The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-06-09

her husband was at home. She hes
itated an instant at the door, and
then went boldly in.
Jack stood with his back against
the fire, his eyes fixed upon her-but
not her Jack. The sternness had
gone from his eyes, but no smile was
on his lips. Over his face was an ex-
preston of whitening contempt.
"You have enjoyed your evening,
madam" he said; "ycu had for it the
relish of your falsehood this morn
ing.
oh, how wrong she had been! She
was tempted to crawl up to him,
and creep into his arms and beg him
to forgive her, but she remembered
Mrs. Armstrong; advice.
EYES," she said. 81 had a charming
evening; but l am quite sleepy now.
Goodnight 1 am going to bed now."
"Why did you disobey me, May?"
he demanded.
Because l do not propose to be
slave to your caprice-because have
had my own way all my life, and l
intend to. have it."
"And I say you shall not have it!
Choose between Mrs. Armstrong and
me-between your unworthy friend
and your husband-between your own
will and our future happiness-on this
instant, choose!"
81 have made my choice; ! abide
by it. When you are more reasonable
I will listen further. Now, good
night"
He made her no answer. She lin
gered a moment at the head of the
stairs, hoping he would speak again,
but all was SILENT
In the early morning servansI
brought her note. 1t was from her
husband, and ran thus:
cat nine o'clock I shall sail for
abroad, to be absent three months.
During that time my lawyer will con-
suit you in regard to our separation,
and make it as easy as possible. l
have known for long time that our
tastes were Numerically opposed,
that all my sweet hopes of home were
wrecked; but not that you could defy
and outrage the love which SO freely
gave you. Do not think me harsh in
leaving you without goodbye, but
I thought it would be less painful to
both"
With tear-blinded eyes she glanced
up at the clock. 1t was just eight.
She had one hour in which to act. 1t
was but the work of ten minutes to
order the carriage, make a hasty
toilet, swallow a cup of coffee, then
issue her commands to the coachman
to drive at any speed, but reach the
pier before the clock struck nine.
1t was ten minutes past the hour
when the pier was reached, and al
ready far out in the bay stood the
gallant ship.
With a loud cry of agony May real
lied the whole, then the strain re-
Taxed. and the fair young head fell
back upon its silksn cushions in a
dead faint.
"a lady tainted" was the cry which
reached a gentleman giving some d.
rections about the baggage which he
QdQ COuuLeTmduuSu ucluS put uPoA
the vessel which had just set sail.
He turned quickly. There stood
his own carriage, and within it the
lovely face of his unconscious wife.
It was the work of an instant to
spring beside her and lift it on his
breast, trying to revive her with his
passionate kisses. At last the beau
tiful eyes opened with a wild, incred-
ulous recognition.
"Oh, I am dreaming" she MUIR
INJURED. "Jack, Jack! don't leave
mel"
mo, darling-no! At the last mo-
ment my heart relented. thought
perhaps / had misjudged you, or that
l had been too severe, and l ordered
my baggage to be taken off the steam
er, and let it sail without me. My
wife, thought you did not love me
that you had chosen the world, be-
cause, my darling no true woman
finds it hard to yield to the man she
can respect and love; and surely,
May, you do not find me tyrant."
But she can only sob out her plea
for forgiveness plea all toe easy
to grant; and even tears are sweet
when kissed away by loves lips
New York News.