Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1901-01-10
A Game of Pretence.
BY a a


In a scantily-furnished room, two
persons, husband and wife, were seated
at
TITS no use; I can't drink this cof-
fee," and the man pushed his cup away
from him. 'It is perfectly awful. How
you can allow Jane to sem such stuff
to the table I can't make out"
"When you allow me more than eight
dollars a month for a. servant she re-
torted bitterly, st will get you a pro-
fessiona1 cook. Till then, you must
learn to curb you fastidious tastes and
to bring them into agreement with our
limited income"
81 dom know that it Is quite the
thing for a wife to twit her husband
with his-wel1, We'll say, comparative
poverty" he remarked grim1y. Il
should have thought that she would
rather have taken her place by his side
and helped him through AS to why I
married you-well, I suppose it was be-
cause I loved you.' The past tense
grated on her ear, and in spite of her
self she glanced up apprehensively.
course I quite recognize that you
did me a great honor" His tone was
bitterly satirical. ST am only a poor
beggar of a clerk-son of a retail gro
cer-while your folks are big nobs."
ST never twitted you with your-with
o~ur-poverty, George. It is not true to
say that I did"
cit is true" he replied, fercely. "You
did SO just now. You are continually
casting it in my teeth. You say you are
tired Of the whole b~usiness! Well, so
am I; and more than tired of it. Thank
goodness, there is a chance of ending
it."
Her breath was coming and going in
queer little gasps; her small hands
were tightly clenched. What did he
mean? The strained look in her eyes
like that of some hunted animal-deep-
ened piteously.
But on his part there was no sign OF
weakening as he continued:
Martin and Hare are about to open
! a branch establishment in the Philip
pines. A month g old Martin offered
me the post of manager, but I refused
it chiefly because I have often heard
you say that you would never leave
America, which means, I your
mother. Yesterday, however, he came
to me and again urged me to accept 1t.
T asked for a day or two to consider
the matter, and this morning has de-
cided it. I shall see him tomorrow
and will then close with him. The post
is worth two thousand a year; you and
the children shall have twelve hundred
and I will manage on the rest. Alto
gether, it will be a kind of respectable
separation, you see; no one need be any
the wiser; but, none the less, it will be
goodbye forever. You quite see tina
his will be best for us, don't your"
In reality he was devoutly hoping
that she would answer no" In his
heart Of hearts he was longing for
some, sven the slightest. token Of SUBJ
mission.
But she made no sign, only sat star
ing at her plate. The light seemed sud
denly to have gone out Of her life; the
Hnumbness Of despair had seized her in
Its terrible grip. Yet within her there
surged a wild longing to cast herself at
his feet and to beg him to stay. But
! strong as was the impulse, pride was
stronger.
The man drew a deep breath; his last
hope had vanished.
The day was drawing to q close;
darkness was fast shrouding the great
city in its gloomy pail. The rain had
ceased, and from the clear sky a myri-
ad of stars were already peeping forth.
"I tell you Use tired of the whole
business. You'se a naughty little girl,
and I shall go away for always and
always, and shan't never come back
until you'se grown up better, so there!''
Don't tare!" replied the small Fa-
TINA, with a merry smile, and an auda-
cious toss Of her head. You tan do
away. You'se a bad wicked man, and
I don't love you a little bit, now!"
The mother on her way downstairs,
CHANGED to go into the sitting room
leading to the nursery when she was
attracted by the voices. She stopped
to listen.
you hin Use just playing, but Use
not. Use tired Of the whole business,
-
rather proud Of his latter phrase and
he paused to let it have full weight
Outside, the Woman's face grew grave
as she recognized it's source. "You'se
never good now like you used to be
You didn't eve give me one single bite
of your apple this mornin'; just Gated
it all yourself like a nasty, selfish little
girl"
Oh, the irony Of it all? A great re,
morse gripped the woman's heart; the
tears were streaming down her cheeks
A key ratified in the lock, the stree
door opened, and her husband stepped
, into the hall.
Something, she scarcely knew what
impelled her to beckon him upstairs
MotioniDg him to be silent, she drew
5 him to her side.
| st really think I ought to cut off you
head" continued the boy, with grin
5 elaboration. "Then you couldn't grum
: BILE any more. Only" with some doubt
= ST don't think you'd be good eve1
then"
ct is dood, Zozzie,' and there was
suspicion of tears in the child's voice
ST is dood. Don't let's play enemies
any longer, Zozzie,'' be~seechingly, cts
) tired. Let's play friends now"
= The woman's eyes, shining through
= the fast-fal1ing tears, sought her hus
: bands face. A moments hesitation
l and then his arm crept round her MaiS