Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-30

Carlyon had almost reached the poker He
looked up, in wellacted surprise
"Eh? Why you can't possibly overlook that
letter."
Mrs. Carlyon examined the lace edges of her
handkerchief.
IF thought it was my-my duty" she said,
in small voice.
"Oh, but YOU couldn't possibly think that. It's
your duty to raise the standard of revolt--to
pluck out the offender and all the rest of IL,
don't you know. As you said at Albany last
Wednesday fortnight, the day of forgiveness is
over, the day of stern justice has come. The
sinner must be punished not forgiven Well,
you say I'm the sinner. Go ahead and punish
me- Show me up. Drag my name into all the
papers. Do the family washing in public. Make
an example of me, and drive me into the arms of
Honeysuckle. That's your duty-eh, what?
Don't you think so?"
Mrs Carlyon was still examining her handker.
chief.
Il -Reggie-you-you won't marry that
thatshorrid thing?"
MARRY her? OF course-what else do YOU ex.
pect? She'll be the second Mrs Carlyon, right
enough. Honeysuckle Carlyon-a sweet name
don't you think so?"
Mrs. Carlyon sprang from the chair. She for
got the poker-and everything else She went
up to Carlyon and caught hold of him--desperate
y, as though she were drowning-and looked up
at him with a white face and streaming eyes,
"Reggie-forgive me-oh, do, do forgive mel
1t was my fault see it was all my fault. l was
horrd to you'll didn't try to be nice to you--I
didn't try to keep you. And the Honeysuckle
creature got hold of you-and you weren't to
blame one bit. Oh, Reggie, I'm a wretch--a
wretch l don't deserve to be forgiven. But I
won't divorce you-you can do anything you like
where's the poker?-you kill me if you like,
in front of Smthers-or anybody. 1 won't have
divorce-nothing shall make mel"
She was sobbing convulsvely now-but some
how her head was on Carlyon's shoulder and his
arms were around her-rather tightly-and he
made no effort to get at the poker. He said moth
ing until she grew quieter, and when he spoke his
voice sounded rather choked and queer
"And you ask me to forgive you-in spite Of
that letter?'
Il don't care about the letter-or forty letters
can't go on without you, no matter what you've
done"
Carlyon smiled over the top of her quiverins
head.
What immoral decision! I say, Ally
don't cry like that The letter was all rot-a silly
hoax of Jacks / told him / was bit sick Of
the League of Freedom--but didn't know he
was going to go far this, and when you
brought me the thing with that tragedy face
couldn't for the life of me help playing up to it,
You will forgive me, won't you?"
Mrs. Carlyon lifted her head from his shoulder
Wonder and reef-and twinkle of amusement
-shone, with the tears, in her eyes.
'Oh, Reggie-and there wasn't any Honey.
suckle?"
"There wasn't-and there won't be-ever."
Nor any trip to Saratoga"
"Of course not-how could there be? I've been
an awful brute to you. l say, what about the
League of Freedom?"
Their eyes met again, and they both began to
laugh. They did not find it easy to leave off
again, when they had begun. And if they
succeeded in mastering their merriment for a
moment, Carlyop looked at the poker, and Ale
thea at the letter the foor-and both relapsed
into condition of helpless mrth.
lou will have to write to the League of Free,
dom and explain that they must choose a new
president Caryon managed to say at last 'I
should say that my eyes were opened to the ad-
vantages of the House of Bondage as a place of
residence-eh, what?"
ooh, Reggie, how could you'll" said Mrs
Carlyon.