Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-09-24

lie uUu UUuHuoilSu AS
~ home-had left his wife in
IE .NI wrath and indignation, ana
S--s bod ,,ou-ad thnt no rnlild
nevermore see her. True, he had made
provision for ner future, and believed
that he had behaved generously. Still,
he was oppressed with haunting
sense that his conduct had really been
marked 10y reconsideration, was mis-
taken, Was petulent and overbearing.
Grace had only married him for the
sake of her child. This was the height
of her offense. But had he not known
this at the time? She had accepted
him gravely, kindly, gratefully-that
was all
Grace As her name rose 10 his lips
memories of his wife presented them
selves 10 his mind-memories of
matronhood-that wruns him now TO
q tenser emotion.
How wiStful she looked in those days
of her Standardization childishiy
sedate in the garb of woe! What
wealth of affection she had bestowed
upon the child of Harry sylvester, his
one heritage TO her. How sympathetic
to him she had been in the few months
of their marriage-how CHEEKY in his
joys. how sollcitous in his troubles!
\ croan escaped the man as he wan
dered almlesSly up and down the long
lane. He had vowed TO leave the coun-
try; and here, after but Il weeks mis-
cry in the metropolis. he was in the
very ne!ghborho0d of her fathers
quantity gabled old house, whence he
had taken her.
He ought 10 have gone elsewhere, the
man assured himself His visit had
but served to revive and deepen his
wretchedneSs.
What had been the cause of this
quarrel?
Richard Tregonnirg had always
loved Grace Arthur-loved her even
when Harry Sylvester led her to the
altar. He had not then told her so,
but when poor Harry had heen in his
grave year he had told her of his
love.
He knew she lad given Harry Syl-
vesteI great iorc, ""a that NOW Lao
held a holy place in Ter memory. He
did not, in those days. dream that she
would give him the same wealth of
for it, and believed that she had yield
ed it to him. He had been chivalrous
| in his eXactlon. He had not envied
her sweet, matronly pride in her boy
| in Harry's boy. Nay, he had sought
to perform Harry's part toward the
| little fellow.
And now he was striding to and fro
| inpetuous, half distraught. half hug
ging to himself the belief that he had
been cozened and deceived, and yet
half rejecting it.
Who had played the traitors part
to him and to her? Even as the mem
cries crowded in upon him this thought
would intrude Itself. only to remain
unanswered.
| 1t had been well and insduously
done. Upon returning from his honey
moon he had received the first warn
ing of what he now bitterly described
as "Grace's treachery.'
At first those anonymous epistles adj
dressed to him at his Office had con
tanned little more than gibes ant
sneers-had dubbed him little more
than an infatuated fool. But eacl
gibe and each sneer had also warned
him that the day Of disillusion wa'
near.
He had at first disregarded these ma
lignant letters-he had kept them care
fully from Grace. Why should h
trouble her? Besides, he did not be
lieye them. He had even laughed 4
the futility Of her enemies.
But at last their very persistence ha'
made an impression upon him. The.
had become more definite in their char
acter. They spoke Of Grace Syiveste
having had other sutors. They hinte
at passages between her and Malcolm
Barrett. They suggested that he wa
accepted because he possessed money
and thus could give her boy bette
home and a more expensive trainin
than Malcolm Barrett.
Unconsciously the man becam
brusQue in his manner at home. ii
sometimes sat silently glowerng at til
fire for hours. At times he woul
avoid seeing his stepson for days. Ono
he would prattle with him for an ei
tire evening. Then, when he surprise
Grace in tears, he would never off
word of sympathy
The end came just about fortnigt
before this night when Richard Tr
coming was strding along in restle:
anxiety and bitterness. His anon,
nous correspondent had explicitly a
serted that Grace Sylvester had boas
ed OF her conquest, and had bold
declared that she should accept hi
because he was good Catch" M
because it would be "a good thing f
her boy" Nay, she had even sa
that she did not care for him. Let hi
tax her with her crime If he doubt,
IT,
And he did tax her. His wra
overwhelmed her.
Did you marry me simply to g
home for your boy? Was our we
ding a loveless marriage on your par
Was your VOW lie and fraud? We
you faithless in heart, IL not in fact
Out rushed the questions, ieavil
the poor woman spcechless, powerle
to quell his rage. Then her tears (,
as the indignat man proceeded to st
further interrogate her. The pent-,
suspicion OF weeks had now crr
expression impaired to it.
In her emotion sue had admit
that when she accepted him she iii