davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20

fretting So"
Have, you been letting her talk
about it and excite herself? Have you
been talki- G to her yourself"
How can we help talking about it?'
Mrs Mumple mOaned.
It's Internally silly-infernally. he
exclaimed in evaporation Well.
must go to her, 1 suppose" He turned
TO Jeremy It'll be better II you'll
keep Mrs. Mumple with you. Wen get
the nurse TO go to Sibylla-"
L can't leave her as she is, said
Mrs. Mumple, threatening fresh out
burst Of tears.
Grantley walked out of the room,
muttering savagely. The strain OF ir-
ritation, largely induced by Mrs
Mumple's Iaehrymosely reprOachful
glances and faithful dOglike persist
ency robbed him of the tenderness by
which alone he might possibly have
won his wife's willing obedience and
perhaps convinced her reason through
her love. He used his affection now
not in appeal. but as an argumentatlVe
point He found in her a hard OppOsl-
ton: she seemed to lCOk at him with
a sort of dislike. a mingling OF fear
and wonder. Thus she listened IN sill
ence TO his cold narshaling OF the
evidences Of his love and his deliberate
enforcement Of the claims it gave him.
Seeing that he made no impression, he
grew more impatient and more i'm
perious, ending with plain intimation
that he would discuss the question no
further.
You'll make me the murderess OF
my child" she said.
Ths gross irrational eXaggeratlOn
drove him to worse bitterness.
i've no intention OF running even
the smallest risk of being party TO the
murder of my wife" he retOrted-
Lying among her pillows, very pale
and weary, she pronounced the accusa-
ton which had so long brOOded in her
mind.
ITS not because You love me so
much; you do love me in way-I
please you, you're proud Of me, you
like me to be there, you like to make
love to me. you like taking all 1 have
TO give you. and God knows I liked 10
give it-but you haven't given the
same thing back 10 me, Grantley.
don't know whether you've got it 10
give to anybody, but at any rate you
haven't given il to me 1 haven't be
come part of you, as I was ready TO
become-as I've already become of my
little unborn child. Your life wouldn't
be- made really different If l went
away. In the end you've been apart
from me. l thought the coming OF the
child must make all that different. but
it hasn't. You've been about the child
Just as you've been about me-
"Oh, where on earth do you get such
notions?" he exclaimed.
Just the same as about me- You
wanted me- and you wanted a child too.
But you wanted both with-wel. with
the least disturbance Of your old self
and your old thoughts: with the least
trcuble-it almost comes to that really.
/. don't know how TO put it, except like
that You enjoyed the pleasant parts
very much, but you take as little as
you can of the troublesome ones.
suppose a lot Of people are-are like
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20

the feeling grew that she made an in
adequate return and showed an appre-
citation short Of what was his due.
Gradually his manner hardened, MS
decision was expressed more firmly; he
stiffened into a direct antagonism and
interposed his will and his authority
to effect what his love and his en-
treaties had failed TO win. He never
lacked courtesy: he could not, under
such circumstances as these. desire to
fail in gentleness. But it was his will
against hers now, and what his will
was he conveyed clearly.
A trained nurse had arrived from
Fairhaven;. but Sibylla vehemently pre-
ferred the presence of Mrs. Mumple,
ard it was Mrs. MumpIe whom Grant
ley left with her when he came down
to his study about midnight. He had
not dined. and a cold supper was laid
out OF the table. Jeremy was there,
trying to read eying the supper raw
enously, yet ashamed of being hungry.
He fell on the beef with avidity when
GrantIey observed that anyhow starv-
ing themselves could serve no useful
purpose. Grantley was worried, but
not anxious; he had confidence in the
specialist, and even in Gardeners view
there was no danger If the right course
were followed. To the disappointment
which that course involved he had
schooIed himself, accepting it almost
gladly as by so far the lesser evil.
If you were TO talk 10 Sibylla now, :"
he said, Il think you'd be reminded of
those old days you once told me about.
Fate has thumped her pretty severely
for anything she did, but she's mortally
anxious to be thumped more, and very
angry with me because 1 won't allow
it. Upon my word 1 believe she'd be
disappointed if Tarlton told us that the
thing wasn't so bad after all, and that
everything would go right without
anything being done"
II daresay she would but there's no
chance of that?"
We'll. I'm afraid not. One must be-
lieve ones medical man, L suppose.
even if he's old Gardiner-and he seems
quite sure of it," Grantley drank and
sighed. It's uneommonly perverse,
when everything was so prosperous
before"
The day had left its traces on Jeremy.
Though he had not told Grantley so,
yet when he saw SibyIla thrown he
had made no doubt she was kiIled-and
she was the one person in the world
whom he deeply loved. That fear was
off him now, but the memory of it soft
ened him toward her-even toward her
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20

