The Eddy current., 1899-03-25
MY POOR WIFE.
BY J. P. SMITH
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BY J. P. SMITH.
CHAPTER KIM

] was not looking into the features Of
sleeping. but a dead woman. The
stony rigid rcposo. the waxen color OF
che skin the Fixed look % pain about
the drawn mouth. nll seemed 90 con-
firm my fear, until. leaning closer,
faint breath famed my cheek ana she
moanod feobly. stole away. swal-
lowed q glass of brandy threw myself
upon q couch Ia my dressing room ana
soon sank into an uneasy dose. Hell
ems sleeping face haunted me.
drcamt that she was lying dead on the
clin whore we had so often sat togeth-
er. and that when / stopped 10 lift her
body In nay arms a pair Of bony hands
closed liercely round my throat, stran-
gllng my cites for mercy. dragged me
90 the edge Of the cllff. whore fierce
~ struggled for my life. The hands
! knew belonged TO old Molly Grlihn;
but the face glOwerlng over me was
young William Hernshaw's. distorted
with passion, AZ last. with a violent
wrench, ! freed one arm. and SELLING
the hand pressing my throat. awoke
10 nnd Helen leaning over me. drag
gng her wrist from my clutch.
looked at her stupidity for sec
ond
IL am doing you no harm" she
said, her eyes iickerlng aud glaring at
me aleallhily. Il came to see why
why-you had not come TO bed. Let
me go. let me go. say-y0u hurt me. "
! az once dropped her hand and she
ran quickly away TO her own room.
/ did not see her again until break
fast when she appeared In lively.
talkatlye mood and clyllly disposed
towards both Edith ana me. though she
never once looked us In the face but
Kept her eyes almost closed or fnstcn-
Ell 20 her plate. After giving some
household orders she went out. and,
standing hy the window of my study,
J watched her for some time pacing a
retired q, ncr of The kitchen garden
with a swift, monotonous stride. al
last the movement became 10 rcpug-
nant 90 mo that scarcely needing what
was doing, ! threw open the window
nnl called out 20 her:
Helen. I'm going TO the club this
morning. haven't YOU any shopping tc
do? The dog cart will be round IN
half an hour
"No n0nU .h" sercd after
m0menta pause. Besides. have an
engagement thls afternoon. Ask Miss
Stopford, she is sure 20 have some
shopping 10 do
She had. ami we started presently,
returning very hot and dusty late In
The afternoon to iind that Helen had
failed 90 keep her engagement which
Edith casually informed mo was
drive 90 the Flower Show at Brlors-
wood with Sir william Hornshnw.
'it waa $40 hot. ! Felt too lazy 10
dross; ] hope you had pleasant
drive" She said drowsily. her cyelashos
still sweeping her checks
Almost unhenrahlc coming back"
answered. throwing myself upon
seat hy the open window Il am near
" chokod with dust, feel could
swallow quart of claret and soda"
"l'll get some said Helen. going to-
wards the dining room and presently
returning with cool. frothlng tum-
bier. which she handed 90 me and
then stood behind my chair.
turned laid my hand ON her arm.
and said gently.
Helen. tell mo what Is the matter
with you Why will you not look at
mo wlfe3'
She ala not fiove or answer a woru,
though / repeated my inquiry almost
coaxingly. a. one would question a
pettlsh. waywafd child
withdrew my hand and lifted. sigh
ing wearIly the glass when suddenly.
with a loud cry she dashed Il from
my lips the liquid squirting up into
my face, flowing down my shirt and
collar and streaming onto the carpet
where the glass lay broken
stung 90 the quick by the Insulting
violence OF the act. | sprang to my
feet. glaring speechessly al her until
Edith. whose presence was not aware
OF. ran eagerly towards me and passed
her handkerchief over my wet face and
neck.
How dare yuu?' stammered
hoarsely what TO you mean? Are
you mad"
Helen burst into a villa loud laugh
"Yes. ycB. mad mad as March
hare mad mad the maddest wife
ever true husband had on. my
poor head my poor head Il aches
Il achesi A breath Of sea air would
do h good a breath OF sea airi" she
moaned. listlessly moving away.
I went too for even Edle's soft
touch and plying eyes we're more than
could bear Ordering my horse. /
gave him his head. rode across gountry
as n following the swiftest hounds that
ever ran a FOX 10 earth / knew not
whittier or how far I went. Il was
night when the poor brute, lame. foot
sore. craglod up the avenue again.
Edith was waiting for me on the door
step. and led me into the dining
where a tempting supper was laid.
Eat. eat. she said you look thor
oughly exhausted poor dear"