The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-05-12
EXCHANGE OF ROLES.

AL Ills Lie SlluEllt ClduIlupS Ilau Dctu
quite ready to admit that his morals
We're somewhat faulty. Sometimes he
admitted it genially, sometimes with a
mild self reproach, but always with the
air Of being quite irresponsible for his
failings, and indeed he was one of those
men whom scarcely any II judges
hardly. Good looks, a pleasant smile,
an easy affectiOnateness and a generous
hand are excellent covers for very seri-
Gus faults if 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, q pretty woman
can always make a fool of me, he used
to acknowledge, land I positively can
not 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 q fit Of in
fatuation for her beauty and amid the
ominous prophecies Of their friends rs
to their future happiness, and II the
husband and wife had been philanthropy
ically inclined they might have had
the satisfaction of knowing that they
still afforded a thrilling topic Of CONVEX
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 a habit Of sud-
denly confessing himself to her and re-
ceiving dissolution for his sins, under
the shadow of which for q month he
would live irreproachably, forswear his
club, going to no 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 woman.
"Tou are a saint, Lillian, my pure
white 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 a hand awkwardly sloped 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 inst been VIGOROUSLY expelled
from a smart club for cheating at cards.
Charles handsome face flushed darby,
and he muttered a savage oath under his
breath.
What devils some women are! Can't
they even leave Lillian alone? She, Of
all women in the world, to be written
of so! It's that jade, Maud Bellair, I'm
certain. She has lev forgiven me for
refusing to introduce her to Lillian.
Well, I may be a blackguard myself,
but my wife shall never speak to such
women. She must never know Of it. 1t
would half kill her, and if I showed it
to her she might, perhaps, think I sus-
pected her. I suspect Lillian! Great
heavens, what would the world be com
ing to-and to couple her name with
Hugh Dacre's! It's a pity she didn't try
to invent something q little more proba-
ble."
His faith in his wife was not shaken
for an instant. No devout worshiper
would think Of d%ethroning his pure,
white idol because some miscreant
throws a clod of dirt at it, but the words
Of the letter fascinated him, as things
impossible and INDUSTRIOUS do, and he
was 80 absorbed in it that he did not
heed a footstep coming through the open
door, and started violently when a hand
was laid ON his arm and Lilian's voice
said:
Whatever are you scowling at SO f.
1ociously"
"Oh, nothing Of any consequences
stupid letter." he said confusedly, try
ing to crumple it up; but his wife put
her finger on it.
Are you so anxious I shouldn't see
it," she said re~proachfully.
1T isn't what You think at all, ILL.,
he said, guessing her suspicious. Its
not a letter from q woman-at least
mean it's Of no Importance"
LET me see it, then," she persisted
gently, trying to draw it away.
"Oh, don't read it, dear. It's ar
abominable, shameful letter! Iwouldn',
have you pollute your eyes by reading
it," he said, taken off his guard. Il en-
treat You not to read itr'
why, you must think I am some
thing more than a woman to refrain aft
er that" said Mrs. Stanhope, smiling a
she drew it from his reluctant fingers.
She was a very lovely woman. slende
and fair, with pathetic gray eyes and
~seyeEely sad mouth, and the smile CAV
just the last touch her beauty wanted.
Don't think I heed it for an instant
! know we'll enough who's done it,
said Charlie nobly, but she held up he
hand for silence, as she quickly read tn
sheet. he could see her eyes travelin
rom line to line; could see a Aus
quickly rise to her forehead. and q
swiftly change to wilderness.
"Ah, Ll my darling! I knew 20