Very well, and I'll see my wife as
soon as you think 1t desirable" He
paused a moment and then went on:
IF I understand the case right, I
haven't a moments hesitation in my
mind. But I should like to ask YOU
one questiOn-am I right in suppOsing
that your practice is 10 prefer the
mothers life TO the child's?"
That's the British medical practice.
Mr.. Imason, where the alternative is
as you put it. But there are, Of course,
degrees Of danger and these would in
fuence-"
You've told me the danger might be
serious. That's enough. DR.. Gardiner,
pending the arrival Of your colleague
the only thing-the only thing-you
have to think Of is my wife. Those
are my definite wishes, please. You'll
remain here, Of course2 Thank you.
to speak TO Jeremy now"
He turned toward the window, mean
ing 10 join Jeremy in the garden and
report TO him. Mrs. Mumple came for
ward. waving her hands nelplessly and
weeping profusely.
~Oh. Mr.. ImasOn, imagine the poor,
poor little chfldi" she stammered. T
can't bear to think Of II"
Grantiey's impatience broke out In
savage bluntness.
Against her 1 don't care that for
the child" he said, swapping his fin
gers as he went out
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20

morning; she was reluctant to wait
even for that. Old Gardiner was for
her an all-wise, all-sufficient oracle OF
the facts, because he had declared them
to be such as fitted into the demands
of her heart and of her mood. Left to
herself she would have constrained his
fears, overborne his doubts and forced
him to her will; he would have stam-
mered all in vain about what was the
British medical practice. AS it was.
open-eyed, refusing to seek sleep,
strung UP by excitement, all through
the evening she battled against her
husband for her way.
If she had no hesitation in one view,
Grantley never wavered from the other.
The plain unreasonableness of not
awaiting the specialists verdict was
not hard TO enforce. Sibylla. processing
to yield, yet still assumed what the
verdict would be, and pressed for
promise At first he evaded her ur-
gency by every device of soothing
counsels, Of entreaties that she would
rest, Of affectionate reproofs. She
would not allow evasion. Then when
his refusal came it came tenderIy, in
spired by his love for her, based on an
appeal TO that. 1t was on this that she
had relied. He was puzzled that it
failed Of the full effect he had looked
for; and beyond the puzzle gradually
sense Of bitter hurt and soreness grew
up in his mind. He did not know of the
secret connection in her thoughts be-
tween the child and an ideal perfecting
Of the love between her and him; she
was at once too seIf-engrossed to allow
for his ignorance and too persuaded
that her hopes must be secret if they
were TO remain hopes at all. He saw
only that when he persuaded, cajoled,
flattered and caressed as a lover he
failed. His power seemed gone. Her
appeal to him was in another character.
and that very fact seemed to put him
on a lower plane. He had not doubted
for moment what came first to him
it was her life, her well-being. his love
Of her. As she persisted in her battle
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20

ming eyes and over brimming sympa-
thies- That he could not truthfully
have denied the fact increased his an
noyance. 1t seemed mean to remem-
Der the spots that had been on the
face TO which those brimming eyes be-
longed-as mean as ii would have
been in himself to recall the bygOne
grievances and the oId-the suddenly
old grOwn-sQuabbles which he had
had with the long legged rectOry girl.
That old. epithet. tool A sudden sense
of profanity shot across him as it
came into his mind; he stood incom-
prehensibly accused OF irreyerence in
his own eyes.
Yet the spots had existed and ST.
bylla had been wrong-had been wrong
and was now, it appeared, unreasOn-
able. Moreover. beyond question.
Mumples was idiOtic. Reason was
alarmed. in him since it was threaten
ed. He told himself that GrantIey was
very sensible to sleep. But himself.
he could not think of sleep and his
ears were hungry for every sound
l.. from the floor above.
The stairs creaked-there was a sniff.
Mrs. Mumple was at the door Jeremy
made an instructive gesture for silence
because GrantIey slept He watched
Mrs. Mumple as she turned her eyes
on the peacefully repOsing form. The
eyes turned sharp to him and Mrs.
Mumple raised her fat hands just a
little and let them fall softly.
He's asleep?" she whispered
You see he is. Best thing for him
to do, too" His answering whisper
was gruff.
She's not sleeping" said Mrs
Mumple, and she's asking for him
again"
Then we'd better wake him up" He
spoke irritably as he rose ard touched
Grantleys shoulder. He must be
tired out, don't you see?''
Mrs. Mumple made no answer. She
raised and dropped her hands again.
Grantley awOke lightly and easily,
almost unconscious that he had slept
What were We talking about? Oh
yes. Dora Huttingi Why, I believe
I've been asleep!"
You've slept nearly an hour" said
Jeremy, going back to his chair.
Grantley's eyes fell on Mrs. Mumple;
a slight air Of impatience marked his
manner as he asked:
Is anything wrong. Mrs. Mumple2"
She's asking for you again, Mr.
IInasOn."
Dear me. Gardiner said she should
be kept quiet!"
The doctors lying down But she'll
not rest without seeing you: she's
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20
CHAPTER VI.
Not Peace. but a sword.

