Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-03-25

and. If at some day it 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 Il few of them But.
after all, 1t is still a mans world. and
a mans world for many centuries it
must remain. Fatima will reap moth
ing by her curiosity except unhappi
ness. So many OF them live and die
in blissful ignorance. And it 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 fav"rite jardiniere. OF course
marital neglect. i'll treatment. rudeness.
are all autre chose. But have often
taken a thoughtful survey. Agnes. of
my surroundings. They are very much
the same as yours. my dear. We often
meet at the same teas, dinners. dances.
L
suppose one would call it-and most Of
our men friends are married. like our
selves. And I've repeatedly asked my
self. judging as much by what they
don't say as by what they do say. If
vast amount of family torture may not
be avoided by the simple process of
Fatima reiraining from all interfer-
ence with Bluebeard's key bunch"
Here Agnes sprang from her seat by
the fire and looked tearfully. impetu-
ously round the tasteful sitting room of
her friend.
'Oh. Marion" she cried. you tell me
you are talking generalities. but to me
they are the most piercing PERSONAL
Ties! And why: Because I'm not only
Jealous of him-I'm jealous of you!
From your serene heights of perfect
married happiness, the wife Of Il man
who worships you. as all the world
knows. who is model of every virtue
under the sun and who probably never
looks at woman without thinking how
far she falls below you, his ideal, it is
easy enough to preach discretion and
circumspection. You have the key to
all your apartments. You're Fatima
with Bluebeard who doesn't know.
the meaning of a locked door," Here
Agnes laughed in sort of hysteric way
and pointed to near chair. That's
one of. his overcoats now" While
speaking she slipped across the room
and lifted a mass of dark broadcloth,
holding it aloft.
why, yes" said Marion, raising her
quiet brows in surprise. HE came
back this morning after leaving for
downtown and ordered thicker one Of
Strayne because Of the changed wealth
er. Strayne must have left it there.
He's good servant enough, but he has
his careless moods"
Agnes, with another odd laugh, thrust
her hand into one of the pockets.
you've no fear of finding anything,
you irritatingly happy Marion. You
are"
Suddenly she paused. She had drawn
forth a lilac tinted envelope which had
been raggedly torn open at one Of it's
sides.
"a woman's hand, Marion" she ex-
claimed, "or I've never seen one! And
the date of arrival four days back. 1t
smells of violets too. Well, reallyr
Agnes"
Marion went forward and took the
note from her friends grasp with UNI
characteristic speed. She was pale al
ready, but she grew paler as she
scanned the superscription and then
raised the envelope to her nostrils.
She loved her husband intensely and
knew that he returned her love. Not
the slightest incident Of her life had she
ever kept concealed from him, and she
had always felt confident that on his
own side there was a like absolution Of
confidence anG candor. 1t stabbed her
to the soul as she thought now that no
forgetfulness had prevented him from
telling her Of this note. They led fash
ionable lives. but they led them to-
gether. For all that they might some
times pass hours apart, their constant
intimacy and comradery were be-. ond
dispute.
For few seconds she stood perfectly
still, holding the letter. Then she went
to the overcoat which Agnes had just
replaced upon the chair and slipped the
letter back into one OF it's side pockets.
She was a woman who had always
been held to possess no common SHARE
of self-command. She justified this be-
lief now.
"Bluebeard's chamber" she said,
with smile, but it was smile q lite
dim and joyless. And then she raised
one finger and put 1t against her lips
in a gesture that not only symh)led
silence, but enjoined it.
Agnes watched her in astonishryent.
She knew that there was never any
pose about her friend; that what liar
ion seriously did and said were done
and said from a sincerity at daggers
drawn with sham.
And you'll never even ask him
whom it's frOm?" Agnes exclaimed.
Never"