The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1902-08-14
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s The Wife and the Mistress
BY ". a BARRETT.
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1t was SO dark and still in the woods
that not sound, save the scanty. al
most noiseless plash of rain. could be
heard by the two breathless listeners
IN the buggy. The woman was hold
ing one hand out to feel the drops; her
ears were sharpened until even the
breaking OF twig made her start.
There is nothing" she said at
aast I'VE could hear G horses boots
two miles Off,"
Go on. then. as fast az you can"
You'll not forget that you're TAX
tng the name Of John Whiting?
marked all your clothes with 1t this
morning before packed the valise and
put those handksrchiefs that were ia
theirs with the same initials embroid-
cred on them: and"
Her companion broke in with . dis
eordant laugh.
Il guess the old man would rise up
IN his grave IL he knew It. He never
took much stock In me anyway"
The woman shivered slightly.
Il was going to say" she continued
without replying to his remark. that
you can't be recognised by the silver
watch. It was never used. you know.
Your gold one I've put away"
You. can give 1t to Bob when he
grows up. And say. Annie, are you
going to let the children know?"
mot more than I can help, Robert.
The little ones need hardly hear Of it
vet while, but. Of course, Bob and
Eleanor will. Nobody can keep the
papers from them"
Its rather rough on Them" NUT
eered the man. I'm sorry for Elean-
orr
"She win bear as a woman knows
how to do and has to do. But. oh,
Robert. why didn't you think OF that
before?"
why didn't do lot OF things Diff
ferent? I've lived my life. that's all,
and now I'm ready to drop out OF 1t.
jackson was to blame. curse him, for
winding me up SO soon. 1t was he
that got the bank directors here this
month. He's had his evil eye ON me
all winter. Stop, will you? I heard
something"
"Sh-sh. That was a GALA mans
voice!" he whispered excitedly. you
hold the reins. If they come: I'll Jump
and cut" But it was the scream of
D distant locomotive, followed by the
dull roaring of the train. No other
sound was audible in the silent woods
save the soft falling rain.
II should like to ask you one thing
before we part" said his wife present
~, in the calm, deliberate tone which
Is sometimes feature Of intense men
tai pressure. How did you come to.
all this? Were you an honest man In
the beginning, as-as believed you to
be-or have your friends been deceived
In you all these many years?
Il am asking as much for Bob's sake
IS my own He Is much like you and
your temptations may be his. Tell
me, was 1t that other woman?"
What other?"-but he faltered over
the interrogative lie. ooh, we'll, IL you
know about her"-carelessly-"I sup
pose it may have been. A man can't
keep up two establishments on the sal
&A VI q UaAA S4Clh. DNt yOO Coll
say l didn't provide for my family,
Annie. Did you or the children ever
want for anything?"
She drew In Q quick breath.
mot for material comforts, no; you
kept us well housed and clothed and
fed. But what you took the money
for, then, was your-love-for herr"
! why, If you want it in plain terms,
yes. I'm like good many other fell
lows, I guess" He laughed uncom-
fortably. Nov I suppose your next
question will be, How did I come to
fancy anybody SO different from you,
Ell? Well. I may as well have 1t out
with you. I don't mean any offense,
you know, and appreciate your being
a good wife and all that. You won't
find ever breathed a word against
you to anybody. But you were too
strict in your ideas from the start, that
was the trouble. You couldn't expect
q fellow to live up to 'em. By Jove!
one gets enough Of the serious side of
Life in his business without having to
tackle 1t when he's at home! Yes, I
know what you'll say; but it's so. /
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