Not Peace, but a Sword.
No doubt the bodily shock, the lacera-
ton Of her nerves and the condition she
was IN had something TO do with the
way SibyIla looked at the matter and
with the attitude which she took up.
These accidental circumstances gave
added force TO what was the natural
outcome Of her disposition. A further
current OF feeling, sweeping her In the
same direction, lay IN the blame which
she eagerly fastened on herself. Her
wiIlfulness and heedlessness cried out
TO her for an atonement; she was eager
10 make an appeasing sac
rifice and caught at the op-
pOrtunity, embracing readily the
worst view Of the case, drawing
from that view an unhesitating concIu-
sion as to what her duty was. Thus de-
duced, the duty became a feverish de-
sire; her only fear was that she might
be baked OF its realization. She had
risked her child's life; let her risk her
life for her child. That idea was by
itself and by its innate propriety
enough TO inspire her mind and to de-
eide her will. 1t was but to accumulate
reasons beyond need when she remind
ed herself that even before the accident
all her veal had hung on the child,
every chance which remained Of over
coming certain failure, OF achieving
still the splendid success Of which she
had dreamed in her life and marriage.
The specialist was to arrive the next
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20

You don't blame me?" Jeremy asked
as they came near home
You advised her not 70 ride the
beast: what more could you do? You
couldn't stop her by force"
He spoke rather bitterly. as though
sorrow and fear had not banished an
ger when ne thought OF his wife and
her wiIlfulness.
Jeremy turned aside into the garden,
begging 10 have news as soon as there
was snv Grantley went into his study
and Mrs. Mumple came 20 him there
She was piuably undOne and dis
heveIed- Il was impossible not 70 re-
spect her grief, but no less Impossible
"a get any clear information from her.
Lameutation aIternated with attempt
ed excuses for Sibylla's obstinacy; she
tried TO make out that she herself
was IN some way TO blame for having
brought On the mood which had n It's
turn produced the obstinacy. Grantley,
striving after outward calm. RACED IN
lis heart against the fond. foolish old
woman
7 want TO know what's happened,
not whose fault it'll be held 70 be at
the Day Of judgment, Mrs Mumple-
Since you're incapable Of telling me
anything, have the goodness 70 send
DR.. Gardiner 70 ne as soon as he can
leave Sibylla-"
Very soon, yet only just in time TO
stop Grantley from going upstairs
himself Gardner came He was an
elderly, Quiet-gOing country practiuon-
er. he lived in one OF the red villas at
the junction with the main road, and
pIfed a not very lucrative practice
among the farmhouses and cottages.
HIS knowledge was neither profound
nor recent: he had not kept up his
reading. and his practical opportunities
had been very few. He seemed. when
be came a good deal upset and de-
cfdedIy nervous, as though he were
faced with q sudden Responsibility Dy
no means 70 his liking. be kept Wlp-
ing his brow with a threadbare red silk
handkerchief and pulling his struggling
rrav whfskers while he talked In a
second Grantley had decided that no
confidence could be placed in him Still
he must be able 70 tell what was the
matter
Quickly and plainly. please, Dr.
Gardiner" he requested, noting with
frnpatience that Mrs Mumple had come
back and stood there listening; but
she would CRY and think him mon
ster If he sent her away
shes conscious now" the doctor re-
ported. but she's very prOstrate-suf-
fering from severe shock 1 think YOU
shouldn't see her for a little while
What's the injury. Dr. Gardiner!
The shock is severe"
~Wil il kill herr"
NO, no, The shock kill herr Oh.
10, no. She has a splendid constitu-
ton XIII herr Oh. 10, nOi"
And is that ALP
NO. not quite all Mr. lima SON There
is-er-in fact a local injury. a fracture.
due 70 the force Of the impact on the
ground"
rs that serious? Pray be quiet, Mrs
Mumple You really must restrain
ycur feelings"
Serious Oh, undoubtedly. un-
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20

