The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-03-11

There can be no confidence or this
kind with a wife," said Dorothy, 'if
she really is one. But, Carl, begin
to see some sort of sincerity in you,
and this is what will do to reward it,:
I will tell my husband that you have
spoken in a way to offend me, but
thnt ! have forgiven you, and will
beg him not to ask me any questions.
I will not say, unless directly asked,
that you have spoken to me Of his bust.
ness difficulties, which believe that
you greatly exaggerate. But can take
this course only If you promise me to
change from the heart outward-to be
to me in all your thoughts that which
you may honorably be. and no more.
VIII you do this?'
"How can look at you"- he began,
but she interrupted him crying:
"Carl, this is monstrous! 1 am. an
! old woman. I am the mother Of a
grown man. have lived my life, and
it has been a wondrous and beautiful
life to live. I have had such love-
such perfect love-"
"You trifle with me-" he said in n sud-
den rage. "Your husband is as cold as
the dead. He neglected you openly.
He has no eye for your beauty, for this
living miracle of your unfading youth
which has been bestowed upon you,
in my belief, that you might wait for
a real love-"
"I have not had to wait" said Doro-
thy in q voice indescribably sweet.
"And now" she added, "this is the end,
absolutely the end. asked you for a
promise. Give it to me and think upon
whatever is most sacred to you while
you speak"
81 will think upon that which is most
sacred to me-" he said. looking straight
into her face, "and for the sake Of 1t
will either conquer my heart or sur
render 1t with all my mortal part to
the dust Of the earth-to the uncon-
scious dust that cannot suffer-"
This pledge struck me as somewhat
theatric. and yet It was spoken with
heartbreaking sincerity and seemed to
have a considerable effect upon poro.
thy;
'The way to cease TO desire some
thing" said she. 'is tc desire some
thing else. Find right love, Carl. /
hope you may. There is q woman
somewhere who is really young. who
needs no miracle, who will not fade in
q year or two. Find her."
She turned away and walked toward
the front Of the house. He remained
standing stock still for fully minute
and then sank slowly forward upon his
knees and still lower. lie seemed to
be kneeling upon the body Of an enc
my. I could hear him mutter curses,
and he beat the turf beside the grav-
eled path with his fists.
1t was the most extraordinary spec
tacle OF the abandonment Of self con-
trol that ever ! saw and was made
even more remarkable by the sudden
ness with whiob # ceased. The man
arose and wiped his soiled hands with
his handkerchief; then he felt nervous.
ly In his pockets. He found a cigar
and crushed it I'm his fingers without
realizing what he was doing. But a
second was successfully lighted, and
Carl stpolled out into the moonlight
beyond the shadow OF the house with
his accustomed careless and graceful
stride.
CHAPTER XIV.
TEE RRrpRN OF "a BAD PENNY"
~HERE was a great weight upon
me as left the library. My
heart echoed Dorothy's words
precisely. My protest, like
hers, was against any change i'm the
ways Of our lives, which had seemed
so perfectly well ordered; not that
fancied they could ever be the same
again. Upon the contrary. perceived
clearly enough that Archer must be
sent away for his own sake and the
peace OF oil Of us.
I blamed him bitterly. There was
never less excuse for any mans folly,
IN the sixty years that have been ir