The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-08

from Mrs. Frances Squire Poes Powerful Study Of Family
Relations BaLngtons" Which Published Yesterday
Yesterday.

anguish and then lay huddled up, abso-
eve all know your father was hon
orable, Agnes, - Ferdinand said pres
emily in a voice which he thought was
soothing. His honor hasn't anything
to do with the house,
She caught her breath, but did not
strained emphasis. srTwo thousand dol
lars worthto she said laconically.
After a moment g silence she rose to
a half-sitting, half-kneeling posture, and
continued, sWhy do you think DR.. Nal
thus was willing to pay so much9 You
often have spoken slghtingly Of my ia
Their to me. Since you have found out
that his name is worth something you
should treat it with more respect.
Agnes words struck Ferdinand. He
was conscious that he did think more
highly of DR.. Sidney, and he was vexed
with himself for not having paid a
memory by placing an additional thou
sand or two value upon it. AS he looked
down at his wife he saw that her mood
had changed and that he had lost the
chance of granting her appeal since she
would not renew it. The change in her
hardened him and he drew away from
her. Agnes glanced at him, and then
turned her eyes away as she rose once
more with difficulty to her feet.
Ferdinand, - she said a moment Ia
ter, distinctly, ~ see at last that l de-
serve this. have made mistake that is
now irreparable. Your return from Eng
land was the turning-point In my life
I outraged my reason when l went back
to you. You have taken advantage OF
me, as you have Of everyone else, every
, time you have had me in your power
You were glad when my condition made
me give up my salaried positions. You
against ya til Dr. r. Quinn by selling-my
father 's-and-my mothers house.
ought to have left you when you came
home from England. I loststhat oppor
tunity also! I shall not have many
more to- lose.
She ceased speaking for moment
then wild reck1essness rushed up with
in her. 'Before our betrothal you lee
my mother and me to think you othe!
than you were. Since our marriag'
you have robbed me. If you had not
my mother need not have lost her home
nor would we be at your mercy now. !
She could not look at her husband
E dlGcI Su6 udO SpOhGu, UuG tulh0u
and walked with difficulty, as i
she were freezing, out into the hall
She had, too, the instinct of the freez
ing to thaw herself out with the cold
It seemed to her that her slow hand
never could get the front door open an
let in the air. At last the bolt yielde
and gust of wind brought her back t
life. She stung her blood into actio
and with her blood her shame. Sh
waited moment, then closed the doc
and went back to the library.
n Ferdinand was standing where sh
had left him, with that careful absenc
Of expression in his face which accom-
panied unusual emotion in him.
She approached him and stood look
ing fxedly at him. He did not NOV
nor return her gaze. They stayed 81
without speaking, long enough for
woman who had been entering the var
when Agnes closed the door to come u
the front steps, ring, and be admitted
Neither of them heard her enter tn
; house and she was opening the ibrar
i door, when Ferdinand at last found h
: voice to say, ttBecause you feel it s.
I will do what I think it unwise to do.
} He had been realizing that her ments
state might react disastrously upon h
wife IS physical condition, and he ha
Z made up his mind to say the most gel
erous thing he ever had said to her.
He was interrupted at this point b
the unceremonious opening Of the doc
, and some infamed thing seemed pr
' iected into the room. He saw the VIM
! Redeemed face Of Beatricesr
She pulled off her huge gloves an
! flung off the furs in which she was e.
veloped, as though she were fingir
away all restraint with them, and h
9 bold beauty took on insolence as 81
turned towards Ferdinand and began
r speak. ,., y,
/ says your papers aren It signed yet,
I've come down her to strike a bett
8 bargain with. you. Aunt Kate. new
| would let me buy the house, but que
f you will if I pay enough. I understar
! you are telling around that you a
j. selling the house for your mother-i
/. law IS sake. Now, then, I IL pay you
0 much as you want to ask on tho
terms. If you refuse, you prove you
d self a lying scoundrel."
e She held her checkbook in her hal
! and was looking over the table for
j. pen. AS she picked up one she glanc.