doubtedlyt II can't say il isn't Sc
rious. I should be doing wrong
In one word, is it fatal. or likely TO
be fataI?"
Grantley was nearly at the end of
his forced patience. He had looked for
other old woman, so he angrilY thought
within himself as old Gardiner
stumbled over his words and worried
his whiskeTs.
If were TO explain the case in de-
tail"
Presently, doctor, presently. Just
now I want the result-the position OF
affairs, you know"
For the moment. Mr.. Imason. there
is no danger 10 Mrs. Imason-I think
I may say that But the injury creates
a condition Of things which might. and
in my judgment would. prove. danger
Gus TO her as time went on. 1 speak in
view Of her present condition"
7 see. Could that be Obviated2"
Gardeners nervousness increased
By an operation directed TO remove
the cause which would produce danger.
II would be a serious. perhaps a
dangerous, operation"
Is that the only way?'
In nay judgment the only way con-
sis-ent with"
A loud sob from Mrs MumpIe inter
ruDted him. Grantley swore under his
breath.
Go on" he said harshly.
Consistent with the birth Of the
child. Mr.. ImasOn'
"Ahl" at last he had got 10 the
light and the nervous old man had
managed TO deliver himself Of his mes
sage. Il understand you now. Setting
the birth Of the child on one side, the
matter would be simpler?"
"Oh. yes. much simpler-not, Of
course. without its"
And more free from danger?"
Yes. though"
Practically free from danger to my
wife?'
Yes; I think I can say practically
free in the case Of so good a subject
as Mrs. ImasOn."
Grautley thought for a minute.
You probably wouldn't object TO my
having another OpInion?" he asked.
Relief was obvious on old Gardeners
face.
I should welcome it, he said. The
responsibility in such a case is so great
that"
Tell me the best man and I'll wire
for him at once"
Even on this point Gardiner hesi-
tated. till Grantley named man
known 10 everybody: him Gardiner at
once accepted.
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20
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The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20

force latent antagouisms Of feeling to
an open conflict. Mistress Chance took
hand in the game. on arriving at the
t'airhaven station from one Of his ex-
pedltlons 10 town. Grantley found Jer-
emy awaiting him Jeremy was pale,
but his manner kept its incisiveness,
his speech its lucidiry- Sibylla had met
with an accident She had still been
taking quiet rides on a trusty old horse.
To-day. contrary 10 his advice and in
face Of GrantTey's. she had insisted on
riding another-the young horse, as
they called IL
she was in one OF her moods" Jer-
emy explained She said she wanted
more Of a fight than the old horse gave
her. She would 60 Well, you know
that great beast Of a dog OF Jarman's2 ?
Il was running lOOse-I saw IL myself;
indeed. I saw the whole thing. She was
tr0tting along. thinking of nothing at
al, ] suppose The dog started rab-
biz and came by her with a bound. The
horse started. jumped half his own
height-or IL looked like it-and She
came of, you knOw-pitched clean out
Of her saddle"
clear Of the-2''
Yes. thank God-but she came down
with an awful-an awful thud- I ran
up as quick as could She was uncOn-
sci0us A couple Of lab0rers helped me
4
and on nay way here I stopped at Gar
diners and sent him there, and came
OF 10 tell you"
BY now they were getting into the
dOgcart-
DO you know at all how bad it is?'
asked GrantIey.
Not the least. How should u"
We'll we must get home as quick as
We can"
Grantley did not speak again the
whole way. His mind had been full Of
plans that morning His position as a
man Of land at AIiudean was opening
new prospects 20 him He had agreed
20 come forward for election as a cOun-
y Alderman, he had been sounded as
70 cCntesung the seat for the division.
He had been very full Of these notions
and had meant 10 spend two or three
quiet days in reviewing and considering 2
them This sudden shock was hard 10
face and realize. IT was difficult. too,
10 conceive Of anything being wrong
with bylla-always so fine an embOdi-
ment Of physical health and vigOr. He
felt very helpless and in terrible dis
rress- IT turned him sick TO think Of
the awful Chud' that Jeremy de-
scribed- What would that mean2 What
was the least IL might, the most it
could, mean2
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20
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As of the objects the Sunday Call develop
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last page address EDITOR THE CALL.
SAN FRANCISCO. CAL.
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20

