Middletown transcript., 1906-01-20


l wife looked at him she was white,
was going away, she said bitterly.
you think Tor minute that | wonld
under your roef another hour after
nsults--"
nsults!n he cried sharply.
insults, !" she repeated caImly-"after
insults you have heaped on me this
1t? No, sir Was going away
ded to 90 this afternoon. Yon are
earable. won't live with yod day
,er Thenk heaven. have my own
new and am Independent Good-by. "
nose and started toward -
lked toward her, Al ll6r-
,,is throat a. id so. But
She was pausing
: sdFS'hs lpsrhaps-God !-psr,
haps-
@This ring" she said. coming toward
him again, '.and this and this, she was
pulling them from her slender fingers as
she spoke-'sand this-and tiis--you
gave them all to me- don't want them
,any more. .
nGiye them to the poor" he said,
highly. II don't want them. either. "
lhe laid the little sparkling heap upon
Il table.
sI'm going abroad" she said, without
looking at him. Pm going TO live there.
Good-by."
She went toward the door again. LIS
heart stood still once when she seemed to
faIter !; but she went on, opened the door,
passed through, and it closed behind her.
He found his voice that instant.
''Come back, he cried, in curious
strangled call of unlimited pain.
But she was gone.
And lie was alone-alune with the little
pile of rings, the wedding ring, the be-
trothaI solitaire, the birthday sapphire,
she
He went and locked tile door quickly.
And then he came back and sank down
by the table and hid his face in his crossed
arms, and his broad shoulders trembled
as if-as il
A month later, Isabelle had made good
her word. She had gone back TO Ger
many, taken an apartment in Hildesheim,
secured lady companion to protect her
rather girlish gaze and ways, and settled
down for the spring and summer. The
change from Harry to Hildesheim was
somewhat bewiIdering and at times almost
took her breath away, but on the whole
she felt positive that il was relief. and
she loved German people aud adored
afternoon coffee and evening bread. so
SHE got on nicely. She had friends in
Hildesheim, young married women who
had been her schoolmates in Hanover six
years before, and they all took time to be
nice to her, although their condolences
over her situation were 80 sincere as TO be
absolutely trying. Isabelle had become
thorough cynic, but her thorough
eynicism stopped short of trying to make
a German wife and mother understand
an American grass-widow. Lini, who
had been her dearest friend in tile pension
days, was the proud possessor OF four
babies and of husband whose cards bore
the glorious inscription:
"Freiherr Emmo Grooming"
s.0berstleutnant 2. d.
So Lini was Frau Baroniil now.
"But what does e. D. mean p isabelle
asked, when they sat alone in the glass
reception-room that overlooked the Se-
danstrasse.
"It means 'zur Disposition, said Lini
passing the cakes.
'tAnd What does znr Disposition
mean? ?'' Isabelle demanded, taking one
of the puff -paste tarts.
"It means that he is in the military
service; a. D. means 'ausser Dienst,
and means that ali officer has withdrawn
from the army for some reason"
Isabelle Iaugue1 Il am Frau a.
D., she exclsianed merriIy "What a
joke p
But Lini did not see the iake-her eyes
were misty.
Perhaps it viii all come right" she
murmured.
"But l don't Want it to come right, !"
the caller protested.
You have no idea how horrid lie vas.
He was SO jealous that couldn't have a
peaceful minute, and when men came to
call-well, you ought to have heard him
swear"
''It Is SO rad that 500 have no chill
dren,'' said Lini regretiuIl,s San would
have been well then. Children are the
best"
"I'm glad that I have none said Isa-
belle decidedly. "What sIlunld have
done with children under The circum.
stances? It's dispensation II Proyi.
dence that have none"
Lini sighed heavily. Isabelle as in.
comprehensive.
''I'll tell you what would rather have
than any number OF children" :" isabelle
continued, after a minutes silenSe-''s
horse, good saddle-horse DO yoq sup
pase that could get one IN fiiidesheim7'
81 do not know" said Lini. "Ther,
are many that ride, but they all ride thei
own horses. / must ask my husband
81 should want very good horse,
said Isabelle honghtfuily-.'one that cal
gallop miles. want 10 ride every day
"But whom win you ride with? Lin
asked, pouring ont more coffee.
"I'lI ride alone
The young Frau Baronin was quit
startled.
"Alonel But you cannot"
ssWhy not m
.'But no lady does it here. One mus
ride with ones husband. Achi but yol