The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-08-11
FOR HIS SAKE.

Ia MS own u1uQ, tive uIlnurSU POUNDS,
five hundred poundsP' Presently red
hot coal fell from the CRATE and threw
a faint flicker on the writing table,
upon which was a photograph of very
lovely girl in silver frame.
''Oh, beauty!' said the colonel, with
a long drawn sigh, and a softened ex-
preston Of infinite pity came over his
rugged features as he looked at the
beautiful girlish face. "Oh, beauty, my
hearts dear queenl" And then a sob
broke the stiffness of the room, and
his hands and gave himself up to par
oxysm of silent agony.
Just at this minute the heavy oak
door was pushed noiselessly open and a
small figure softly entered the room and
crossed to the writing table. A little
hand was laid on the colonel's arm and
a little voice announced, "Chappie's
hereP' and then Dalmaine raised his
head, and the freight danced with
glee, for the sad face now beamed with
love and tenderness as he put one arm
round the little lad at his side and muir
INJURED, "Chappie, my beauty's little
boy"
"'Es, Chappie's tum. What for 90
kwy?" demanded the baby voice, and
then, catching sight of the silver frame,
he added, softly, 'Chappie's movah-
Chappie's booful movah |"
Then the little lad climbed on his IA
theirs knee and demanded story. And
hand in hand Dalmaine wandered with
his little son through the delightful
mazes of fairyland, forgetful of the
overwhelming weight of trouble that
had come upon him.
AS they sat thus the library door
opened and let in a food of light from
the hall. 1t fell on the curly golden
head that nestled near the iron gray
one, on the sweet baby features and on
the mans rugged, sun tanned face. 1t
was a touching picture that would
have appealed to any woman's heart,
and little CLEAN of the sleeping wom-
anhood in Beauty Dalmaine awoke as
she paused on the threshold and watch
ed her husband and her little son. Both
turned, and then the child ran forward
to greet the beautiful young mother,
but she drew back, saying, "Be care
full, child; you will crush my dress,
and then daintily gathered up the SHIN
mering satin train. But there was an
ache in the heart of the loving little
lad az he gazed at the faultless face
above him, and then kind hand was
laid on his head, and his father said:
"You must run away now, Chappie.
want mother. Good night, my son, y
L. IL \ ~ Ell
little face with all the tenderness of q
woman.
''Fardle wants Chappie g movah, the
child repeated to himself as he ran up
the stairs, and then the library door
closed, and the husband and wife were
alone.
you'll be brief, Travers, because
have an engagement, the cold, clear
voice rang out.
Tonight your engagement must fall
through. have much to say, and /
must say it now"
The colonel spoke with decision, and
it was hard to believe that he was the
same man who had just been telling
Ohappie such wonderful fairy tales
The tender smile had vanished, and his
usually stern face had assumed it's Sc
verest expression.
'Pray sit down. he continued, push
ing chair toward his wife, but Beau
ty Dalmaine remained standing.
Nonsense, Travers. can't postpone
tonight's engagement. We are going to
the play. Sir Arthur has had the great
est difficulty in getting the seats, and
as he has taken SO much trouble can
not put off going"
There are worse faults that can be
laid at your door, my child,i' her hus-
band replied gravely. "You owe some
obedience to your husband, and tonight
I wish that you remain at home. will
send an apology to Sir Arthur" And
SO saying he rang for the lights and sat
down to the writing table.
When the note had been duly dis
patched, Colonel Dalmaine turned once
more to his wife. She looked wonder
fully beautiful, but it was the beauty of
statue Her expression was cold and
proud, and her attitude was one of
naughty defiance. The severity died out
of Dalmaine's face and gave way to a
softer expression as he spoke.
"Did you hear what the little one
said? 'Fardie wants Chappie's mother ,
That is just it. / want you, beauty
want little of the wifely love and ten
derness that is my due. Wherever I go
! hear of Beauty Dalmaine's loneliness,
of her sweetness, of her talents. am
the envy of all men, but if they only
knew-if they only knew-that that
sweetness is reserved for any one but
her husband, that those talents are not
used for the identifying of her home,
but to lure on other unfortunate men to
the same abyss that was my fate; that
her beauty, instead of being my pride
and JOY, Is the cause of my most bitter
miseryl My child, have excused YOU,
even to myself, and have, moreover,
blamed myself in great measure that
my love should not satisfy you. Perhaps
did wrong to marry you, a mere child
in comparison with myself, but loved
you, Beauty, and cannot see you rush
ing on headlong to your ruin without
putting every obstacle in your wav.
Your name, the name of Beauty Dali
maine, my peerless wife, is ON every
tongue in London. Am to stand that?
Am to let the name of the woman
whom chose from among all others to
make my wife-am to let that name
be dragged i'll the dust? Is the mother of
my son to be the plaything of these
empty headed society men! what am
better than brute if stand by with
out interfering? You shall not drag my
name and honor i'll the dust Your in
II - u
all sorts Of difficulties, must be curbed.
Today 1 have bill for $500 from your
dressmaker. There was time, child
when to please me seemed your great
est pleasure. That time has passed. But
what have done to forfeit your love?
have done my utmost to make you hap
Ply, and yet how I've failedP' And
Travers Dalmaine drew his coat sleeve