The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-12-03
The Good in a Woman.


pany.
Cyril Graves, early in life, had devoted
himself to the study of politics. and al
his hopes and fears were centered in that
engrossing pursuit. One Wednesday even
ing he was sitting smoking in his rham-
bers, deeply engrossed in a blue book when
he heard gentle knock at the door.
Come in:" he shouted, thinking 1t was
his man, and again buried himself in his
book.
/ The door opened and shut quietly, and he
still read on, and then suddenly looked up.
There standing IN a detected attitude, was
the wreck of what had been a lovely wo-
man. Graves sprang TO his feet, his face
pale and stern, for, in front or him, was
his justly divorced wife.
.'You,-Berthal- Here in my roomsi" He
moved over to the bell.
Don't ring it," she walled; I watched
your servant go out, and wanted to speak
to you. all, so badly
Now, look here, Bertha-you dragged
my name in the dust-you nearly ruined
my career, and now, when you have been
justly punished, you come back What
do you want?-money?"
His tones were icy in their coldness, and
the weak, degraded creature before him
shivered as she heard the last words.
.Cyril-Tve no right to come to you, !
know, but the world Is so cold and wretch
Ell to a woman, and God alone knows how
low I've fallen. Cannot you take me
back?" She sank into a chair and began
70 cry silently.
Take you back." he cried, his eyes gilt
tering with fury, whilst, with uneven
strides, he paced the room; Take you
tack and become tn. laughing stock OF
Londoni What Co and rusticate in some
dreary hole until you left me again? You
forget what you are"
The insult dashed fresh life and spirit
into the covering woman.
"And who made me what ann" she
SAID, with her color rising, and her brea III
coming and going rapidly.
Not IT, ne replied with sheer.
'If not you, who did? When you first
met me at my fathers rectory ! was as
simple-minded a girl as any in the land.
You made me marry you-E.d you not?'
Her tone was insistent.
"Well-suppose / did?" he answered
glooplly.
''Ycu took me to a dull house in this
London town. and there you left me. Night
after night you went to your political
meetings and 10 your House of Commons,
and gave me what was left Of your time.
You fed me and clothed me, it is true, and
there it ended. You encouraged me to mix
in society, and never troubled to protect
me as you should have done; and then,
when l left you, more from heart sickness
and from a desire to be loved and petted
by some one than from any other cause,
you divorced me, and received the condo
lences of your friends. Bahi-you are the
man who is responsible forsmy ruin, and
you only Money! I scorn your money,
and never until I die will I trouble you
again.
She left the room abruptly, leaving
Graves a prey to the most conflicting emo
tons. Her Indictment was. he felt, only
too true, and a feeling Of shame came over
him.
He unlocked his safe, and took out his
will, and read it slowly through, then took
a sheet of paper and wrote rapidly, and
replaced both in the safe.
''Therey' he said, 81 shall never marry
again, and If die before her, who knows
it may make a difference If she has the
control of money. If I could only have
my time over again.!
The great debate was over, and Cyni
Graves was it's hero. Secure in the self
reliance that a thorough knowledge OF his
subject gives its possessor, he had held the
House spell-bound for over an hour, and
sat down amidst a chorus OF approving
cheers In the lobby his friends crowded
around him with hearty congratulations.
and, already, in his minds eye, he saw
that his days as an obscure private member
were over The larger life of a leader Of
men, with all its brilliant possibilities,
seemed to lie open before him, and he glo-
RED in ii.
To quiet down his over-strained nerves
he took his hat and coat, and, although
It was long past midnight, made his way
to the Embankment, a favorite walk OF
his when engaged in deep thought. There
was a full moon, and the night was very
still. and lost in reverie, he leent over the
balustrade, and gazed idly upon the gli5-
tening silvery river below him.
The utter peace and quietude of the scene
soothed him. and he was just about to
leave when a heavy hand was laid upon
his shoulder.
Don't do it. sir-just think over IT," was
muttered in his car.
He turned sharply, and found police
man looking at him with commiseration-
Good God, constable, you don't think
I'm going to jump into the river, do your
Man alive. Can't any one walk on the
Embankment without doing that?'
Aren't you Mr.. Graves. the member for
East Bucks. STRIP said the man.
Eyes, / am; we had hot debate at the
House, and / strolled here to cool do xn
before turning in. How did you know
me:'' queried Graves.
Lord bless you, sir, I'm a Bucks man
myself, and a staunch supporter OF yours.
But don't ee, sir, come here again like this;
II amt safe for we call II one of the most
risky beats in London. We get down here
msa as are desperate for want of food and
shelter. l believe that the bodies they hs1
o;.t OF the river come from along here.
There was such a feeling in the mans
tone that Graves was touched, and fe't IN
his pocket for some money
Suddenly. eighty yards up, he saw fis-
ure outlined against the sky, and then els
appear with a loud shrek and splash.
IAN awful cry of Help echoed through
the still night air.
Good God, sir. woman's gone. in and
can't swim stroke" groaned the police
man. What shall We do?"
..Dog' said Graves. I'm go in myself.
Get on the pier below here. for the tide
will bring us down. and you maye be able
to lend a hand"
Whilst be spoke he tore OFF his boots
and trousers. and stood for an instant on
the baiustrade looking for the suicide
..Heip, Help" she shrieked, coming once
more 10 the surface With a muttered
prayer Graves dived into the water. Com
ing up, he shook the water from his head
and ewes. and with a long. graceful SIDE
stroke made for the sinking woman.
All his faculties were keeniy awake: he
felt that power, life, and reputation itself
were nothing 10 the delight OF saving some
desp.tr.ng creature from a terrible death.
THE policeman chcered him on with his