Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-02-10
but in becoming my wife do you

"But in becoming my wife do you
make me your debtor?'
"Wcll, something of that sort.
my dear Olga"-and David looked
at her with wise and tender eyes-"you
are not the first woman who has made
that mistake. Just consider the matter
from reasonable point Of view"
She looked out at sea, her face ex-
pressing rebellion and uubelief.
Marriage should be u bond bringing
as much happiness to woman as to a
man. l asked you to marry ne because
loved you. l supposed you came to me
as gladly for the same reason. Had
thought otherwise nothing under heav-
on would have made me accept you as a
wife. I didn't want sacrifice. ! didn' t
want to buy you, and if either of these
things has happened may count my
self O wretched man. Therefore at the
beginning we stood equal in love- Low
ing each other, we married. We were
unequally mated in regard to fortune.
1t was all mine. Do not misunderstood
me. was glad it was SO. But why
should half what personally possess
become yours when third or fourth
is more than enough for you to be ex-
travagant upon? Perhaps because you
think you've made me happy? Weren't
you as happy to be with me? Or per-
haps because you gave up your freedom
to share my life? That should be no loss
if you loved mo, dear. Besides, loving
you, didn't gladly surrender wider
liberty? That equal division as right
of which there's been great deal said
lately ought. in my view, only to exist
under two conditions.
~ am curious to hear what they are, :"
said Olga scornfully.
"Where a man of fortune is mad
enough to buy woman as his wife.
aware that she has no love for him.
"Well?'
His fingers stole up the flower stem
until they clasped hers wistfully.
"Or where q woman becomes q moth
err" he said very softly. "Olga, the
woman who accepts and makes beauti-
full this responsibility might rightly
command not half, but all her husband g
fortune, though she had been O beggar
maid and he king. They are not equal
there. Then she has sacred rights. She
becomes a divine mystery. Then he
might we'll worship her. His hearts
blood should not be too dear to spend
for her. Do you understand me. deari'
She suffered his fingers to cling to
10 ,ka continued 70 lob nj tho
sea. There was prayer in the hand clasp.
He was trying 10 read her thoughts
Her bosom stirred little under its
laces, her eyes were almost tender and
doubtful. But shade settled upon her
beautiful face, and with it came decision.
The rose fell from her fingers.
"You 60 to extremes. David" she
said, with tolerant smile. "When we
have children, later-some time or 9TH
er-I won't ask your hearts blood nor
want to be considered a mystery. I'll be
content with q yacht or house in Lon
don or something thoroughly practical,
as you'll see. I'm going to drive. Will
you conner"
"No. must 60 back to town to-
night"
"Then we've finished about this tire.
some money business?" she asked, lift
ing pair Of long gloves from the back
of o chair.
1--WE have II I've made you under
stand our position, and he passed his
hands over his face in a distracted way.
"You really mean we're in danger Of
beggaryf" che asked, with sudden pas.
sion. "Do you mean that?''
Unjust I 60 over it all again? Don't
you believe met Don't suppose I'm try.
ing to terrorize you. What say now il
the simple truth, and I'll say 1t clearly.
leaving out all the technicalities Of q
business explanation. In the present
crisis more than half my principal has
deprecated to almost nothing; q good
deal has been lost. Suppose the rest
goes?"
He faced her. His lips were set in q
line of endurance, around his eyes were
the haggard traces of care. the thick
lock which fell over his forehead had q
grayness which aged him. 1t seemed to
him that had she been capable Of even
little pity she would have come to
him. taken his face in her hands and
kissed him.
She pursed up her lips and considered
o moment. When she spoke quietly,
there was concentrated meaning in her
tones
II shouldn't like to be poor again.
don't think I'd take that condition Of
affairs calmly. It seems to me I'd do
something reckless /; I don t know what. I"
She went to him and clasped her
arms, bare to the elbow, around his
neck.
"Do you love me at all still?" she
asked earnestly. "You don't love me as
you used to do. but do you love me at
all?"
He bent his lips to her wrist, and a
terrible sadness came into his eyes.
II love you. dear. Iwant to save you
from pain"
"Then don't become poor man, Da.
vid. Don't, in Gods namel Do any.
thing to get the money back" she said,
moved out Of herself for the first time.
1--WE had poverty all my life. all my
life. Oh. how loathe it'll Yes, I loathe
It'll You think me selfish. / know You
do, and ! am. But I wouldn't really
harm You or hurt you If I can have an
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