The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-11-11

do your!
The womans ewes hardened as she gazed at
the fatuous smile on her husbands full red lips
as he leaned his head against the back OF his
chair, and glancing at her through narrowed
eyeids, spoke laughingly:
"You are always wishing something, Helen;
you wish were not under Mowbrays influence;
you wish ] were quiet, domesticated animal
instead of-what | ann
Il wish you could see that Colonel Mowbray
is no friend of yours the woman sald mpetu-
ously Then she stopped, shut her lips closely
and piled her knitting more quickly. The little
white sock twired in her fingers, stabbed again
and again by the glistening needles. Was it
tear that glistened there? Colonel Nlowbray
wondered as he entered the little drawing-room.
Not a tear, he decided, as the woman's eyes
met his for moment, as she touched his I'm
gers.
1T was tear" Colonel Mowbray decided,
as he felt how icy cold the woman's fingers
were
you should have fire." he said, abruptly,
"these autumn evenings are chilly"
81 am not cold, thank you
"My word, MOI Anger keeps you warm.
You should have heard her, Mowbray, mo-
ment ago, raging because | am going to de-
prive her of my company. She would like to
keep me tied to her apron strings, if | would
only let her. She would like me to sit in an
armchair and rock the cradle while she sews the
baby's frock Love makes women selfish, Now
bray don't you be fool enough to slip your head
into moose. Take warning by me-
Leslie rose as he spoke, and saunterng
across to his wife, stopped down and lightly
kissed her hair.
"Now, don't quarrel while | leave you for a
few moments" he said, with a knocking glance
at his friend
The door closed after him, the clock licked
loudly and the knitting needles clicked softly,
yet unsteadily, as the woman bent over her
work
"The IDIOT the IDIOT" whispered Mowbray.
"Child tell me- do you think | would ever leave
YOU if | were in YOUR husbands place.
"Trator! Judas! You would betray my poor
husband with kiss-on my lips. He, poor
boy, is trusting FOOL he is stupid, but he is not
a-cad."
How you hate mer'
"T'-the woman gasped and then closed her
lips firmly
you are running my childs father" she said
at last
Come, Mowbray-the cabs waiting. Ia!
ia! dear shan't be late, but you need not sit
tip for me-"
"She will, though" laughed Leslie, as he ran
down the stairs after his friend.
Il told you she would Leslie muttered three
hours later, he leaned against the mantel
shelf and regarded his wife out of haf-shut eyes
that shone feverishy.
"The least you can do is to co. said the
woman, as she turned proudly to Colonel Now
bray.
"And leave you alone wtll-that?"
with my husband, whom you are doing
your best to ruin" interrupted the woman as
she turned toward the father of her child, and
laid her hand on his arm.
Come upstairs, Leslie; come dear!' she said
very gently.
His reply was to urch forward and throw out
his arm to throw off her hand Colonel Now
bray 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 flower broken at the stem.
Leslie, stupid and dazed, did not seem to no.
tce what he had done to his wife, but urchng
from the room, he stumbled upstairs to their
bedroom and closed the door behind him.
Colonel Mowbray lifted the woman in his
arms and laid her on couch. He sprinkled
sher face with water from one of the flower vases
and presently her eyes opened.
'Darling," she whispered.
'I must go and fetch doctor, and call your
maid" he said, slowly and distinctly.
Not yct-raise me up
Colonel Mowbray slipped his arm beneath
her eyes to his.
you love me-" she said family.
"You know I do. I have told you SO often
enough"
You may not have meant it! I have told
you that I hated you-often enough"
Il meant what | said" he replied.
"And--I did not" the woman sighed family.
Colonel Mowbray bent his head over her face,
but there was no kiss of betrayal to the father
of her child given to her.
God! and I did not know he half sobbed.
"You would not now, if this had not hap
pened. Listen, | am stupid can only feel
glad to be near you. But you-you must never
let anyone guess that the father of my child
caused the death OF his chds mother"
mo one shall, child. I promise. I will
think for YOU Anything else-te me quickly
before
Colonel Mowbray's voice broke; he could
not speak again, for the head on his arm press