learn the worth of strength.
Anne feels it good, when growing
weary, to glance up and find him near
her; feels it good, amid the troubled
babel round her, to hear the deep,
strong music of his voice.
And John, watching Anne's fair fig
ure moving to and fro among the strick-
en- and the mourning. watching her
fair, fiutt1ing hands, busy with their
holy work, her deep, soul haunting
eyes, changeful with the light and shade
of tenderness, listening to her sweet,
clear voice, laughing with the Joyous,
comforting the comfortless, gently COM
handing, softly pleading, finds creeping
into his brain strange, new thoughts,
concerning mountaineering this one
woman iii particular.
One day, rummaging over an old chest,
he comes across colored picture book
of Bible stories. He turns the torn pages
fondly, remembering the Sunday after
Moons Of long ago. At one picture.
are represented many angels
he pauses, for in one of the younger
angels of the group-one not quite so
severe Of feature as her sisters - he
faacies he can trace resemblance to
Anne. He fingers long over it. Sudden
ly there PUSHES though his brain the
thought, How good to stoop and kiss the
sweet feet of such womani And.
it, he bushes
So from the soil of human suffering
spring the flowers Of human love and
joy, and from the flowers there fall the
seeds of infinite pity for human pain.
God shaping all things to his ends.
Thinking of Anne, Johns face grows
gentler, his hand kinder. Dreaming Of
him, her heart grows stronger. deeper
fuller. Every available room in the
has been turned into q ward.
and the little hospital is open free to all.
7