The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-02

comes liIeI--uillSSS lAl6 nuSDdIlu IdhSS
steps to prevent It,"
"That is an unjust remark" said Hume,
holly.
"As fair surely as asking my wife
whether she loves me?"
IT did not do 500
'It came to that; we will not quarrel
over phrases"
"But you make an accusation against
me-"
IT heard enough to know 1t was time !
tinterfered," Fielden answered.
IIume's face colored slightly. An angry
retort came to his lips, but the look in
the womans face held it back. A mo-
ment's reflection made him conscious that
| there was Fielden's side to the question as
well as his.
you must grant that have some rea-
son for my disappointment Mr.. Fielden,"
he said, quietly. IF a hasty question Of
mine has offended you, you can afford to
pardon It,"
my dear Mr.. Hume, + am a matter
| of-fact man, and not at all the kind OF
| individual to play a part in scene; but
I am practical enough to know the dan
| ger in these romances, and to understand
| that syrnpa thy is not often given to the
husband. ask pardon If my words seem
harsh. but I choose to take precautions.
! You WILL therefore, consider yourself
stranger to us for the future"
He rang the bell as he spoke.
Mr.. F1elden, L
Excuse me, servants 50 generally have
keen ears. I do not blame you; perhaps
| in your place I should have done the
same" and then, as the servant opened
the door, he added: "Then we shall prob
| ably not meet again, Mr.. Hume. Good
| by"
Mrs. Fielden did not move nor look up
as Robert Hume left the room, but as
she heard the front door close she went
| back to her chair
"You do not give me hearty welcome
| tonight, Ethel, said her husband. "fIave
returned too early?"
mo, I expected you an hour ago." and
then she looked at him. George, do
you not trust me?"
Perfectly"
"Are you aware that what you said just
now was insulting"
TT was not so intended but, my dear
Ethel am not altogether a fool. You
did not answer that fellow Hume IN a
| convincing manner"
| IT wished to be truthful and kind
Exactly, and you succeeded in being
more kind than truthful. He has gone
fully persuaded that you still love him,
and that you are cursed with monster
of husband Have I done nothing to
make you happy?"
Eyes, George, everything"
"But not enough to kill that old ro-
mance?"
1T is past"
/ But not dead" s
"Is it worth while talking about It?
You married me knowing that such ro-
nance, If you like to call 1t so, existed
I made no secret of it, and you were con-
tent to marry me. Let the past rest. You
are a good husband to me; I know !
have been a dutiful wife to YOU" ...
but there has been no real love; Is
| that what you mean, EthelY
| ''There has been very real respect. It
often lasts longer than love-"
well, let it be so. OF course, you quite
understand that I wish you to have no fur
ther communication with Mr. Hume"
J My own knowledge Of right and wrong
Is quite enough to guide me in the mat
ter Your suggestion Is only a. further in
suit" .
} Nonsense. After all, you may not have
to put up with me very long. 7 saw
, Vacher again today, and he looked solemn
enough over me- ..-
She was beside him in a moment.
What did he say?" ..
THAT must be exceedingly careful. 70,
r will not have to wait long. I fancy
a have a convenient heart which will sto]
t before you are too old to"
n Please, George, say no more; it Is no
just to me-"
Stlu SolIS, tLlIel, forgive me. II
did not love you quite so much as I dc
o 1t would not matter"
Y circumstances were against George Field
IT en-. Not naturally suspicious, from tn
n moment he found Robert Hume in hi
d draWing-1oom he began to watch his wife
lie listened for a hidden meaning in ever
word she uttered. found some ground 70
It speculation In her every action, and a
>. the time he hated himself for doing 81
He had known when he had married he
-, that she did not love him; she had bee
:. perfectly frank with him. and he had bee
~ content to marry her. Now the true re
!, gard and loyalty which she gave hi
d. seemed Of little worth against the on
Ii thing lacking. He had never really give
up the hope Of winning her love until nov
g. Robert Hume's return had shown him the
" his wife'o heart was a kingdom he coul
It never hope to enter. In the bitterness
ct his soul he sometimes spoke angrily, bring
e. Ing sudden flush to his wife's cheek
j. but she would have pitied him had sf
10 understood how many Of the things +
It was tempted to say were ohoked back an
~ remained unspoken, how he fought dali
VA battle with himself ever loving her MOI
ID deeply. ever growing more jealous TT
70 horrible wish to make her suffer as he d
~ was always In his mind. Many and man
-, scheme he devised, only to put it b.
'tr hind him and try to forget 1t; yet ever
: OllG tOOh uP q iOuSlIlS III his brain, reaC
e. at any moment to tempt and former
e, him.
or His wife bore with him and studied h
1e humors. She contrived to talk Of tt
1r things which interested him, met HI
always with smile, made no complain
that he watched her constantly, ar
SO would not notice how he tried to cate
I her at unexpected moments. She w.
innocent Of all blame; why should 81
he mind being watched?
But her patience had very little re
elk result.
~ You will not have me long to put (,
with" he would say, even when she SUI
m. posed she had been most successful
ID. her treatment Of him. It was his CO!
lie. slant reproach.
he But one morning she turned upon hi,
He had driven her endurance to t
breaking point. The torrent Of h
righteous anger overwhelmed him. /
~, was ashamed Of himself, but his jealou
ne had become almost a disease, and t
l horrible scheme he had devised only Ia
Try night, and with morning had thrust b
ne hind him with a shudder, seized upon
INT fancy and refused to be forgotten !
lat the worst in the man was aroused. a.
me he went straight from his wife to z
his scheme into action.
;ly. The lawyer wrote from his dictate
It asking his client no questions, showi
no surprise. He was not Mr.. Fieldel
the usual lawyer; to him he had not liked
go.
I've rs that all?" asked the lawyer, as \