Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-22

mad finished their errand he shook hands
o at the door Of the shop and
stood still, staring after him. After ALL
In spite of having bean without a penny
Tor all these months, she had never be-
from 1t.
1t was II O'Clock ahd she was five miles
from nome-hve miles of city streets,
CROWDED and bustiing. on a ianguid spring
Day, when ordinary existence becomes an
effort. Pauline felt an impulse to run after
her husband, but second thought forbade
anything so humiliating She knew plenty
OF SHOPS where she would once have ex-
planned that she had lost or forgotten her
purse, but this, too, she would not do
She would accept no money from a stran-
ger while that of her husband was with
neia. She could walk mile to SewaIl &
Co.'S big shop, and telephone for the
brougham, but she feared encountering
Josiah himself. So at last she trudged off
determinedly on the long road home, some
what weary toward the end, in spite of
certain satisfying consciousness of suffer-
ing martyrdom.
To Josiah himself the realization came
suddenly a short time after he had left
fauhne standing in the street. The old
man was distressed and chagrined. But
his hard face softened almost to a smile as
ne thought of the predcament of this small,
quiet person, with head stubbornly upright
VINO mad taught him so much during the
past year concerning that curious puzzle,
woman.
Would she be conquered of her unyielding
obstinacy now? Would the prospect of five
all these months, to humbly beg for 5 cents
or would she get the money in some other
way! He had come to understand her well
enough to fancy she would not-and then
came back her hateful words
Nevertheless he said to her sharply at
dinner when they We're drinking their cuf-
fee: How did you get home this morning."
walked she answered quietly. She
did not look up.
Her husband fancied she looked tired and
dragged though as matter of fact she
was not in the least so. 1t is a curious
proof of what unprecedented things even
a seasoned and iron-willed man OF the
world will sometimes do, when Josiah Sew
all 1mpulsively thrust his hand into his
pocket and drew out handful of bills
and loose change. by heaven!" said he.
again.
Pauline was on her feet in an instant.
hushed and angry, her hands clenched at
her sides
because you pity me- she cried exctedly.
Her husbands face. arrested a moment
in his surprise, hardened again into the old
stern lines He thrust his money back
again into his pocket and went on as if
he had not been interrupted. You shall
never again touch it for any other reason"
The anger and defiance of her eyes faced
the stern scorn of his and neither fell
cruel to me before she cried, cruel and
unjust. You condemned me before you
heard, and when / told you I had married
you for money you must have known / lied.
But you have no right to treat me SO.
will not touch your money from pity, but
L tell you L will make you give it to me
my right. 1t is my right. 1 your wife,
and it is mine as well yours l will
make YOU
Josiah Sewall sat leaning heavily for
ward on the table. His eyes were keen
through lids nearly closed. His face was
white and set. but il was not bitter-only
n well-natched opponent and longs for the
bout to begin
Il bet you $4,000 you will never make
me- ~ 6H
Pauline stared at him curiously. with
parted lips. startled out of herself. IN
remember that she said. but mechanical
~, and then she went past him out of the
room. Yet by the time she had reached
her chamber she had once more that sick
ening feeling that she had lost her self
control. had said what she did not mean,
had made fool of herself.
Pauline suffered for many days Mr.. Sc
wall treated her with distant GOODNESS.
There Were no more drives. no more con-
versations The poor girl felt with bitter
sense of injustice that she, had lost the
pre- cious results of all these long months
for the sake of moment of bravado- How
could she make him give her his money
her right? she asked herself, scornfully.
Should she go in hertbrougham, in her well
made clothes, with all the evidences, CT
wealth about her, to a lawyer, and accuse
her husband of non-support? Why, indeed
did she want the money now at all, except
ing for poor Johns sake? To gain her end
would be a barren victory, if she could not
win with it the love and respect of this
stern old man whom she had married.
And SO Pauline set to work to storm her
husbands stern heart through the twinkle
in his eye; to bring about her rights" with
is
be gained while men are men and women
wise.
One day Mr.. sewall surprised oy a
request from his wife to visit in Boston an
elderly aunt. whom she had not seen since
she was little more than child.
1T was early in June and the request was
the first she had made to him for over
year. II shall be obliged to ask you to buy
me a ticket she said, haughtily. 1t was
evidently an effort to ask SO much. Her
husband stared at her in surprise. He had
had a sudden vision of her, his wife, alone
and penniless, in a strange city.
DO you realize" he began, and broke
off again. You are not accustomed he
went on, rather awkwardiy, ito travelling
self, as you know, to make my quarterly
visit at my Boston shop. viii you not
wait and go with me?'
Thank you. l believe not said Pauline,
quietly. II have made my arrangements
To go sooner"
Mr. Sewall saw her off a few days later
with rather curious sensations. There had
been a terrible struggle in his masterful
mind as to whether he should not force
upon this wilful girl the money she had so
lately refused. But pride had held him
back. He had ALSO perhaps, a suspicion
that he might not succeed. He watched
her serene departure with a mixture OF in
patience and admiration, but found himself
atsurdly relieved when he got A brief note
a few days later announcing her safe ar
rival.
The house seemed lonely enough without
her Josiah Sewail was a stole at heart,
but he caught himself during these days
imagining nervously all sorts of predica-
ments into which Pauline's penniless cont,i-
ton might betray her, and there were
sometimes moments of uuaccustomed doubt
as to whether he had acted always for the
best toward this second wife of his, who.
in spite of everything. had brought
much peace and happiness into his life.
The thought of her boasting words never
failed to bring contemptuous smile to his
face, but in his heart Of hearts he did not
now believe she had married him for his
money.
He went to Boston by the midnight train,
on his accustomed date. The next morning
he went early, as usual, to the big branch
shop which bore his name. He never failed
on these visits to review personally the long
line of men and women who were in his
enployment paving them, as he did So