Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1901-05-30

| there shall be no disgrace attached,
marry her? I'll leave her good settle
mcnts and give you a clear field--any-
thing to avoid the elopement you sug-
gested last night"
"Your generosity merits more
worthy subject" said Harrington,
flushing. 81 am afraid you don't I'M
derstand that"
"Pm not doing it for YOU" inter-
posed the merchant, "but for her. How
q man who processes to love woman
can seek to bring shame, and, conse-
quently, unhappincss, upon her sur
passes my understanding. I'd like to
kill you-but where> would be the
gain? The mischief is done, and am
not the man to hold wife whose
heart is given to another. AS said,
l shall go away and leave you the
field"
There was a minutes silence, ITar-
rington haughtily watching the elder
man, who continued earnestly: "If
only | knew you would be kind to her,
! Harrington, and make her happy!
Helen is good and true-Td stake
everything on her honor--and she isn't
! to blame because | am not attractive
enough to hold her love. How could
she be expected to keep on caring for
me, when fascinating, unprinciplcd
men of leisure, like you, have the in
side track? She's not to blame, say,
because she doesn't love me as-she
used to do" And the merchants voice
| grew soft as his eyes took on a far
| away look.
! "She was only eighteen when we
were married." he resumed; "only
| eighteen and l was nearly forty, but
we were very happy am sure she
would tell you we were happy. Such
dear little home keeper as she was
not the woman of fashion and society
| that she is now, and her husband
meant more to her in those days.
/ There's nothing like financial success
to make a failure of home life. If we
| had remained poor, affairs might have
been different" And dry sob rose in
the merchants throat.
at would have been different. too, il
the babies had lived" he went on.
How happy we were over the first one
such n wonderful little fellow, we
thought himl Even now 1 seem to feel
her tears upon my cheek and the
touch of her soft face against mine as
she crept into my arms for comfort
when he was taken from us. Some
times, when she can't help it, she will
think of the lost little ones and Of
their father. When she does. Harring-
ton, hope you will comfort her"
1t was Harrington now who was
! drumming on the window. AS he
made no reply the merchant contin-
ued reminiscently: How bravely she
nursed me through the fever-'twas
her care, the doctors said, that saved
me--and how delighted she was when
| sat by the window for the first time.
Perhaps if | had worked less to pro-
vide her with luXuries and more Il"
keep her affection she might have
cared for me still"
Have you informed your wife of
your decision to abscond and give her
freedom?" asked Harrington, without
turning. Does the plan meet her
APPROVAL"
1.-THE fact is, she doesn't know it
or that l have any suspicion of last
nights denouement. To tell you the
truth | haven't-I'd rather not hear
her confess that l have become MOTH
ing to her. Even though | know she
loves you Id rather not hear her say
so. | take the $3.50 tonight and shall
leave without seeing her again.
trust you will carry out my wishes
in regard to the marriage and comfort
my wife in the hour of her desertion."
and the merchant laughed harshly.
Evidently" said Harrington, turn
ing toward him, you did not hear all
of last evenings denouement, as you
call it. You must have retired from
the scene before the finale"
Eyes" answered the merchant. al
CHANGED upon you accidentally and,
as n man of honor. heard and saw 40
more than was inevitable before 1
could escape. You were planning n
trip to-was it Venice? when l with.
drew"
"No5 planning-it takes two for
that" explained Harrington, land for
your sake / am glad to say that last
nights unfortunate crisis was entire
IL one-sided. l love your wife-you,
loving her, too, can perhaps under
stand why-and last night, as you
know, 1 rashly proclaimed my devo'
ton. L took her unawares, surprised
her with my avowal, and forced my
kisses upon her. / alone was RESPONSE
ble for the scene of which you were
n witness"
"And Helen" demanded the mer
chant, hoarsely. isn't she--doesn"
she care"
"Not for me-" answered Harrington.
~ leave tonight for the west and-l
may be scoundrel as you say, but
your wife is a true woman and-lovcs
you. Let me leave you this as proc:
of her Devotion" and handing the
merchant a note Harrington hastily
left the room.
n