The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1905-09-29

had lured him for a time, and she
was fast becoming that saddest of all
sad women-a neglected wife!"
1T was rough treatment" OBJ
served, as Rex paused.
Every time | called" he went on
speaking more rapidly, Il saw her get
ting paler and thinner. Not that she
ever complained-she was too loyal.
too proud for that. But I read the
truth from her eyes, and noticed that
he was rarely with her. Day after day
he would retire to his study, giving
orders that he was not to be disturbed,
and frequently, l know, his meals
were taken to him there. His ambi-
ton to take a high place in the world
of literature was slowly but surely kill
ing his love for her, and far worse"
his voice dropped to little more than
a whisper-'I saw it was slowly but
surely killing her"
81 suppose it wasn't necessary for
Verne to work like that?" I said, in
terrogatively.
mo, no." Rex replied, quickly.
Verne has large private income and
need never do a stroke. 1t was ambi-
ton, pure and simple, and she was
fading and dropping because Of it.
For weeks l cudgeled my brains.
wondering how I could help her-but
the gulf between them grew steadily
wider and | was powerless to bridge
it. 1t was worse than torture to see
her wasting away, dying-literally dy-
ing by inChes-and | determined to do
something to save her. But what?
That was the question. At last, in
desperation, l decided to write to her,
telling her all that was in my heart.
How | had seen her husbands neglect,
had watched her growing pale and thin,
and how | longed to take her away
from it all. and by my love and de-
votion, bring back the roses to her
cheeks, and happiness to her life. Yes,
Jack, | know it was caddish-I can see
you think so, but II loved her!"
God forbid that should judge you,
old fellow" | said, gently.
Then. in low tone, he continued:
But I've more to tell you, Jack.
The same day that l wrote to her, |
had occasion to write to Verne. A lit
tie business matter-some mining
shares in which we both were inter
ested-and listen! l know you'll
think me a fool. I placed the letters
in their wrong envelOpes!"
Good heavens, old mani" I ex-
claimed, what an awful mistake!"
mistake? Mistake be hanged l
did it Intentionally.
Intentionally" l almost gasped.
But why?"
lips for moment. Then he said,
dryly:
Jack, you've less penetration than
l gave you credit for. Ny dear fellow.
don't you see? My object was to make
Verne jealous! 1t was the only chance
for-for herr"
But wasn't. it rather risky?" l
asked
Rex shook his head slowly.
Il don't think so, old fellow-not
with a man Of Verne's temperament.
Besides, he knew-he must have
known-that she was too true, too
pure, to be false. 1t was not in her
nature. He could see that the letter
was to her as unwelcome as it was
unexpected, and-as l had prayed it
should be-he saw that | alone was
to blame. Yes, Jack"-and there was
a note of triumph in his voice now
my object was achieved. That let
ter opened Vernes eyes to things to
which his ambition had previously
blinded him."
For some moments there was ST.
lence. Rex was gazing absently across
the water at pair of swans, while |
watched bank of white, f1eecy clouds
steal slowly up from the west.
I'm glad you've told me, old fel-
low | said, at last ''IS that alp
VERY nearly Verne came round to
see me that evening, but l needn't
go into details as to what passed be-
tween u.s. He wanted no assurance
from me to prove that his wife was
blameless-she had convinced him of
that The end of it was that l prom
ised to leave the country at once, stay
away for a year, and never write Or
speak to her again. But that's not