The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-10

mo effort to rise.
what are you doingr
Thinking. Harold"
"Can YOU succeed as well in this
chair by the bed. or is the moonlight
understandable to your meditations?"
mo, indeed" and she promptly left
her window seat for the chair at the
bedside and softly covered with hers
the hand lying on the coverlet. In her
lap lay a scroll Of legal foolscap.
"a penny for your thoughts. he
smiled.
She hesitated. As often happens
with the opportunity Of a granted pray
er, she shrank from selling 1t. But
the truth must be told soon or late.
and the question seemed more than CO.
incidence: 1t addressed itself to her
feverish imagination as providential.
II do not believe you are strong
enough for such a tax"
"A truce to invalidism" He caress-
ed her hand softly. IT am strong;
with the strength of ten when you are
here"
you do seem better" She leaned
forward to examine him closer. !
wonder II may ventureT
| Yes, venture anything. only make
me understand that you are mine. do
you realize Edith. dearest, how far
apart we have lived this week. What
| Is the reason?"
| MANY reasons, Harold dear. Fol-
one, 1 have read this" holding the roll
of foolscap that he could see it In the
dim lit room.
Read my will, that trusted you &c
keep slowly.
Yes, Harold. After your converse
ltion last week 1t seemed to me that
owed IL to myself"
What do you make of 1t as a Legal
document? 1t has struck me as rath'
er clever instrument You know. was
bred to the Bar" He loosed his clasI
of her hand. The tone of her ac'
shocked him as material sordid.
She quickly withdrew her hand ant
lnervously twisted the foolscap into a
firmer roll. as II tightening her cour
age to the pitch Of a crisis.
Did you make this will before o.
since last week, Harold?'.
"Before-long before"
Then 1t was a deliberate intention
not the impulse of defeat or disappoint
lment?"
1T was my deliberate intention"
I am no Judge Of law, Harold, but
have some idea of moral right Thi
reads to me-
""There are defects-you are no
satisfied"
DO you believe 1t is fair to me?
For the first time in their married lif
} she ventured this timid theory of he
personal rights. 1t was difficult 70
him to accept the suggestion.
Fair to your he studied her intent
: lly TT seems then. we did not reac
an understanding that other day whe
. begged you not to marry again-t
= promise me that you would be true
II thought my answer ended tn
3 matter. I could not realize that sue
request meant more than you asked
You believed that your refusal de
stroEed my interest in the subject
that It was dimissed from m
= thoughts?
r Can you not realize, my dear Hal
e old. that allegiance cannot be compel
r cdr" with an inscrutable smile. TT
3 an act of the will. not the exercise
I authority.
|. Most dear, most dear. the thought
Q a consuming fire worse than tormen
The bare idea of your possession b
1 another brings me out of the jaws
{ death to protest. Promise me. Edit
= that you will not"
o You know Harold. that the suite
= has been abolished by a civilized Ems
lish law. Yet what you ask of me
/. far worse You ask me to bind m,
n self body and spirit. living woma
>. to a sterile future-for what is Iii
d without freedom?'
e Edith darling. have you no pity Il
= me dying?"
d Every pity. do not fear the SUI
: tee: I would happily go with you. b
: to promise, Harold, I dare not. l mu
: hold the power over my own will"
v Your will, Edith? What is that
v my eternal peace?" tossing on his pi
W low in wild excitement.
n She went to the table at the head
the bed poured out a soothing mixtur
land dexterously slipping her hand u
d der the pillow to raise his head. he
n the glass to his lips.
e He caught her hand as she withdre