The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-06-12

! will seem to be ebbng away. I cannot
tell what has happened 10 me, but | think
| | am--dying"'
The blood rushed suddenly to Arma-
! thwaitcs brain as these words. wea and
I faint, but clear as bell. came to his ears.
| He was not dreaming; he was listening
to the plaintive cutlery of Il wife who felt.
rightly or not. that she had been cruelty
wronged The words told him that it
was the mans voice he heard next.
dying. Stuff and nonsense. Don't
for goodness sake try to make yourself out
Il martyr to my cruelty. What on earth
have You to complain off,
The answer came very slowly, as if the
words were dropped out one by one under
the oppression of despair.
What have-I-to complain Of
.'Well, we'll | don't pretend that YOU
did not expect different sort of life
from the one we lead. But circum-
stances"
circumstances, What circumstances
can justify n man for treating a girl
you have done me? | must speak, must
speak; | will be quiet enough tomorrow,
but tonight | am excited, my head feels
strange and light-you must hear me now.
| have something to ask YOU"
We'll. what is it,
Let me 20 and see Or. Peelt.'
DIR. Peelc, What DO You want to 20
and see him for? There is nothing the
matter with you: if you think there is,
you can consult this young fellow Arm&-
thwaite if You like. I'm sure he takes Il
deep interest in You, and will prescribe
whatever YOU have Il fancy for; that the
sort of doctor YOU want, like all women;
a good looking fellow to feel your pulse,
and look into Your eyes, and Wv yours is
the most interesting case he has ever come
across I'll speak to him Tomorrow
And l will 20 tomorrow and see DR..
Peelc."
but why? Why? Look here, be hon
est and tell me what you want to see
him for"
Can YOU pretend to be surprised that
| want 10 see the man who has been MY
guardian aud friend ever since | can re-
member: 1t is nearly three months now
since | have seen him. | have not had Il
/ talk with him since the winter began"
What do you want 10 nav" talk with
him alone for: 1t can be only for one
thing that YOU want ito grumhlc ut the
life you lead, or at me, or at something"
"Ned. YOU might trust me that it isn't
for that. Why, if | wanted To complain.
shouldn't have begun before? Do you
ever think what n strain upon me my life
has been ever since the day | married
YOU? The moment saw Lord and Lady
kildonan i'll the church that morning. and
noticed the change in Your face and the
c0ldnesS of your hand as it touched mine
| knew that | had made dreadful mis-
take. as clearly as know it now"
''\onSensc-all nonsense, | was n"ry-
Gus. naturally enough. | hadn't known
they were in London. and | knew their
coming meant that | must give my mind
to some dry business or other. instead of
to the pleasure Il man naturally looks for
ward to on his wedding day. 1t was not
my fault that | was sent off to Moscow
that very day ON Lord Kildunan's bust
ness. Do you think | should have mar
ried YOU at all if had expected to have
10 go off like that at Il moments notice?
Il remember quite well how they car
rie'i YOU away with them and | had the
sense and spirit to hate Lady Kildonan
for it.
But you were hard ana cold to me.
You said bitter things Iou would not
even give ne a wife's goodbye If YOU
had been kinder then, ! should have hur-
ried back 10 YOU. and everything would
have been diffcrent.'
NO, no. no, How could | he tender
and sweet To YOU when | saw that every
light word this lady said moved Won more
than my tears: 1t was not in human ma
ture to bear that-and on ones wedding
day. All the time you were away WAS
full OF remOrSe that had been hard. but
knew even then that You never thought
about it. If YOU had. would you have
stayed in Paris three weeks after vour
business in Russia was done with 4 bride
waiting for you III EnSlandE OF course
not"
But | was in Paris on business, Won
know that. with Lord kildonan."
And Lady Kildunau. frankly own
that all the love | had felt for You when
You were Kind to me in London and seem
ed 50 pasSonately. fcvcrishly anxious to
marry me- died away out Of my heart and
left me only bitterly hurt and disgustcd.
But | was too proud to show it. You re
member how received yuur Shamc-fa,rd
Apologize attempt at an explanation that
first evening, when poor Uncle Hugh
thinking be must he awfully in tn" way,
lett rs in the drawing room together"
by Iovr, | do. Ii you hadn't treated
nae as il had been a dog, if you had mace
one appeal to ne rs q wife to her hus-
band. | should have taken YOU 10 my arms
at once and told you. what | swear to
You sulemnly now, that there has never
been between Lady kildonan and me
tn" -
Armathwaitc could imagine the dignity
with which she interrupted him;
There are some explanations TO which
wife Of years standing may listen.
which ought never to be needed to
bride"
Well. you we're old enough 10 know
that you must take a man as you find
him
How can Won complain: | listened to
You; made YOU the only promise which
even ut that moment You cared to ASK
that | would not let DR.. rccle know tin
circumstances of our honeymoon. | have
kept my promise. and your place IN his
Will is quite safe"
what rubbish are You talking: The
doctors viii is nothing to me: hes got
his own wife and daughter to provide for.
ana I'm quite independent Of him or any
body. only don't WANT TO hurt the old
man by letting him know We have made
4 failure of it,
i think the fault must lie in your oHu
conscience and not in my eyes, Ned. For
if you would look nj them. you would see
a much sorrow for YOU a. for myself.
You are not happy. For weeks past you
have looked hara>sed and worried. l.
i only my eyes you avoid. but Uncle
lIu=h'S, nr. Peela's. cverybodys. But
we can't go on like this; | think my very
presence cNaSpcratcd YOU now. Let me
- away-for my health; since l have
grown 81 nervous and depressed it Will he
easy TO say that. When you want me. not
as Il shadow 10 haunt the house. but ~
woman to comfort or nurse you. il not rs
4 wife to love You, viii come back-in-
Srantly. Bur cannot bear the strain OF
this life any longer. l must go"
N - Nn1l sh-LL ~ 49, ,r...s. II :.