The Red Cloud chief., 1898-12-16
MY POOR WIFE.
BY J. r. SMITH.

BY J. P. SMITH.
XIII.

looked, the CHASTITY idea struck me that
] was not looking into the features OF
q sleeping, but a dead oman The
stony rigid repose, the waxen color oil
the skin, tho fixed look Of pain about
the drawn mouth. all seemed to con-
0rm my fear, until, leaning closer. a
faint breath famed my cheek and she
moaned feebly. l stole away, swal-
lowed a glass Of brandy. threw myself
upon a couch In my dressing room and
soon sank into an uneasy dose. Hell
ems sleeping face haunted me.
dreamt that she was lying dead on the
cliff where w had SO often sat togeth-
er, and that when I stopped to lift her
body In my arms a pair of bony' hands
closed fiercely round my throat. stran-
Cling my cries for mercy. dragged me
to the edge Of the cliff. where l fierce
iy struggled for my life. The hands
I knew belonged to old Molly Griffin;
but the face ~glowering owe me was
young William H~ernshaw's, distorted
with passion. A. last, with q violent
wrench. I freed n arm. and Selling
the hand pressing my throat, awoke
10 and Helen leaning over me, drag
ting her wrist from my clutch.
I looked at her stupidity for a sec
pnd.
IL am doing you no HARM" she
said, her eyes pickering and glaring at
ne stealthlly. Il came to see why
Eby-you had not come to bed. Let
@e 30. let me go, l say-you hurt me-
I at once dropped her hand, and she
tan quickly away to her own room.
I did not sec her again until break
hast. when she appeared in a lively.
,alhative mood and civilly disposed
towards both Edith and me, though she
pever once looked Us In the face. but
kept her eyes almost closed or fasten-
Cd to her plate. After giving some
household orders she went out, and,
standing by the window OF my study.
I watched her for some time pacing a
retired corner OF the kitchen garden
with a swift, monotonous stride; at
last the movement became so repug-
nant to me that. scarcely needing what
was doing, ! threw open the window
and called out to her:
"IIelen, I'm going to the club this
morning; haven't you any shopping to
do? The dog cart will be round In
ealf an hour.
mo, none,' she answered, after a
moments pause. Besides. l have an
engagement this afternoon. Ask Miss
Stepford: she Is sure to have some
shopping to do"
She had. and VIC started presently.
returning very hot and dusty late In
the afternoon to find that Helen had
failed to keep her engagement, which
Edith casually informed me was q
drive to the Flower Show at Briers-
wood with Sir William Hernshaw.
1T was so hot, I felt too lazy to
dress; hope you had q pleasant
drive" che said ~drowsily. her eyelashes
/, still sweeping her cheeks.
almost unbearable coming back"
answered. throwing myself upon n
seat by the open window. 81 am near
~ choked with dust; I feel I could
swallow a quart of claret and soda"
"IIi get some" said Helen. going to-
wards the dining room, and presently
returning with a cool. frothing tum-
bier, which she handed to me and
then stood behind my chair.
/, turned. laid my hand on her arm,
and said gently:
Helen. tell me what Is the matter
with you. Why will you not look al
ue-wlfe?"
She did not move or answer a word
though I repeated my inquiry almos,
coaxingly, as n would question: q
pettish, hayward child.
withdrew my hand and lifted, sigh.
sng YEARLY the glass. when suddenly
with a loud cry, she dashed It from
my lips, the liquid squirting up into
my face. flowing down my shirt ant
collar and streaming onto the carpet
Where the glass lay broken.
Sung to the quick by the insulting
violence Of the act. I sprang to m,
feet, glaring speechlessly at her unit
Edith, whose presence l was not awar,
of. a eagerly towards me and passed
her handkerchief over my wet face ant
neck.
"How dare your" I stammeret
hoarssly. "What do you mean? Ar,
you mad!"
Helen burst into a Wild, loud laugh
Eyes, yes. mad-mad as a Marcel
tare-mad-mad-the maddest wifi
ever a true husband had. Oh, m,
poor head-my poor head-it aches
It aches! A breath of sea air woull
do It good-a breath OF sea ART" sh,
moaned. listlessly moving away.
I went too, for even Edie's sof
touch and plying eyes were more thai
I could bear. Ordering my horse.
gave him his head, rode across countr,
as II following the swiftest hounds tina
ever ran a fox to earth. I knew no
" whittier or how far l went; 1t wa
night when the poor brute, lame. foot
sore, crawled up the avenue again
Edith was waiting for me on the door
step, and led me into the dining-room
whore a tempting supper was laid.
Eat, eat" she SAID; you look thoi
.Agghly exhausted. poor dear"