New-York tribune., 1903-07-30

What do you mean?'
Am I to feel that I cannot believe a word
you say?'
Amy" he said, collecting himself, do YOU
know that you are talking to your husband?
think You do not quite realize all that you ara
saying I cannot 1 ought not. listen to you any
longer. Tomorrow you will feel differently.
viii DR.. Craven he alive tomorrow she
asked. coldIy
DO you mean that you consider me responsi-
BILE" he demanded. with the sensitive quickness
of perception that was always his "for DR..
Cravens death? Why. It Is absurd" He tried
to laugh He has been sick for years. dear.
Go to sleep, now; tomorrow
TT is not that" she said. wearily. Perhaps
you are right; perhaps this shock did not hasten
his death. 1 do not know" Bradford could not
help noticing the steadness OF her sense of jus
tice. But all the other things you have told
me-you have not seemed to care what you have
said. Once before we were married, some one
warned me that you did not care. I did not
believe him; hated him. hate him now, but
believe him. No, don't try 20 stop me- 1t is
better for both of us that there should be no de-
ceit between US. I have tried ever since were
married-ever since the very day after were
married-tO disbelieve him. but how can 1?
There was that story you told me the first
time you came to see me. Afterward L found
that-it was not true. I thought m1ne
bitter sorrow that night-but I did not know
what sorrow was. Then, while / was putting
that story from me. fighting 1t of, there were
other things. You told people, at dinner. OF
things that 1 knew had not happened, but I
should not have minded much-they were only
stories-if it had not been for the idea I
fighting And there ware times when 1 had
almost fought it down. When I knew the baby
was coming I thought was sure that I had
been all wrong to mistrust you in the least
don't know why 1 sure, but I Then
this. You promised Uncle Jack that you would
never speak of it It was not yol secret, any
more than it mine. had right to
speak of it, But you did. And Uncle Jack
asked you if you had. And you let him think
that you had not" Her voice. monotonous and
sad as the ticking Of a metronone, ceased.
Bradford suddenly surrendered. Surrendered
his dignity, surrendered his self-respect, sur
rendered his pride. "It is true. Amy he said.
under his breath. TT is true 1 told Shedsy,
and did not tell your uncle. 1t is all true But
can't you forgive? Don't you know, dear. that
you are speaking to me like a judge-not like
a wife? 1 an not as bad as that dear. have
not forfeited forgiveness? Amy, Amy. my Amy,
don't you see that am begging for it-Francis.
who has lied to you, but who loves you. loves
your
How am I 20 know" she cried. quickly.
You say So but how am I to know"
You nean''-
II mean that do not know whether not
you love met" she repeated, sadly. What have
I to assure me but your word?"
Love knows love-" he answered. brokenly-
Can there be love where there is not truth"
'I do not think he said. humbly. that have
deserved this. but perhaps have"
1t was as if they had changed places, He was
the quiet one now; while Amy-Bradford hardly
knew that tense. passionate voice for hers. "Oh.
l have loved you, loved your she cried She
broke down; her tears came in a food, as if her
heart broke. He took a step toward
her. and. If she OWNED it. she sprang TO her
feet
Don't touch me-" she painted Don't touch
me! How do l know you love me? You have
cheated me before-why not in this? What am I
your mistress or your wife? My babyi-Have
you ever told me the truth? Are you in earnest
now? You say you suffer. 1 do not want you to
suffer. But do you think I have not suffered
at all? But you need not believe me- either.
now! I have lied. tool You have taught all
that know-drst to feel. and then to lie. We
are alike now: we can neither Of us be trusted
He stood quite incapable OF movement and
she slipped by him. without looking at him
again, into her own room. and he heard the key
turn in the lock.
How odd these little domestic tragedies are,
which play themselves out quite unnotced un-
derneath our noses, Smith and Mrs Smith are
a we'll matched couple, are they not? Mutual
respect say the wise ones who are watching
them-cool gray admiration. not the fiery red
] of love makes the best background for the
| picture of comfortable married life They do
not salute each other rapturously on railway
platforms. they are not miserable out of each
others sight: but then their duties to society
are admirably performed, She is a careful
| hostess: and how excellent are the cigars and
, cIaret Of Smith. Really, the situation is one
| fortunate in all respects. Meanwhile. after the
! guests are gone what dull ghosts of misery and
| pain haunt those rooms wherein sit separately
! and in shadow the admirable hostess and the
| excellent host!
Murdoch had no knowledge Of any break be
| tween Bradford and Amy. Bradford was too
! clever Amy too strong. TO be detected by such a
| straightforward unsuspecting man as the
| pickle maker. Had he known Of the trouble and
it's cause. Murdoch would have been indignant
with Amy Bradford pleased AIurdoch's love
, of show Besides he was not sorry that his gift
had been made public though by no fault Of his.
He was not yet forty; he was barely thirty-nine.
Carfax College called the first man on the list
Of eIigibles and he came. stipulating for dicta-
toriaI power. and promptly began to turn the
wheels of progress. He was almost as young as
Nurdoch-forty- -one; he looked. as much as Muir
doch did the business man; he spoke with the
sharp decisiveness that finds no time for formal
courtesy: and his first act 10 reduce the
salaries of most of his STAFF. Some. Kate among
them. resigned: others were married. and dared
not. The name Of the new president was Rob
inson-Horace Robinson. His line was
paleontology-or was IT petrology? Well, IL