The record-union., 1898-12-08

'sNever," I answered. You must be
out of your senses. You are mad
mo, but perfectly sane, though what
i have suffered was enough to turn my
brain. Look at my gray hairs re-
moving his cap; all owing to you,
Mary"
I never saw you before-never.''
"Oh, what is the use of this sort of
thing?" he asked impatiently You
know you We're always a born actress.
You recollect your successes before we
lwere married; it was always easier for
you to be another person than your
lself."
I've never been inside a theater, and
never acted since / was born,
/ If it was not too serious a moment,
/ would say that in all your life you
had never acted as you are acting now
lyou have surpassed yourself! And you
know how proud / was of you, and the
hit you made in The Pink Petticoat'
And as to your dancing, Jackson de-
lclared that in that Grasshopper pas you
Icould not be equalled at the Empire it
self"
Grasshopper pas-Empire. If our dear
Irector could but hear my name coupled
with such denominations.
I rose snatched UP my bag and par
lasol, and hurriedly seated myself at the
far end of the carriage, merely present
ling my back to his gaze But, utterly
Iundaunted. he Immediately placed him
iself beside me, and actually endeavored
to insinuate his arm around my waist.
I screamed, and beat him off with my
parasol, and then he seized my hand
and held it in viselike grip and said:
Mary. darling, why do you go on
like this-as if you did not know me?
Don't you remember the balls at
Covent Garden and the jolly suppers,
| and our dear little house in Avenue
Road, and how proud was to be
pointed out as the husband of Polly
Cantrippe? Think of our three fair
haired children. Oh, how could you
have it in your heart to desert poor
little .Esmeralda only an infant in
arms? She is now 4 years old, and
the image of you It's a terrible thing
to have a handsome wife!''
| Let go my hand!n / cried out hys-
terically.
ITO have a handsome wife," he re-
peated, who has been on the boards
and has thousands of admirers-a ter
the city, and forced to leave her alone
all day. 1t was partly my own fault.
and I've never divorced you!"
| I now made a desperate but futile
attempt to tear away my hand He
still held it tightly, talking all the time
in loud, resolute voice.
"A pretty woman has so many
temptations" Here, at last, wrenched
4 M
cord of communication
mo need to call the guard Mary .
he said. Your own husband is suff1-
cient protection
But you are not my husband" I
shouted, and I will call the guard if
I can!''
sit down!" he said fercely. NO
more of this acting; and listen to me
quietly
Awed by his look, I sank back into
seat. My mental sufferings were suf-
ficiently acute, but I did not wish to
enrage him to the point of murder
I've never taken any steps to di-
vorce you,' he continued-continued to
me, Mrs Moggins of The Manor; 'sfor
you are my wife in the sight of heaven,
and you know that / adered you and
that I married you honorably, in spite
of that ugly story about young Love
lace; / always thought there was no
one like you, no one SO saucy so hand
some, SO smart. My own opinion has
always been that you were inveigled
| away against your better self, and
that you are heartily sick of the brute
Pm told that he drinks and that he
beats you. I've searched for you high
and low; I've even advertised for you,
and meanwhile I've always kept your
place open. I've told your friends (and
some believe me) that the acting fever
had got into your blood, you could not
keep off the boards, and had accepted
| a splendid engagement in America:
| but that you were coming back soon,
for certain. Think of the children
i've no children! I burst out indig-
nantly.
"They are taught to expect your re-
turn he continued, as If he had not
heard me- Polly is like you-she was
on Thursday; Billy takes after me,
they say; and as for Esmeralda, you
shall Judge for yourself All can say
| is that I forgive everything. Mary,
come home"
| AS he spoke he looked most terribly
| in earnest, poor man; his voice shook,
his face was ashen: great beads OF
perspiration stood upon his forehead.
I declare I felt almost sorry for him.
II regret, sir" said, "that you have
| made a complete stranger so con-
versant with your private affairs. My
husband is a tea broker; I have no
family. have never been, and never
will be- inside a theater in my life:
much less have acted or danced"
"Oh, Mary, why do you torture me
like this?" he exclaimed. sAre you so
happy with him-a married man? How
can you consent to live in sin?"
silence, sir!" I shrieked, nearly be-
side myself.
IT will not be silentl' he stormed.
Had ever any woman so forgiving
husband? But, then, I love you-I
| love you." and here the miserable
wretch actually burst into tears and
went suddenly down and groveled at
my knees, hiding his head and his
heartrending sobs in my gown. was
certain his loud voice. lamentations
and arguments must have been heard
by the Uppinghams. What would they
think?
IT am really sorry for you sir" I
said, drawing away my skirt How
can I induce you to believe that am
not your abandoned wife? See, here is
my handkerchief and my initials, s. H.
M'-Sarah Hannah Moggins"
What are initials?" he scoffed. you
can change them as easily as you have
changed your voice and the color of
your hair. I see you've dyed it the