Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-09-13

dress, WaltlnS the ADVENT OF the DeduIl-
full girl, who, all unconsciously to them
both, was steering her frail vessel on
the quicksands Of married misery.
4 year passed, and Mr.. and Mrs. Har-
grave were still in the gay vortex of
fashionable life, but to the mans spirit
it had grown unutterably wearisome
1t was no uncommon thing for Jack
to spend his evenings with his books and
thoughts, While his young wife went out
alone.
May, | wish you would give Mrs.
Armstrong up he said to her one even
ing as they sat at dinner.
But. Jack, | have already accepted
an invitation to a dinner party there for
| Thursday evening.
Then write and decline. | do not
ask for this without good cause, little
girl; but things have recently come to
my hearing regarding this lady, and |
do not wish my wife's name coupled
with hers"
May answered nothing more, but in
her own heart her decision was unal-
tered OF course she should go. She
had been married more than a year now,
and so far had always had her own
sweet will and way.
This time the latter was unexpectedly
made easy to her, for as Jack kissed her
| goodbye on Thursday morning he said
30 her:
Il shan't be home to dinner tonight,
May. You had better dine at mothers.
| By the way, this is Mrs. Armstrong;
| night. You have sent that regret?'
The first fear she had ever felt of
! Jack crept into her heart at a new,
drew her first falsehood to him from
her lips.
Yes" she answered.
He stopped and kissed her more ten
derby.
I'll make it up to you yet, darling
Believe me, did not ask it without i
good cause"
She stood quite still after he had left
her. She was half tempted yet TO obey
him. but-pshaw, What nonsense it
was.
So, at Z o'clock, the coupe stood at
her door, and in a bewitching dinner
dress, she was driven to the house her
husband had forbidden her to enter.
1t was 10 o'clock when she returned
home.
A light in the library showed her that
her husband was at home. She hest
tated an instant at the door, and then
went boldly in.
Jack stood with his back against the
fire, his eyes fixed upon her-but not
her Jack. The sternness had gone from
his eyes, but no smile was on his lips.
Over his face was an expression of with
ering contempt.
You have enjoyed your evening, mad
amp he said; you had for it the relish
Of your falsehood this morning.
Oh, how wrong she had beeni She
was tempted to crawl up to him and
creep into his arms and beg him to for
give her, but she remembered Mrs. Arm
strong's advice.
YES she said. 81 had a charming
evening"; but [ am quite sleepy now;
Good night! [ am going to bed now.
why did you disobey me, Mary!' he
demanded.
Because I do not propose to be a
slave to your caprice-because | have
had my own way all my life, and 1 in
tend to have il"
''And | say you shall not have it.
Choose between Mrs. Armstrong and me
between your unworthy friend and
| your husband-between your own will
and your future happiness-on this IN
slant, chooser'
Il have made my choice; abide by it;
When you are more reasonable | Will
| listen further. Now, goodnight"
He made her no answer. She fingered
moment at the head of the stairs, hop
ing he would speak again, but all was
| silent.
In the early morning servant brought
her a note. 1t was from her husband,
and ran thus:
AT 8 o'clock I shall sail for abroad, to
be absent three months. During that
| time my lawyer will consult you in re-
gard to our separation and make it as
easy as possible. | have known for
| long time that our tastes were dame
| trically opposed, that all my sweet hopes
| of home were wrecked; but not that you
could defy and outrage the love which
| SO freely gave you. Do not think me
harsh in leaving you without good-by,
but | thought it would be less painful
| to BOTH
With tear-blinded eyes she glanced up
at the clock. 1t was just s. She had
one hour in which to act It was but
the work of ten minutes to order the
carriage, make a hasty toilet, swallow a
cup Of coffee, then issue her commands
to the coachman to drive at any speed,
but reach the pier before the clock
struck 9.
1t was ten minutes past the hour when
the pier was reached and already far
out in the bay stood the gallant ship.
With loud cry OF agony May realized