The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-03-12
TWO WIVES.

"Oh, yes" said Agnes Lawton, with a
sarcastic laugh. Sne was budding in
her dapper street gear before the pen
hearth. Its blown horribly chilly,
Marion-for mer'
Another quarrel, 1 suppose, with
your husband"
"a quarrel this time that ends every
thing. Pm going to my mother in Bos-
ton"
"Don't, my dear"
Marion Kingsland spoke thus in tones
tranquil and low. She was swaying
herself softly in rocking chair, and
she had folded her arms in a leisurely
way. She was large, blonde woman
mot handsome, but with a beautiful
figure and face full of sweet gravity.
''Oh, you've always said that" replied
young Mrs. Lawton, frowning at the
fire. But now l mean to disobey your
counsel"
VERY well, Agnes; as you please
Remember I've always said one thing
Your husband loves you devotedly-"
"Ah, that's the very point, Marion!
He loves me, but not devotedly. He"-
and here Mrs. Lawton lowered her face
and drew out the next words in a
dogged, dragging undertone-"he is not
faithful"
The oscillations of Mrs. KingsIand's s
rocking chair quickened the least little
bit. What husband is"
yours"
! ''Oh, Trent-yes! l wasn't thinking of
him." She colored, biting her lips.
What is the present trouble, Agnes?
Tell me-"
It's very simple. found a note in
Fred's-I mean Mr.. Lawton's-overcoat
pocket"
my dear Agnes, what were you
doing therer'
"Doing there?'
"You were spying spying"
said Msri1l., ~ uer usual calm. 'Ad-
nnit it"
You're crueler than usual, Marion.
was fool to come here. Mamma will
sympathize, however. 1 shall take the
3 o'clock train for Boston"
''Was the note very dreadfulY
''Oh, 1t told its own story. And, as
you're aware, this is not the first
time"
THAT you've gone through your hus-
bands pockets? l know. And the sig
nature"
Initials"
'I see. And a very violent quarrel
followed"
'The most violent we have ever had.
And the last we shall ever have"
Marion Kingsland stopped rocking.
"Agnes," she said, breaking a pause, 81
don't know husband who in public is
more respectful, more attentive, more
positively gallant to his wife than
yours"
''In publicv' bristled the other. What
does that mean?'
at means great deal more than
many wife gets-many a wife of our
acquaintance whom I've heard Won
openly pity in my hearing. Now an
swer me frankly. Might not that letter
which you found and read have i'm
piled Irritation, a passing sentiment,
rather than the very lurid and scandal
Gus Interpretation you put upon it. 1
say, might it not? Think for moment
before you answer"
Agnes tossed her head. decked In a
tiny bonnet of tangled pansies.
well, perhaps" she presently con-
ceded, with distinct reluctance.
Perhaps" repeated Marion. "Now
that Is at least an admission. It puts
Frederick In more pardonable light.
D,1@ t.
most rashly indiscreet."
"Oh." fumed Agnes, 81 do SO detest
that kind of philosophy
I'VE women can cultivate none that
Is sounder." 1--WE women. Marion!
How would you feel, pray, if your
Trent"
'Never mind my Trent, dear. Let us
talk generalities for few minutes.
There's hardly household that hasn't
its Bluebeard's chamber"
Except yours. And SO you can af-
ford"
"Generalities, please, Agnes, just for
a little while. There are Fatimas who
do pry, and there are Fatimas who
don't. The latter have by far the best
time of it-that Is, when their Blue
boards treat them fondly and cour-
teously. Discretion Is a wonderful
safeguard to conjugal contentment
The moral obligation with men should
be as strong as it Is with women.
freely grant you that. But society does
not grant 1t and in the lives of ouI
Observation-Disclosures it will
not practically employ any such system
of ethics unless miserably err. 1t is
a system talked about, written about
and, If at some day 1t will be actively
exploited, on that day everybody who
now lives will lie. as firmly believe
In graves whose deepest cut headstones
have grown undecipherable blurs. The
new woman may dream her dreams
and even realize few of them. But
after all, 1t is still a mans world, and
a mans world for many centuries II
must remain. Fatima will reap moth.
ing by her curiosity except unhappi-
ness. So many of them live and die
In blissful ignorance. And 1t Is so much
better that they should. Men are men,
and the leopard does not change his
spots. Why not let well enough alone?
A wife can tend and water her jealousy
and her suspicion precisely as il they
were two different specimens Of fern
In a favorite iardiniere. OF course
marital neglect, i'll treatment, rudeness,
are all autre chose. But / have often
taken a thoughtful survey, Agnes, of
nnnno1p >u gro very much