Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-02-10
CHAPTER XVI.
20 my lord, my love,
! have laid my life at thy feet;

20 my lord, my love,
have laid my life at thy feet;
Have thy will thereof
For what shall please thee Is sweet"
--Swineburne.
She reused herself at last. Unclasp-
ing her hands, she pushed back her
hair from her brows and sighed heavi-
Nv. Shiyering as with intense cold, she
rose from the chair she had so long oc-
cupied and stood upright, mechanical
ly gathering around her the long fur
mantle that she had not as yet taken
off. Catching sight of the letter where
it lay, a cleaning speck of white on the
rich dark hues of the carpet, she picked
1t up and read it through again calmly
and comprehensively,- folded 1t
up carefully as though 1t were some
thing of inestimable value. Her
thoughts were little confused,-she
could only realize clearly two distinct
things, first, that Philip was unhappy,
secondly, that she was in the way of
his happiness. She did not pause to
consider how this change in him mad
been affected, -moreover, she never
imagined that the letter he had written
could refer to any one but himself.
Hers was a nature that accepted lacts
as they appeared-she never sought for
Interior motives or disguised meanings.
True. she could not understand her
husbands admiration for Violet we're,
But then"-she thought-"many other
men admire her too. And so it Is GER
tain there must be something about her
that wins love- something | cannot
see!"
And presently she put aside all other
considerations, and only pondered on
one thing-how should she remove
herself from the path of her husbands
pleasure? For she had no doubt but
that she was an obstacle to his enjoy
ment. He had made promises to V1o-
let We're which he was "ready to fulfill"
he offered her IAN honorable posi-
ton" he desired her mot to condemn
him to death, he besought her to let
his words carry more weight with
her."
ut Is because I am here" thought
Thelma YEARLY. "She would listen to
him IL / were gone!" She had the
strangest notions of wifely duty-odd
minglings of the stern Morse customs
with the gentler teachings of Chris
tianity,-yet in both cases the lines OF
woman's life were clearly defined In
one word-obedience Most women,
receiving an apparent proof of hus-
bands infidelity, would have made
what is termed "srcnc, would have
confronted him with rage and tears,
and personal abuse,-but Thelma was
too gentle for this,-too gentle to re-
sist what seemed to be Philips wish
and will, and far too proud to stay
where 1t appeared evident she was not
wanted. Moreover she could not bear
the idea Of speaking to him on such
subject as his connection with Violet
Vere,-the hot color flushed her cheeks
With a sort OF shame as she thought of
It.
or course, she was weak
we will grant she was anything
the reader chooses to call her.
It Is much better for a woman
rowadays to be defiant rather than
yielding, aggressive, not submissive
violent, not meek. We all know that!
To abuse husband we'll all around Is
the modern method of managing him.
But poor foolish, loving, sensitive
Thelma naa nothing of the magnificent
strength OF mind possessed by most
wives Of today,--she could only realize
that Philip-her PHILIPPIANS utterly
weary and hroken-hearted" the
sake of another woman-and that other
woman actually pitied her! She pitied
herself too, a little vaguely-her brows
ached and throbhed violently-there
was a choking sensation in her throat
but she could not weep. Tears would
have relieved her tired brain, but nc
tears fell She stroye to decide on
some immediate plan of action. Philip
would be home tomorrow,-she recoil-
ed at the thought of meeting him
knowing what she knew. CHANGING
dreamily at own figure, reflected by the
lamp-light in the long mirror opposite
she recognized that she was fully at
tired In outdor eostumeall save her
hat. which she had taken off after her
first greeting OF Lady Winsieigh and
which was still on the table Mt her side
She looked at the clock.--it was five
minutes to seven. Eight o'clock was
her dinner~hour. and thinking OF this
she Suddenly rang the bell. Morris
Immediately answered 1t.