that Only it's IA little unfortunate
that you should have happened on me.
because II can't understand being
like that. To me il seems somehow
rather cruel So. knowing you're like
that, I can't believe you when you tell
me that you think OF nothing but your
love for me 1 daresay you think it's
true-I know you wouldn't say II II you
didn't think il true and in a way it's
true But the real, real truth is"
She paused, and for the first time
turned her eyes on him The real
10 do what I ask
What else can it be2" he cried
desperately, utterly puzzled and upset
by her accusation
What else can it be2 An. yes. what
else?' Her voice grew rather more
vehement. I can answer that. What
have I been doing these five months
but learning the answer 70 that2 I'll
tell you It's not that you love ne 50
much. it's that you don't care about
the child
The words brought a suspirion into
his mind.
That old fool Mrs. Mumple has been
talking 70 you? She's been repeating
something I said? Well. expressed it
carelessly. awkwardly, but
What does IL matter what MumDles
has repeated? I knew 1t all before"
MeddIeSOme old IDIOT ne grum Dled
fiercely.
To him there was no reason in IL all
The accusation angered him fierCely
and amazed him even more: he saw
no shadow OF justice in it. He put IL
all down to Sibylla's exaggerated way
Of talking and thinking. He was con-
sciOus of no shortcomings: the accusa-
tiOn infuriated the more for its entire
failure TO convince When two women
put their heads together and begin 70
talk nonsense, there's no end 70 IL.
bring a baby, born or unborn. into the
case, and the last chance OF any limit
TO the nonsense is gone He did not
tell her that (thOugh IL expressed what
he felt) in a general form; he fell back
on the circumstances Of the minute.
My dear Sibylla. you're not 1t 70
discuss things nationally at present
Well say no more now; We shall only
be still more unjust 70 one another II
we do. Only I must be Obeyed-"
Yes. you shall be- Obeyed." she
said. But since it's like that. I think
that. whatever happens now. II won't
have any more children. Grantley."
What"
He was startled out OF the cold com
pOsUre which he had achieved in his
previous speech
She repeated her words in low tired
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20

voice but firmly and cOolly.
7 think I won't have any more
children, you know"
DO you know what you are saying -
"Oh, surely. yesl" she answered. with
a faint smile.
GrantIey walked up and down the
room twice, and then came and stood
by her bed. fixing his eyes on her face
in a long sOmber contemplation The
faint smile persisted on her lips as she
looked up at him But he turned away
without speaking, with a weary shrug
of his shoulders.
III send the nurse to yOu." he said
as he went toward the door
Send MumDleS, please, Grantley."
Mrs. Mumples had done all the harm
she could.
IAN right he replied. Try to
sleep. Goodnight"
He shut the door behind him before
her answer came
On the stairs he met Mrs Mumple.
The fat woman shrank out OF his path.
but he bade her goodnight not IN
kindly, though absently; she needed no
bidding to send her 70 Sibylla's room.
He found Jeremy still in the study,
still wide awake.
"Oh. 60 home to bed, old feIIow." he
exclaimed irritably, but affectiOnately,
too. What good can you do sitting up
here all night?"
Yes, I suppose I may as well go-it's
half-past two. III go out BY the gar
den" He opened the window which
led on TO the lawn The fresh night
air came in That's good" shifted
Jeremy.
GrantIey stepped into the garden
with him and lit a cigarette
But is it all right. Grantleye Is ST.
byIla reasonable now?"
All right? ReasOnable2" GrantIey's
fnnermOst thoughts had been Tar
away.
I mean, will she agree to what you
wish-what we wish?"
Yes, it's all right She's reasonable
now"
His face was stiu just in the light OF
the lamp which stood on a table in the
window. Jeremy saw the paleness OF
his cheekseand the hard set OF his eyes.
There was no sign OF relief in him or
OF anxiety assuaged-
We'll. thank heaven for that much
anyhow" Jeremy sighed
Yes, for that much anyhow Grant
ley agreed. pressing his arm in a
friendly way And now. old boy,
goodnight"
Jeremy left him there in the garden
smoking his cigarette. standing mo-
tionless- His face was in the dark
now, but Jeremy knew the same look
was IN his ewes still It was hard for
the young man, even with the new
impulses and the new sympathies that
were alive and astir within him, 10 fol-
low, or even conjecture. what had been
happening that night Yet as he went
down the hill il was plain even 10 him,
plain enough 20 raise sharp Dang in
him. thar somehow the little child. un-
born or whether IL should yet be born
had brought not union but estrange-
ment to the house. not peace but a
sword.
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20

(C0ntinued - sunday.l