The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-03-19
EQUAL =
PARTNERS
By HoW.lRN FIELDING
Copyright. 1901. b. Charles ". Hook.

not divorced, and you never will be BY
your own consent. for her father IL
paying you to behave yourself
There has been no marriage here
said my husband. Don't say any.
thing. This Ia mere freak OF mine
I'll make It right with you IL your
Keep quiet
"1ou lie.' said the doctor, and then
Am too late to save her.
"My husband answered Yes. Brenda
how is 1t possible for q human being
to utter falsciioed like that? ! was
no more to him than you are except
that had promised before God to be-
mis- wife. And the doctor looked him
IN the eyes moment and then struck
him across the face with the back of
his open hand and went out of the
room.
"My husband came to the curtains
and looked in; then he approached the
bed, and ! groaned as loud as ] could.
AT that he seemed to lose his wits. He
ian around the room ainlessly and at
Hast sllatched his hat from the floor
and rushed out suppose lie was 20.
ing for another doctor.
When he was gone. invented an
errand and sent the woman away. Then
d got up and dressed. l don't know
how 1t was possible for nue. to do it.
hut seemed to be as light as a featll-
er. got out Of the hotel easily enough
and took cab to the railroad station.
] had not money enough for a sleeper,
30 l rode in day coach all the way to
New York, but my mind was in a
thousand places, and some of them
were beautiful, and was happy there,
and again was in terror and pain.
"When left the train at Jersey City,
my head was bursting upon my shoul.
tcrs and the air was fire. Honestly,
Brenda, when the ferryboat ran into
the slip on this side thought it was
the mouth of the Internal regions. 1t
looked like Il great cave full of flames
and 1t seemed that was being crushed
and thrust into 1t. Yet must have
had some part Of my senses, for I
found cab and gave the driver my
address. And so | came home from
my wedding journey, Brenda. | let
myself in with my key, and the people
in the house never knew that | had
been away that night. They found
nc III and got a doctor for nc. and be.
fore the day was over | was nearly
well. The doctor said must have eat
ell some sort Of n thing what do they
call tt always think Of tomatoes"
"Ptom,ines." said Brenda. "Ol,, YOU
poor child; you poor wretcled lucky
little Elsie! am SO glad. so glad"
"Woull you believe said Elsie,
"that TINT man tried to get my heart
back agan, TO plead his cause with nc?
We'll. he did, and. though had peace
for quite long time, of late | have
been much annoyed by him. You can
understand now why Clarence AIdcn's
love was torture TO mo. why - well,
why bought the picture Of Tantalus
to look ut. Brenda Oh, | love him, I
love him so much. The feast Of the
heart that can never have: He ia
everything want. Brenda"
"i:nt why in the name OF all martyr.
dom should you hesitate to tell this sto-
~ to him." exclaimed Brenda. What
bur can il lt. to your marriage"
"One day" said Elsie slowly. when
] was beginning to love Clarence so
that NY heart sang Of him all the time,
] was walking Oh Broadway and had
stepped 10 look in at II jewelers. win
dow. And glanced up, and Clarence
was comm. down the street with that
doctor"
"1lle one WHO attended you in Phil
adclphia:'
YES" said Elsie, "Thcy were laugh.
ln,, and talking together, and shrank
into Il doorway and died OF shame rs
they passed, Suppose they had seen
me!'
81 think 10 harm would have come Of
It" said :rcl,a.
Suppose married Clarence and we
should meet hiHI them"
Put. my dear" exclaimed Brenda,
''h' 'i' VI INV - l''N'i''iN '''l'tHINiAiOH.
Say that ibis doctor believed the worst
and toll ii to Clarence and lived to
finish the story. which unless he is
Samson geinrarna,cd is not possible, it
would mike no differences Unless CLAIR
ence can believe You absolutely gainst
every other voice in the world, you
don't wapta marry him anyway"
you don't know men," said Elsie,
shaking her head, On" little doubt,
md there is misery for Il lifetime.
who had gone wrong. 1t frightened my
homes until they turned 10 dust in my
body"
But. Elsie, you haven't done any !
wrong," pleaded Brenda. "You were
cruelty deceivcd'-
II 10 mere Than the others" replied |
Elsie. every woman who goes wrong
Is deceived, or there would be no wrong.
The point Is, Brenda. that that Is not
the way to get married. No really good
girl ever does such thing. should
ave had my mother and my friends to
zee me make my vow. That Is the only
right way; your way, Brenda, the way
Of your world. And, besides, haven't
told you all. am really his wife,
what do you mean?"
"His wife from whom he was sepa-
rated was abroad at the time" said
Elsie. "She died two days before my
marriage. That's why ! called him
my husband all the way through the
story"
Brenda was speechless for some Sec
Dnds before the spectacle of this fatal
Ity.
II don't see that that makes 1t any
worse" she said at last. Better, I
should say. Such a marriage can be
Easily annulled. 1t does not even re-.
1uire divorce"
ut requires legal proceedings" said
Elsie. 1T means publicity and brand.
ng. 1t means that Clarence Alden's
wife will be marked as woman with
! past, with a romantic scandal attach.
ID to her name. 1t would be bad
Brenda, for him to marry me
anyway, but an actress, with that
tory fastened to her! Well, you know
What all the world would say. No;
Il IL.