The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-24

suddenly felt very old, very married"
She knew Edith did not mean a hum
dredth part of what she said. but these
| were suggestions, some OF which had
come to her already. by which she
could easily gain ready money, with
out much likelihood of her husbands
ever discovering it, She had put them
aside, however, without a struggle.
She had begun to look upon this thing
as desperate sort of game, in which
she was determined. whatever might
be the outcome, to use no unfair
means, to tolerate no assistance.
She went by Edith's invitation to the
''Geisha." But she did not go about
much with the women of her acquaint-
ance. She had always the dread OF ex-
posing her lack of money. She never
went to church without her husband.
| for very craven fear of the godly man
who carries the contribution box. Most
CALLING of all, she felt the necessity OF
refusing all help to her miserable
| brother
The spring was coming on fast now,
and the Hudson, across the wide River
side drive, on which the Sewalfs house
| fronted, lay crisp and blue under the
keen April wind. Pauline had been
married almost a year, and there was
not a wretched waif in the city who
had not felt money in her fingers more
lately than the girl who had "bagged
! a millionaire" Josiah Sewall came
home early from the city on several or
these delicious days, and begged for a
seat with his wife when she went to
drive.
Sometimes in the morning he would
| himself order the carriage and ask
Pauline to drive with him down
| through the city. The park was lovely
with fresh green grass and the yellow
blossoms of the forsythia.
One night at this time he was look
ing over a report from charitable So
ciety which Pauline had joined in ac-
cordance to his wish. Il see by this,
he said, suddenly, that there was a call
for extra contributions to pay for read
ers to the sick poor. Your name is not
among those who responded" he con-
tinued, rather sternly. ~ don't like to
have you niggardly in such matters.
Josiah Sewall was strongly philan-
thropic and his displeasure made him
for an instant forget. Il offered instead
to read, once a week. myself" said his
wife, briefly, and looking up with a
rather flushed face, she surprised sud
denly the old twinkle of the eye which
was the only sign of amusement he
ever showed.
1t was about a week after this when
one morning Pauline went into town
with her husband on the elevated"
They were to decide on some house
hold furnishings at shop far down in
the city. 1t was not the first time they
had done this. Mr.. Sewall always put
his wife on her return train, buying
her ticket and gravely saying good
by" as If she were a child But on
this particular day some hurry on bust
ness occupied his mind, and when they
had finished their errand, he shook
- 80 h.. IS -
shop and FASTENED off down the street.
Pauline stood STILL staring after him.
After all, in spite of having been with
out a penny for all these months. she
had never before felt any real physical
deprivation from it.
1t was IL o'clock and she was five
miles from home-five miles of city
streets. crowded and bustling. on a lam
guild spring day, when ordinary exist
ence 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 have once eX-
planned that she had lost or forgotten
her purse. but this. too, she would not
do. She would accept no money from
a stranger while that of her husband
was withheld. She could walk a mile
to Sewall & Co.'S big shop, and tele-
phone for her brougham, but she fear
ed encountering Josiah himself So at
last she trudged off determinedly on
the long road home. somewhat weary
toward the end. in spite of certain
satisfying consciousness of suffering
martyrdom.
To Josiah himself the realization came
suddenly. a short time after he had left
Pauline standing in the street. The old
v"-ar was distressed and chagrined, but
his hard face softened almost to smile
as he thought of the predicament of this
small. quiet person, with head stubbornly
upright. who had taught him so much
during the past year concerning that
curious puzzle. woman.
Would she be conquered of her unyield-
ing obstinacy now? Would the prospect
Of five miles of hard walking send her to
him. after all these months to humbly
beg for cents: or would she get the mon
ey in some other way2 He had come to
understand her well enough to fancy she
would not-and then came back her hate
full words.
Nevertheless he said to her sharply at
dinner. when they were drinking their cof-
fee: How did you get home this morn
ing?''
Il walked" she answered quietly She
did not look mp.
Her husband fancied she looked tired
and dragged; though. as matter of fact,
she was not in the least so. Ii is Gu
rious proof of what unprecedented things
even a seasoned and iron-willed man of
the world will sometimes do. when Josiah
Sewall impulsively thrust mis- hand into
his pocket and drew out handful Of bills
and loose change. by heaven," said he.
lit is brutal shame. You shall never
again
Pauline was on her feet in an instant,
flushed and angry, her hands clenched at
her sides.
Il will not touch one cent of your money
because you pity me- she cried, ex-
citedly.
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 II
he had not been interrupted. You shall
never again touch il for any other rea-
SON. The anger and defiance in her eyes
faced the stern scorn of his, and neither
fell
Then she famed out again: You were
cruel TO me before" she cried, ''cruei and
unjust. You condemned me before you
heard; and when l told you married you
for money. you must have known / lied
But you have no right TO treat me so. I
will not otuch your money from pity but
tell you l will make you give il TO me
as my right l am your wife and IL is
mine as well as yours. / will make YOU"
Josiah Sewall sat leaning heavily Cor
ward on the table. His eyes were keen
through lids nearly closed. His face was
white and set. but it was not bitter-onIy
the face of a man who pits himself
against well-matched opponent, and
longs for the bout to begin.
Il bet tou $4,000 you will never make