Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1905-04-06
with constant scenes. 1t will be wiser

to part"
He tried to draw her to him; she
held away.
Il will not let you go!" he said;
you are mine-my wife-I love you.
If have seemed Indifferent, tit has
been only this-a man expects his
wife to know he loves her, not to
need telling day after day; that is a
lovers business. Mary, if we have
made mistakes surely we can put
them right; if we have disappointed
one another-and you, must confess,
have disappointed me-can't we begin
all over again, wipe out the last six
months?"
Her face softened for a minute:
now once more it hardened. So she
had disappointed him-she who had
done everything she could to make
him happy-while he
Il have no wish to begin again."
she answered. 1--WE have tried to be
happy, suppose; we have been miser-
able. l, you say, have disappointed
you; you have disappointed me. l
would rather not talk any more.
will tell the servants am going on
journey. l don't want to make things
disagreeable for you. And l shall go
today"
He dropped her hands; he looked
at her for a moment-at her white,
set face, her eyes that did not soften
in the least as his glance met her.
Then proud, boyish rage entered
his heart. If she could go, if she
could leave him, then, indeed, she did
not. never had. loved him.
You will please yourself, of
course he answered, "but whether
you remain with me or leave me you
are still my wife-you are bound to
me; be good enough not to forget
that"
He scarcely saw his way as he cross.
ed the room and left her-left her
with a great anger in his heart against
her.
"She never loved me-" he said tc
himself, never, never; let her go!''
He found his way to his study, sat
down, staring blankly before him fol
while, and scattering his papers
heedlessly on the floor. Then his
head dropped upon his hands, and his
eyes were wet.
AS the doors closed after him Mary
trembled. So he had accepted the
situation! Then, indeed, he did moi
love her. She had expected pleading
nrostrations; she had meant to for
give him; she had thought, indeed
they might begin again.
He never loved me-" she said tt
herself Il did not mean to leave him
l shall go now; I owe it to my prid.
to go now
She dragged her steps to her room
| she must put her things together
Where she should go she did not know
and did it matter? If she was no
with him she did not care where sh'
was. There were plenty of hotels, bu
how lonely she would be!
She opened her wardrobe and flunl
dress after dress upon the floor. Sh'
must take something with her;
didn't matter what. Wherever sh
was he would not be there to see hez
The light was growing gray outside
the room seemed cold. She wondere,
what he was doing. He had not gon
from the house; he was waiting to Sc
: her off, perhaps wondering why sh
was so long. Could she have locke
at him then she would have seen hir
sitting with miniature in his hant
looking at the pretty face with teal
dimmed eyes would have heard hi
words, "My little wife!''-seen him lii
it to his lips.
She had taken cut all the dresse
now. There was still something q
the back Of the wardrobe-somethir
soft. She took it down, drew it ou
and a swift rush of color swept he
, face.
in her hands she held an old velve
, smoking coat; but the sight of
brought back food of memories. Sh
. remembered so well he had strolle
> over to her fathers house wearing il
( he had found her in the conservator
: tending the plants; he had told h,
: then that he loved her. had taken h.
: for the first time in his arms, kisse
d her, gained her promise that 81
r would be his wife.