Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-02-24

nave no right TO murder me-
! looked at her colby; the torrent
Of her words was suddenly checked
something in my expression daunted
her; she trembled and shrunk back
No right | said, mockingly. II
differ from you. A man once married
has some right over his wife, but a
man twice married 10 the same wo-
man has surely & ined double au-
thoIity. And as for dare mott there is
nothing | dare not do tonight"
4 And with that | rose and approached
her. a torrent CT p ssionate indig-
nation boiled in my veins; | seized
her 40 white arms and held her fast
You talk of murder" | mnttered,
iieFcely. 'fou--you who have remorse-
lessIy murdered two men, Their blood
be on your head! For though I live.
( ! am but the moving corpse Of the man
was-hope, faith, happiness, peace
all things good and great in me have
been slain by you. And as for Guido"
/ She interrupted me with a wild sob
bling cry.
/ he loved me! Guido loved mel"
/ "Ay, he loved you. on, devil in the
shape of a woman he loved you,
Come here, here!' and in a fury /
could not restrain ] dragged her, al
most lifted her along to ona corner
Of the vault, where the light of the
torches scarcely Illuminated the dark
ness, and there | pointed upward
Above our very heads-to the left
of where we stand-the brave strong
body OF your lover lies, fostering
slowly in the wet mold thanks TO youl
the fair, gallant 5auty CT it all
marred by the redmouthed worms Z
the thick curIs of his hair combed
through by the crawling fest of vile
Insects the poor frail heart pierced
by a gaping wound"
You killei him; you you are TO
blame" she moaned, restlessly, striy-
ing tu turn her face away from me.
II killed him? No no, not but
you, He died when he learned your
4 treachery-when he knew you were
false TO him for the sake of wedding
supposed wealthy stranger-my
pIstol-shot but put him out of tor
ment. YOU you were glad of his
death-as glad as when you thought
OF mine! You talk of murder, Oh.
yilest among women, if could murder
you twenty times over, what then ?
your sins outweigh all punishment"
! And flung her from me with ges-
ture of contempt and loathing. This
time my words had struck home. She
covered before me In horror-her
sables were loosened and scarcely pro
| tected her, the richness of her bali
costume was fully displayed, and the
diamonds on her bosom heaved rest
lessly up and down as she painted with
excitement, rage and fear.
! II do not see,' she muttered. sui
lenly, why you should blame me, |
am no worse than other women!"
No worse, no worse!" | cried.
Shame, shame upon you that thus
outrage your sex! Learn for once what
men think Of unfaithful wiyes-for
Z 1
you have read in your luxurious, idle
hours have perhaps told you that in
hdelity is no sin-merely a little social
error easily condoned, or set right by
the divorce court. Yes! modern books
and modern plays teach you so: in
the lid swayes upside down
ana vice 80. .lne virtue. But | will
| tell you what will seem to YOU Il.
strange and wonderful thing, There is
no mean animal no loathsome object
no horrible deformity of nature so
utterly repulsiye to a true man as a
talthless wife! The cowardly murderer
who lies in wait for his victim behind
some dark door, and stabs him in the
back as he passes by unarmed-he, I
say, is more to be pardoned than the
woman who takes husbands name.
honor, position, and reputation among
his fellows, and sheltering herself
with these, passes her beauty promis-
cuously about like some coarse article
Of commerce, that so S to the highest
bidder! Ay, let your French novels
and books of their type say what they
Wlll--intidelity is a crime, low
brutal crime, as bad if not worse
than murder, and deserves as stern n
SENTENCED"
A sudden spirit of defiant insolence
possessed her She drew herself
erect and her level brows knitted in a
dark frown.
Sentence" she exclaimed, imperi-
ously How dare you judge met What
harm have ! done? II | am beautiful.
is that my fault? II men are fools
can help it2 You loved me-Guldo
loved me-could l prevent IL? I
cared nothing for him, and less for
yuu,"
Il know it, | said bitterly. Love
was never part OF your nature Our
lives We're but cups of wine for your
false lips to drain; once the flavor
pleased you, but now--now. think
YOU not the dregs taste somewhat
...,F.r