Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-02-16
CHAPTER xxi


and il Mary haC not already had hand
upon the stair rail she would have fall
en- at the shock. She turned ghostly
white, and her heart began to beat furi-
ously. She could not have told If she
were glad, or sorry, or resentfuL
In little while this extreme agitation
subsidized, and, standing with one foot on
the lowest step of the staircase, with the
maid staring round-eyed and frightened
at her white face, she listened and heard
the deep breath of the returned prodigal
rising and falling in a regular cadence.
The room in which he slept was on the
ground floor. The door was ajar, and
faint CLEAN of light came from single
gas jet, which was lowered so far that in
daylight it might have been invisible.
Mary moved softly to the door, trem-
bling from head to foot. Three steps
carried her across the narrow little hall,
and then she paused with a hand upon
the doorpost of the ROOM The maid,
open-mouthed and open-eyed, waited for
what might happen. The mistress enter
ed the room noiselessly, and Peered
through the dusk at the sleeping figure
IL the armchair. Hackett was living
broadcast with his feet wide apart, and
his arms hanging loosely ever the arms
of the chair. His head had lurched for
ward. Even in that poor light there was
no installing him.
Yet when she lad looked a while she
was impelled to turn the gas a little
higher. In the clearer light the returned
prodigal lay at a marked disadvantage.
t. feet seemed to &c east forward in
Ostentation of the gaping boots and the
frayed edges of the trousers. All his
raiment was wrinkled and seedy, and
disreputable. His shirt cuffs were crma-
pied and dirty, his cheek bore a weeks
black stabble, his nose had taken a tinge
of red.
His wife absorbed all these details of
his aspect, and stood wondering that she
should care so little and feel so undis-
turbed. She did not know as yet that
the shock of his return had dulled all
power and feeling, and she stood and
noted every shabby sign of social fail
ure and moral degradation as if they
were all pointed in a picture and had no
personal interest for her.
She sat down in chair opposite to
him, regarding him fxedly, going over
and over again, one by one, the signs of
sQualor and decay, and little by little
the thought grew up in her mind that
she was bound to this man for his life or
hers. The first apprehension of this fact
arose clearly enough. 1t was not that
the knowledge of it seemed incomplete;
but at first she lacked the power to care
about it, Then slowly it grew more and
more definite, because more and more
horrible, and at last it overwhelmed her,
so that she rose in physical protest
against it. She turned the gas light to
the full, and went anew over every sign
before her. Hackett changed his pos
ture. winkilg and muttering at the light,
and she started behind the table instinc-
lively to place some barrier between her
self and him; but he settled back again
in a mere second or two, and breathed
more stertorousy than before.
And now that she was awake to the
terror of the position she set her wits
10 work to find out what she might best
do for the moment. There was no crea-
ture 70 whom she might run for advice
or assistance, and she was thrown en-
tirely upon her own resources. But she
managed in a while to grasp the position
pretty thoroughly. Above all other
things. it was evident that no pity, COM
rascally husband home again.
He had come in search Of spoil, and
in that respect she was quite defenceless
aesinst him. In the flush of her dread
of him and her adherence of him, she
would willingly have surrendered every
thing in her possession TO be rid Of him
once aud for all.
So she slipped to her bedroom and
-loN cl. hafl
there. Finding some bills and gold, she
packed the money in sheet of note pa
per. and then wrote hasty note.
Take this, and make yourself respec-
table. When you want more write to
me. Do not try to see me, for | would
rather die than speak to you"
She enclosed this and the money in an
envelope. and. descending to the kitchen,
gave it into the hands of the maid.
You must sit up" she said, until
Mr.. Hackett awakeS, and then give him
this. IL he asks for me, never mind
that. Give him this when he awakes.
Then she fed to her room and locked
herself in. and barricaded the door, ard
Law in wait Tor what might happen.
Footsteps and voices passed, and distant
uniunortant sounds shook her with dread
score Of times Once rap at her
door following on the faint sound of
stealthv footsteps on the stair, so made
her tremble that she could find no voice
10 answer. The knock was repeated
timidly and Mary whispered;
what is itF'
ave brought you cup of tea,
MANN" the maid whispered back in q
voice as frightened as her own.
Take it away" said her mistress.
"Dou't come again until Mr.. Hackett has
gone away.
The maid retired. and in the solitude
and silence of her kitchen found things
SO dismal and oppressive that she was
forced at length TO wrap a shawl about
her head and steal into the roadway.
Drawing the front door gently after her,
and nursing the note intended for Mr..
Hackett in her hcnd. she went to the
gate and stood shiveriog behind it, find
ing some comfort in the sight and sound
OF pasSers BY. Amongst their wss Ned
Rlone. and il was more timidity than dis
cretion which prevented her from call
ing upon him and requesting his protec-
ton. But when an hour has gone by
and the maids nose was blue with cold,
and her hands so chilled that she could
no longer feel her own fingers. or the
note she carried. she recognized passing
figure in the dusk and hailed il.
THAT you. HepzihahT'
What's the matterY Hepzibah de-
manded. pauSing and peering at her.
who is itg'
Me" said the maid, beginning TO
whimper little. II wish you'd come
in and sit wi me biz. I'm afraid TO
be by myself. and I'm that cold i don't
know what to do a-Standing here"
Where's the missisY' Hepzibah de
manded.
Hers locked herself in answered
the maid. with a dreadful enjoyment of
the situation. The masters come home
again. and he's asleep downstairs, and
hers afraid OF him.
"Wul Hackett back again. cried
TIoD-ihah Its pretty plain to Ses,