The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-19
TWO WIVES.
"It's grown chilly. hasn't itY"

sarcastic laugh She was budding in her
dapper street gear before the pennon of
cracking flame on her friends hearth.
Its blown horribly chilly, Marion-for
mer'
Another quarrel, suppose, with your
husband?''
"A quarrel this time that ends every.
thing. I'm going to my mother in Bos.
tom"
Don't, my dear"
Marion Kingslund spoke thus in tones
tranquil and low. She was swaying her
self softly in rocking chair, and she had
folded her arms in leisurely way. She
was a large, blond woman-uot handsome,
of sweet gravity.
"Oh, you've always said that, !" replied
young Mrs. Lawton, frowning at the fire.
But now 1 mean to disobey your coun
sci"
Every WELL Agnes; as you please Re-
member 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 logged,
dragging undertoDe-"he Is not faithful !"
The oscillations of Mrs. Kingsland's
rocking chair quickened the least little bit.
"What husband Isl"
"Yours."
ooh, Trent-yesl wasn't thinking of
him." She colored, biting her lips. "What
is the present trouble, Agnes2 Tell me-"
Its very simple. 1 found a note in
Fred ST mean Mr.. Lawton 's-overcoat
pocket"
MY dear Agnes, what were you doing
therep"
Doing there?"
"You were spying-jealously spying"
said Marion, with her usual calm. "Ad-
nit it.
you're crueler than usual, Marion. l
was fool to come here. Mamma will
sympathize, however. l shall take the
o'clock train for Boston,"
WAS the note very dreadful"
ooh, iJ told it's own story. And, as
you re aware, this is not the first time
THAT you've gone through your hus-
band S pockets? l know. And the sigma
ture?'
"Initials"
II see. And very violent quarrel fol-
lowed?'
"The most violent we have ever had.
And the last we shall ever have"
"Agnes," she said, breaking "A pause, 81
don't know husband who in public is
more respectful, more attentive, more posi-
lively gallant to his wife than yours.
"In public!' bristled the other. "What
does that mean?'
! lit means "a great deal more than many
a wife gets-many Il wife of our acquaint
ance whom I've heard you openly pity in
my hearing. Now, answer me frankly.
| Might not that letter which you found and
read have implied "a Irritation, passing
sentiment, rather than the very 1urid and
scandalous Interpretation you put upon
its l say, might it not? Think for a mo-
ment before you answer. -
Agnes tossed her head, decked in a tiny
bonnet of tangled pansies.
"Well, perhaps" she presently conced
ed, with distinct reluctance.
perhaps" repeated Marion. "Now that
Is at least an admission. 1t puts Frederick
in more purdonable light. But it doe:
not excuse you from being most rashly in
discreet"
"Oh," fumed Agnes, II do so detest
that kind of philosophy"
1--WE women can cultivate none that II
sounder.
1--WE women, Marion! How would yor
feel, pray, if your Trent
Never mind my Trent, dear. Let VI
talk generalities for few minutes
There's hardly IL household that hasn't it,
Bluebeard's chamber. "
Except yours. And so you can af
ford
"Generalities, please, Agnes, just for {
little while. There are Fatimas who DE-
pry, and there are Fatimas who don t
The latter have by far the best time of II
that is, when their Bluebeards trea
them fondly and courteously. Discretion
is wonderful safeguard to conjugal con
tentment The moral obligation with mel
should be as strong as it is with women
/ freely grant you that. But society doe
not grant it, and in the lives of our great
great-great- grandchildre it will not prac
tically employ any such system of ethic
unless l miserably err. 1t is system
talked about, written about, and, if n
some day it will he actively exploited, OF
that day every body who now lives will lie
as firmly believe, in graves whose deep
est cut headstones lave grown undecipher
able blurs. The INV woman may dream
her dreams and even realize few of them
But, after ALL 1t Is still "A mans world
and mans world for many centuries !
must remain. Fatima will reap nothing
by her curiosity except unhappiness 5,
many of them live and die in blissful ig
norance. And 1t is so much better tina
they should. Men are men, and the leop
ard does not change his spots, Why no
let we'll alone? A wife cen tend and waite
her jealousy and her suspicion precisely a
If they were two different specimens of feri
in a favorite jardiniere. OF course MARTA
neglect, i'll treatment, rudeness, are al
autre chose. But / have often taken
thoughtful survey, Agnes, of my own so
oial surroundings They are very mucl
the same as yours, my dear. We oftei
meet at the same teas, dinners, dances
We know the same set-the smart set,
suppose one would call it-and most o
our men friends are married, like our
selves. And I've repeatedly asked myself
judging as much by what they don't So.
as by what they do say, II a vast amour
of family torment may not be avoided b.
the simDle prOcess of Fatima refraininl