The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-11-01
Thawino a Statue.


/ Sllverton. locked his desk somewhat
/ weariiy, and. with q curt good night"
/ to his subordinatess passed out into the
street.
/ Having hailed a passing CAB. he was
rapidly driven TO MS home in West End
avenue. 4 handsome carriage, with a
pair of splendid horses, stood before the
/ door and in the brilliantly lighted han
/ ne came face TO face with his beautiful
wife. 4 smile that had something Of
! pain in It crossed his face, IS he said,
softly:
Going out. Muriei? Can I do anything
for you?"
Thank you. no. she replied, with
stately graciousness- Il am going 70
the Livingstones and snail not be back
until late"
The last five years had made great
/ difference in Henry Raymond's life. It
+ seemed wonderful TO him. on looking
I back, that he had found strength enough
TO 60 through with it. and after all.
he had failed The end had come and
it was defeat. Five years before Muriel
Kenyon, urged by her friends 10 accept
his offer Of marriage, said:
Mr.. Raymond. let me be candid. Yon
ask me to be your wife, and in reply /
say that believe YOU TO be honest and
true and kind-utterly inca pable OF
(
gained my respect and esteem. More I
cannot say. 1 leave the decision in your
hands"
Once she is my wife, love viii come
he told himself. confidently. "Such af-
! lection as mine cannot fail to bring forth
fruit
After the wedding they had gone
abroad for two months. At the end OF
which time Muriel had taken Up her res
idence IN the big house which her hus-
band had furnished in sumDtuous style.
But etlere was in him a longing which
looked out OF his eyes sometimes and
pleaded far more elOquently than words,
though the cold. beautiful statue that he
called wife never noticed it. he had
made his choice, he told himself, and
would abide By it.
Judged by her promise, she gave him
no cause for complaint All her duties
We're faithfully performed: to the eyes
of the world and even Of their most
intimate friends, she was model house
wife.
He had struggled hopefully for a time
feeling that success would be certain in
the end. but as the weary months drag
ged on his heart sickened with q silent
despair and he acknowledged that the
task he had undertaken was well nigh
impossible.
Presently his eyes fen upon the piles
of books and papers, covered with calcu-
lations, which lay on the table, and a
shiver passed through his frame and he
started u.
How shall 7 tell her2" he groaned.
"And yet she must learn the truth from
my lips. How shall I tell herr"
Half an hour later he heard a carriage
drive VI to the house. His bps trem-
bled, but there was no help for it; the
black thing must be faced. He must tell
her, though the telling OF It might sepa-
rate them forever; and, ringing the bel,
he babe the servant, who answered his
summons to ask Mrs. Raymond if she
would come to him.
AIuriei entered, wondering secretly at
the request, but she made no comment,
seating herself silently in the chair he
had drawn ID.
'1Guriel." ne began at length, and his
voice was so husky that she looked up
at him quickly Muriel have some
thing to say 10 you. Heaven knows the
misery it is causing me. but we viii Let
that pass. Five years ago I asked you
to be my wife-don't misunderstood me
I am not going to reproach you-you
have done your part faithfully and well
1t is with me that the blame les
thought once that my great love would
move your heart-that gradually 7 should
teach you to love me a little Il was
a grave error. see it now and 7 have
paid heavy penalty for my Dresurlp-
ton. To me, while you have been q
beautiful wife. you have continued a
beautiful statue. Wen, It is al over
now"
yes" he continued. in a mechanical
fashion. "for five long years have tried
your patience, seeking the love you could
never give. It must have been a weari-
some time, but you may breathe more
freely now-the tragedy or comedy ends
tonight"
Twice NTurel ATTEMPTED to speak, but
the words seemed to choke back into
her throat and she was silent. A heart
aching smile overspread her husbands
face as he continued:
I am Ike the physician who gilds the
pin for his patient. Remember that
henceforth you are free; that tomorrow
and the next day and al the days OF
your lie you VII be safe from my pres
ence. Bear this Is your mind picture
the happiness Of it. and you VIII scarcely
feel the blow when I tell you shat ] am
ruined. The news has not vet been
made public. but tomorrow the whole city
viii know-and VIII know that your huS-
band is a bankrupt. I have made eve~y
calculation and by the sale OF my pri-
Of few months to pay every creditor
fully The house and furniture and the
money which lies at the bank in vour
name, VIII, Of course, remain untouched
am sorry that the amount is not great
er but 1t VIII at least keep you from
poverty and even enable you &c live in
some degree Of comfort. cannot ask
your forgiveness for the havoc have
made ~ vour life. though my grief Is BIT
ter enough. And thar, MurieI s ali"
he concluded. as she still sat silent siv-
ing no sign.
''Yes" she assented. colby. IT under
stand. Yea are q heggar, and T-what
have 7 10 I've unon2"
THAT VIII depend partly unon clrcum-
stances. though IL vii probably reach
So ne year OF course = there Is
surplus after the firms liabilities have
been met. nay share Win go to swell your
account"
"And yourelf? How DO you propose to
Hve2"
The words were commonplace enough.
buzz Henry Raymond looked up with
clad light IN his eyes.
tCb." he answered. eheerfuIlv. 7thst
WI n7t matter. Some one VIII give me
a cierkshin or position rs manager
for the sake Of old times. ard am not
too ola to start life sfre So"
Then he waited Tor har - 90. but che
dld not move. She SAT gazing dreaEnily
before her
Is YVES painful story shat the sad
eyed man sitting ep1oste had tol5
sto-y sounding fo- him TIE very depths
~ misery and bitterness
Sae zlaaced shslv foward him fe
was leaning forward * l0st
Thoughts she moved siEhtr tn Tie
ch1r rlstffne the foidF - hey dress bt
ee dd net loof u1 Theu hs crosses
sofas Rhara Re sat ana ial6 hsus