The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-04
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''Won't you change your mind, Maud?'
t'It is too late to change. The dogcart Is
at the door."
''What does that matterq 1t can go back
to the stables. I wish you would. y
sMy dear Jack, do not add inconsistency
to my other faults. Goodness knows the
list of them is long enough in your esti-
nation"
The speakers were man and q woman,
both young, and both good to look upon.
The scene was shady English garden on
a bright summers evening, the mellow
| ing light of fading day filtering through
the dark cedar trees and playing upon the
white gown of the lady as she lay back
| lazily in a luxurious wicker chair. She
was very pretty and very young, but her
mouth was set in hard line and there
was defiance in her eyes. The man stood
| in front of her, looking at her anxiously,
| and mingled with the cawing of the rocks
overhead came the sound of horse s
hoofs impatiently paving the gravel in
front of the hall door. Truly the dogcart
was waiting.
| Jack Rodney gave sigh which was al
most groan, then drew himself up and
squared his shoulders with the involun-
| tary action of a man who has to say some
| thing unpleasant and who hates the task.
Every well, Maud, I can say no more.
| It is evident we cannot go on like this.
Our lives are burdens to us, and soon peo-
| pie will begin to notice that we arc not
on friendly terms. Perhaps when I am
away you will think better of me. I may
/ not irritate you so much. You know, l
| only speak to you for your good.
''YOu preach-you don't speak.
''MaudP'
sob, don't let US argue. I am sick OF
! it,
"And of me, too, I SUPPOSED Well, then,
| goodby, if you will have it SO. I have
/ loFk h0 fnh
| Will you kiss me?'
"No 1t is stupid to be hypocritical,
/ and there are no onlookers.
| With another sigh, the man turned
away, and without one backward glance
| walked to where the dogcart stood in
readiness, took the reins and in a minute
the sound of a horses swift trot was heard
| down the gravel drive.
| Maud Rodney sat quite still where her
| husband had left her until the faintest
| sounds had died away. Then she rose and
began to hum the refrain of a popular
song from comic opera:
| "ClowpE clowns, clowns,
| Miscellaneous mankey clowns"
But somehow there was no merriment
| in the lifting tune, and that, too, died
| away into silence. She pulled rose from
a tree as she passed, but it fell to pieces
as she gathered it, and a thorn scratched
! her finger. After all, it was well that
!
! ways quarreling, and he never let her do
| as she liked. She had been so spoiled at
| home that she could not brook the slight
est contradiction; besides, she wanted to
show him how independent she was and
how well she could do without him.
| It was getting cold and she shivered.
Where was her warm cloak, which Jack
always wrapped around her when the dew
| was falling2 The maid would bring it.
! She went to the house to summon her
| As she passed through the open French
window into the boudoir she thought of
| the note left for her by her husband.
Another lecture, I suppose, - she mutt
tered, as she broke the seal. 1t contained
blank check and a short note which
said:
MY DARLING WIFE-You can fill up the in
closed for any amount you like. Do not deny
| yourself anything during my Punishment, and
| try to recall me soon as you can You know
| how much love you. Yours ever, JACK.
! She twisted the letter about in her fin
| gers, and the corners of her mouth dropped
as those of child about to cry, but she
! forced back her tears and tried to tell
herself she was a woman of spirit. She
| would go for brisk walk in the garden
| to brush away the cobwebs from her brain
| and then she would look at the new books
from Nudes, and then-well, perhaps it
would be bedtime-but surely this even
| ing was very longl
| Wrapping a shawl round her, she went
again into the dusky garden and wan
dered down a long green alley, with tall
| white fOXg1Oves bordering it on either
! side. They looked uncanny in the dim
| light and the groups of pale blossoms in
! the distance seemed to take queer shapes
and to bend and wave like fantastic spirit
forms made misty by the darkness. 1t was
so horribly STILL and yet the throb of the
! night beat like a silent pulse in the air.
/ n itfaO IL
/ startled her with their mournful cry, and
| surely-yes, surely-there in the distance,
| under the shadow of the trees, was the
! crouching form of man. Mrs Rodney s
heart sank into her boots, and with cry
| of "Jack, JackI' she turned and fed.
| Footsteps followed fast behind her. The
man was evidently pursuing her, and like
flash the thought went through her
mind that she was left defenseless.
"Jack, come backl Oh, come back P'
| was her voiceless cry as she felt her
strength going and feet tagging, but as
she turned the corner she saw a maid
servant running toward her. She paused
| to gain breath and then went on. A hap
| by thought flashed through her mind.
! Her husband had returned. She would
! never be wilIful again.
''Your master-has he come back9'' she
gasped.
! The woman nodded, but said nothing.
At the hall door group of people were
standing, and their faces looked pale and
terrified. She heard murmurs of 1.-THE
horse fell, - pitched on his head, " "all
over in a moment, and with an icy fear
| in her heart she rushed into the hall A
/ man held up his hand for silence.
On low couch lay still form, with a
! handkerchief over the face. With trem-
| bling hands she lifted it and saw her hus-
band, quite white, quite still. He had
come back, yet not he, but lifeless form,