Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-30

| "We you've got your remedy handy" he said
amiaby. What wds il you said at Hoboken
last Friday? Something stirrin' about takn out
the oifendin' eye-most Scriptural and improvin'
! I'm your offendin' eye-and all the rest of it,
don't you know. You can pluck me out-eh,
whst? Capital idea, don't you thnk?"
What earth do you mean"
Divorce" said Carlyon briefly. Escape from
| the House of Bondage. Then you can find sympa-
thy of soul with somebody else, and / can go
toto Saratoga with the Honeysuckle. Sweet
name, Honeysucke--eh, what"
Divorce youl" Alethea cried. "You are actu-
ally proposing that should divorce youl"
Thought you'd like it. As you said at Jer-
sey City on the Thursday before last, it's the
Way Out Thought at the time it was deep
sayn', that-very deep. Now / see it was even
deeper than l thought. You're clever woman,
Alethea."
Mrs Carlyon took refuge in her pocket-hand-
kerchief
"T'm very miserable one" she sobbed
whats the good of talking about divorce when
you've broken my heart? What's the good of di
vorce to me? l was $50 f-fond of you-and
thought you were SO d-different-and now"
Carlyon was very nearly melted; but he de-
cded, with considerable wisdom, that the
ment for melting had not yet arrived. He
lected cigarette with unusual care, and tried not
to hear his wife's sobs.
"Awfully sorry to upset you," he said at last
politely. Didn't know you had any personal
objection to divorce. Thought it was the thing
you longed for-the one bright spot in the dis
NAL prospect of marriage, so to speak"
"But that's not enough to divorce u.s." Alethea
walled, emerging damply from her handkerchief.
"You haven't been cruel"
"Cruetys soon arranged" Carlyon returned, in
his most oblging tone. Sorry TOTO hurt you,
of course, but as the present most iniquitous
law stands-as you said on Saturday at Hartford
it becomes degrading necessity. Where's the
poker" He made step towards the hearth,
and paused near the bell. Like to get it over
at once, wouldn't you, Ally? We'd better have
witness-it makes things simpler in court. III
just ring for Smithers-or would you prefer one
of the other men? Smithers has been with us
so long-hes more one of the family, so to speak.
But have it your own way, of course; it doesn't
matter to me-
He approached the bell, and cast reflective
glance upon the poker, though weighing its
advantages a way of escape from the holy
estate which Mrs. Carlyon had once so graphi-
cay described "The House of Bondage" The
apostle of domestic liberty followed the direction
of his glance and shried.
Reggie! You must be quite mad! Oh, for
goodness sake, DON'T"
"It's necessary, darlingl Well, shall ring for
Smithers?"
Mrs Carlyon sank into chair
Reggie do listen to me for minute. Of
course, I'm awfully upset. don't know if can
ever get over it. But thought | could-if we
could patch up things"
Carlyon shook his head, and edged nearer to
the poker.
"Never compromise, my pet, you said at
New Haven two Tuesdays before last, at forty
two minutes length-doors open $50, admission
by ticket only-never compromised The woman
who for the sake of base convention or social ad-
vantages, bears with the crimes of faithess
husband strikes a blow at the most sacred privi.
leges of her sex. l should feel pretty sick if
thought that anything did or any consideration
for me had induced you to strike a blow at the
most sacred privileges of your sex-I should real
ly It would weigh on my mind and keep me
awake at nights, don't you know, and make me
peevish with the Honeysuckle, No, we won't
compromise Eli, what-what's the matter with
you?"
"Oh, Reggie, must we-are you sure we must
have divorce?"