The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-22
THE STRENGTH
 OF ONE WOMAN
BY MRS. FRANK MORRIS.

(CopyriGnts 1SVss pg OAtAS Stohs z SS.
 Col
 T wish you would not go out tonight Leslie"
 "Do your"
 The woman's eyes hardened as she gazed at the fatuous smile on her hus- bands full red lips. as he leaned his head against the back of his chair and, kiancinE at her through narrowed eye lids. spoke laughingly:
 You are always wishing something Helen; you wish I were not under Mowbray's influence; you wish that were a quiet. domesticated animal in- stead of-whAt I ann"
 T wish you could see that Colonel Mowbray iB no friend of yours" the woman said impetuously. Then she stopped. shut her lips closely and piled her knitting more quickly. The little white sock twiried in her fingers. stab he'd again and again by the glistening ! needles. Was 1t a tear that glistened there7 Colonel Mowbray wondered as he entered the little drawing-room Not a tear he decided. as the wom- ans eyes met his for a moment. as she touched his fingers.
 Tt was a tear." Colonel Mowbray de- cidsd as he felt how icy cold the wom- ans fingers were. You should have q fire" he said abruptly. 'sthese autumn evenings are
 T am not cold. thank you" My word. no! Anger keeps you warm. You should have heard her, Mowbray. a moment ago. raging be- cause am going to deprive her of my company. She would like to keep me l tied to her apron strings. if would only let her. She would like me to sit in an arm chair and rock the cradle, while she sews the baby's frock. Love makea women selfish. Mowbray; don't you be fool enough to slip your head into a moose. Take warning by me- Leslie rose as he spoke and sumter | Ing across to his wife. stopped down aud lightly kissed her hair. Now don't quarrel whilst l leave you for a few moments" he said with a mocking glance at his friend. The door closed after hing, the clock ticked loudly and the knitting kneedIes l clicked softly, yet unsteadily. as the woman bent over her work.
 "The idioti the idiotr whispered Mowbray. "Childl tell me. do you think woud ever leave you if were | in your husbands placer Traitor! Judas! you would betray my poor husband with kiss-on my iips-- He, poor boy, is a trusting fool; he is stupid. but he is not a--cad." How YOU hate ma!' "I'---the woman Easped. and then closed her lips firmly. You are ruining my child's fatner, | she said at last.
 Come. Mowbray! the cabs waiting. | Ta ta! dear. shan't be late, but you n eed not sit up for me" ''she will, though" laughed Leslie. as he ran down the Stairs after his friend. T told you she would" Leslie nut tered three hours later. as he leaned -k. Anfo | his wife out of half-shut eyes that shone Geverishly.
 "The least you can do Is to go," said the woman as she turned proudly to Colonel Mowbray. And leave you alone with-thatT with my husband. whom you are doing your best to ruin" interrupted the woman, as she turned towards the father of her child, and laid her hand | on hts arm.
 Como upstairs, Leslie, come dearF'
 she said very gently. His reply was to lurch forward and | throw out his arm to shake on her hand. Colonel Mowbray had rushed | forward, but the woman fell against the chair, in which she had been sitting and from there to the ground, where she lay like a flower broken at the
 stem.
 l Leslie, stupid and dazed. did not seem
 to notice what he had done to his wife.
 but lurching from the room he stufn- bled upstairs to their bedroom and closed the door behind him. Colonel Mowbray lifted the woman | in his arms and laid her on couch. He | sprlnkled her face with water from one
 of the flower vases and presently her
 eyes opened.
 | Darling" she whispered. T must go and fetch a doctor. and call your maid" he said. slowly and | distinctly.
 Not yet-raise me up." Colonel Mowbray slipped his arm be- meath her head, and with a sigh of | content she raised her eyes to his. ''YOu love me?' she said faintly.
 You know I do. I have told you SC often enough"
 You may not have meant it! have told you that I hated you--often l enough"
 l T meant what said.'' he replied.
 "And-I did not" the woman sighed
 faintly.
 Colonel Mowbray bent his head over her face, but there was no kiss of be-
 trayal to the father of her child given
 to her.