Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-11-28

Turning suddenly. she fled precipitateIy
to her own room. After watching her
exit in establishment Uncle Bob turned to
Louis for an explanation.
''W-what's up:"
But Louis was by this time giving a
fine representation OF Banquos ghost ana
was stalking majestcally after his re-
treating wife.
well, Ill be bowed if they are not
going to have row of some sort. Con-
found young married people anyway
They need more breaking in than a team
of bronchos, and it seems I've had
row with them without knowing it. Well.
| guess there is nothing for me 10 do but
To wait patiently until they have given
the family skeleton his daily exercise,
and then they will perhaps be rational
again for awhile" So Uncle Bob pro-
ceeded to make himself comfortable
Emma in the meanwhile had sought
the seclusion of her own room. and as
she heard Louis following her she
promptly burst into tears. Louis en-
tered with awful calm, and as he stood
beside her without speaking the strain
became uncomfortable
Forgive me. dear" she sobbed 81
know ii was awful mean of me to scold
you as much as | did because you had
firted with other girls before we had
met when | knew that | had done the
same"
Were You engaged to this man Van
Riper.' asked Louis.
Yes but it was only a foolish affair. I
didn't know what love meant them
Indeed, 1t seems to me that ! have
heard that remark before. In fact. It'll
seems TO me that | have been obliged to
i :.
How am | TO know that you love ME
now?"
Don't. Louis; please don't! You
know love you and that l really never
loved any one but YOU
How do know it? Didn't you tell
me as lately as yesterday that you could
never be sure that / really loved you be-
cause ! had been engaged TO other
yirls?"
But was mad then / know had
no right to be, but | was, and | do
know that love YOU"
but am mad now!' exclaimed
Louis. boiling over. For over year
you have kept me in hot water about
having lrted with other girls, and now
il seems that you were no better your
self. Like fool. ] told You everything
when we were married. and you never
forgave me-"
Don't look so angry and Disguised,
dear, and viii tell you everything now"
Everything? Do you mean to say
that there were others besides this fell
low Van Riper?"
Emma saw that she had made a mis-
take. but she whispered brokenly.
Yes There was Harry Todhunter,
but that was only schoolboy and
schoolgirl affair He was a sophomore
at Harvard. and ! was a senior at Vas
sar"
60 on. Go on said Louis wrath
fully. "You had better make a clean
breast OF it, How do YOU know bur one
of them may turn rp like this Van Ripper
some time. How long were you en-
gagged TO him.
Just one season.
And why did you break with him?'
Because ! got 10 know him better.
His putting that inscription on that pres
ent shows the kind of fellow he was
And it is just because he was that
kind Of fellow that it makes me sore
to think that you were ever engaged to
him. And he must have kissed you
sometimes. OH
Emma went off into storm Of peni-
tent weeping at this. and Louis was
wrath than be could well express.
IF you had only told me at first and
had not deceived me. | might have been
able 10 forgive you. but now
Don't say you won't forgive me.
Louis" Emma cried as she stumbled to-
ward him and chung 10 him wildly.
Remember that you deceived me too"
But not after we were married You
deceived me both before and after we
were married aud were always jealous
of me. even though you had been just as
bad and were sill worse than me be-
cause you were blaming me for the very
things you had done yourself"
Emma saw that she had made mis-
take in trying 10 Justify herself, and so,
with the instinct of a true woman, she
threw herself on his mercy. And it was
not mere subterfuge either. She
meant every word she said.
Il know | did wrong ! treated you
shamefully. But / was foolish. | should
have told you everything when You so
nobly confessed to me. but | didn't have
the courage as you had"
Louis nobility il making the confess
sion was Of a piece with that Of a small
boy who has been fairly cornered in some
wrongd0ing and follows the example OF
the Father Of His Country from sheer
necessity but it did not appear to him
in that way as Emma stated the case so
tearfully. lie felt consciousness Of his
own nobility of soul. and the battle was
won. There are few men who can re-
sist the opportunity of being truly noble.
especially in the eyes of the woman they
love
Emma answered a few more searching
questions with complete candOr, and
Louis then did mans great act of being
noble. He nobly forgot that he had
been just as guilty as Emma and per
mitted her ia kiss him and make up.
! Then they vowed once more especially
for baby's sake, that the whole matter
should be buried once more forever and
everIastingly Then Louis brushed his
rumpled hair. Emma washed away her
tears. and they prepared to return to the
parlor. where Uncle Bob was awaiting
them.