The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-21
A SERIOUS SUBJECT.
BY T. B. DYsART.

BT ". Hs Dh SAnHs
 | tCopyright, 1905, Daily Story Pub. Col
 T would do neither" replied MT Price. Tt would be nonsense to XII either of them, and folly to kill my self" .>:-. -: :-:
 But wouldn't you punish him in any way?" insisted Miss Winter.
 "Oh, yes, I would punish him." re. piled Mir. Price, good-naturedly. - would make him take her and live with her There are some things. you kno" that are worse than death"
 T like that" said Mrs. Prince inter- rupting the conversation between heI husband and their guest. .~>s
 You like what? That kind of pun ishment?" asked Price.
 No; the insinuation that it would be punishment for a man to live with me"
 Well, little one I ought to know. l have lived with you for three years, replied the husband, teasingly.
 But wouldn't you blame your wife? insisted Miss Winter, returning to their former discussion. r. ~.. .%.:
 No, I wouldn't blame her. replied Price. "Of course, I have no objec- tion to my wife being my slave. but ] want 1t to be voluntary slavery. If thought. she was true to me just be- cause she was afraid of me, I wouldn' love her any longer And if l didn't love her I wouldn't care what became of her"
 Then, would you not blame the man?" persisted Miss Winter
 If my wife was like some wives, might; but as 1t Is I could not. couldn't blame any man for falling in love with her. I did. and man should not blame others for doing what he does himself In fact. I don't see how any man could know her without low ing her. And if he loved her as do. I couldn't blame him. no matter what he did"
 Thank you" volunteered Mrs. Price. You must want to go to the club to- night"
 well, would like to go to the club. but that would not cause me to make statement I did not mean, for l know that If my wife thought I really want cd to go she would consent without me brlbing her with nattery. o- o, That is certainly very clever or vou." replied Mrs. Price. sweetly Really. I think you are trying to bribe me now. But. Of course you may go Nellie and I can get along nicely until YOU return Can't we, Nellie?
 Oh, Marie. you make me tired. pouted Miss Winter. T would like to sec the husband that could wihd me | around his finger by giving me sucA ..Inst wait. dear until you have a brshnnd." replied Mrs. Price as she mt her hand playfully within her hus- bands. It will sound different when he says it."
 Although they had been married nearly three years, Mir. and Mrs. Price wrre apparently in their honcymoon' and had such confidence in each other that thev were able to spGlk JestingIy of matters that were really serious. ! ike a true husband, he had never nnne suspected her, and would have nroven himself hero If anyone had i nven suggested that his confidence was o,,erqreat and sustained by blind af- Fection However. ne little Knew how ! Ioon tbis confidence was to be shaken. yWhen he return ed from the club that evening his wife did not meet him at .to dnor as was her custom. The | itghts were turned very low ana the he"ss seemed quite deserted. He was a IittIe surprised at this. but supposed thcre was some good reason for It. and ot first gave it no serious considera- ,Ion However, after searching the | bonSe carefully, and finding no trace nf her. he began to take the matter more seriously. He strolled aimlessly around the lonely rooms for time,