The Delta independent., 1902-06-20
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z The Wife and the Mistress Z
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BY w. b. BARRETT.


1t was SO dark and still in the woods
that not a 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
last I'VE could hear horses hoofs
two miles off,
60 on, then. as fast as you can"
you'll not forget that you're TAX
ing the name of John Whiting?
marked all your clothes with 1t this
morning before packed the valise and
put those handkerchiefs that were IA
ther's with the same initials enbroid-
cred on them; and"
Her companion broke in with dis
cordant laugh.
Il guess the old man would rise up
in his grave if he knew it. He never
took much stock in me anyway.
The woman shivered slightly.
81 was going to say" she continued
without replying to his remark, that
you can't be recognized by the silver
watch. 1t was never used. you know.
Your gold one I've put away.
you can give it to Bob when he
grows up. And l say, Annie, are you
going to let the children know!
Not more than can help, Robert.
The little ones need hardly hear of 1t
yet while, but. of course. Bob and
papers from them"
Its rather rough on them, NUT
tered the man. I'm sorry for Elean-
or"
"She will bear as 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? l heard
something"
"Sh-sh! That was a Gala mans
voice!" he whispered excitedly. You
hold the reins, II they come; I'll jump
and cut" But it was the scream OF
a 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
ly, 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?
81 am asking as much for Bob's sake
as my own. He is much like you and
your temptations may be his. Tell
me, was it that other woman?"
What other?'-but he faltered over
the interrogative lie. "Oh. well, II you
know about her"-carelessly-"I sup
pose 1t may have been. A man can't
keep up two establishments on the sal
ary of bank clerk. But you can't
say l didn't provide for my family.
Annie. Did you or the children ever
want for anything?"
She drew in a quick breath.
mot for material comforts. no; yon
kept us well housed and clothed and
fed. But what you took the money
for, then, was your-love-for her?"
why, II you want 1t in plain terms.
yes. I'm like good many other fell
lows, l guess" He laughed uncom
fortably. Now l suppose your next
question will be, How did come TO
fancy anybody SO different from you.
eh? Well, may as well have 1t out
with you. l don't mean any offense,
you know, and appreciate your being
a good wife and all that. You won't
find I ever breathed word against
you to anybody. But you were too
strict in your ideas from the start. that
was the trouble. You couldn't expect
a fellow to live up to 'em. BY Jove!
one gets enough of the serious side OF
life in his business without having to
tackle it when he's at home! Yes. I
know what you'll say: but it's SO. l