Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-09-19


you" she said. And then quickly, her
eyes flaming, "They actually came
here, three of them, to tell me about
your past"
"They did?' Billy's voice was deadly
quiet And your"
IL said II did not interest me to
know about It; all was concerned with
was your future" Edith answered, her
voice trembling little, although her
eyes were brave.
Billy got up and stretched himself.
THAT settles It," he said. Name the
day, right OF, so l can go order we'd
ding cards"
Edith did name the day, but not until
she had stood out against him week.
She might not have given in even then
but for the ordeal at church. Not only
was she cut right and left-the minister
preached at her-not by name, OF
course, but ia fashion more than un-
mlstakable.
Billy was there, across the aisle,
glum and furious. After service he
half led her out, and walked away
with her. his head high. But even that
did not hurt like the furtlve yet swag-
gering airs of the three men who
called in the. evening. There was fur
Their something of patronage about
them.
Altogether they made Edith hate
them, but not as she hated herself. She
was full of quick kindness and had
not meant hurt or affront to anybody
at least not in the beginning. Duly
she wondered why her townsfolk would
not understand she had come back to
them because her interest lay among
them and had been eager to help in all
good works if only she had been per-
mitted.
But she held up her head and laughed
and TESTED till the latest of her callers
took himself away. Then silently she
held out her hand to Billy. He under
stood and announced an early we'd
ding day
1t was a church wedding, with the
house damned to the last inch After it
the newly married settled back into
their old ways, going pace that kept
them the talk of the town.
They were very gay and desperately
unhappy. Edith could not get away
from sense that Billy had married
her wholly out of chivalry. Billy? Billy
was old enough to know better, but he
was proving the adage that love, which
may make fool a wise man, may like
wise make q wise man fool. He tor
mented himself with the thought that
he had taken advantage of Edith's ex-
tremity She must know he had loved
her from their very first meeting, but
she was shy and proud and high with
him, Notwithstanding she was his duti-
full wife.
He left her much to herself and took
pains to make her know that she was
as free us ever Edith resented the
freedom. Billy ought to understand
that she wanted TO obey him-make
him at least that poor recompense for
his sacrifice.
Thus they ate out their hearts in
cross purposes, cross miscomprehen-
sions, until Ashbel Glare came TO visit
them. Ashbel was reputed a danger
Gus person-tall and slight and hand
some, with deep seeing eyes. a glamour
Of romance hung about him. After the
first day Billy wondered, with catching
breath, if he had been quite wise to
fling a man like Ashbel across Edith's
path.
She was clearly fascinated by him.
They were forever walking about the
big, scrubby garden or along the strip
of lawn in full sight of passersby and
all the while absorbed in talk. Edith
was brighter, too-quite her old, win
some self. Ashbel seemed equally cap
tivated. He reused himself as Billy
had not seen him since they were lads
together.
SO the days went by. mounting into
weeks, at last into month. and Billy
was In torment He had made a grim
and mannerly third for the most part
of the time. Still he was sure the two
had some secret understanding. lie
had made UP his mind to endure TO the
end. There was no danger of dishonor
Dishonor and Edith could not come to-
gether in his mind But when he was
quite sure--if he were quite sure-he
would find n way out Of it, His ia
Their had died of heart disease. There
were ways of ending yourself without
making Il scandal He would make an
end of himself gladly if only that way
lay Edith's happiness.
The first thing was TO make his will.
Ashbel Glare surprised him at 1t. Billy
was glad. He wanted Ashbel to know,
to understand how entirely he had
trusted his wife and his friend. So he
thrust the paper into Clare's hand, say
ing grufiiy:
Read that! You see I've some de-
cent instincts If / am half Il savage"
IL see. Everything, great or small.
to your wife," Ashbel said, then, with
a whimsical, half dreamy smile, "Do
you know that she's the most fascinat
ing creature alive?"
UInct what Sha cauc of vnrr' Ri1Iv