The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1907-10-09
CHAPTER XXX.-Contlnued.

she hesltated an instant before goini
on--"Gladys deserves her fate. She
doesn't really care for him She's
only jealous of him. She never die
love him"
How do you know" said | sharp
ly, trying to persuade myself It wal
not an ugly suspicion I'm me thai
lifted its head and shot out that ques
ton.
Because he never loved her" she
replied. The feeling a woman has
for a man or a man for a woman
without any response. isn't love. isn't
worthy the name OF love. It's n sort
OF bafiied covetousness. Love means
generosity, not greedness." Then
why do you not ask me whether
what she said is true?"
The change in her tone with the
last sentence. the strange. ominous
note In IT, startled me.
Because" replied |, "as said to
her, TO ask my wife such n question
would be to insult her II you we're
riding with him. II was an accident "
AS II my rude repulse of her over.
lures and my keeping away from her
ever since would not have justified her
In almost anything.
She flushed the dark red OF shame.
but her gaze held steady and unfiinch.
Ing upon mine. 1T was not altogether
by accident she said And | think
slfe expected me TO kin her
When man admits and respects
aV'a al
self concerned, he either is no longer
Interested in her or has begun to love
her 30 well that he can control the
savage and selfish instincts OF pas
sion. N Mowbray I.angdon had been
there, might have killed them both:
but he was not there. and she, facing
me without fear, was not the woman
TO be suspected OF the stealthy and
traitorous.
1T was he that you meant when
you warned me you cared for another
MANI" said !. so quietly that won
dered at myself wondered what had
become OF the BLACK Matt" who had
used his fists almost as much as his
brains In fighting his way up.
10 'hN S"iu, heI htdu uOWn
now
long pause
You wish TO be free?" asked. and
my tone must have been gentle.
Il wish to free YOU" she replied
slowly and deliberately.
There was long silence Then
] said. Il must think II all out.
once told you how felt about these
matters. I've greatly changed my
mind since our talk that night In the
Willoughby; but my preiudices are
stu with me. Perhaps you will not
be surprised at that--you whose pre-.
judices have cost me so dear"
thought she was going TO speak.
Instead she turned away. so that
could no longer see her face
Our marriage was a miserable
mistake" went on, struggling to be-
1ust and judicial, and to seem calm
Il admit II now. Fortunately. we are
both still young-you very young
Mistakes in youth are never fatal
But, Anita, do not blunder out of one
mistake into another. You are no
longer a child. as you were when
married you You will be careful not
20 let judgments formed OF him long
ago decide you for him as they de
cided you against me"
Il wish to be free" she said, each
word coming with an effort, las much
on your account AZ on my own.
Then. and II seemed To me- merely
truly feminine attempt to shlrk re-
sponsibility. she added. II am glad
my going will ne relief to you"
yes. II will be a relief" con
fessed Our situation has become
intolerable." had reached my limit
OF self-control. | put out my hand
"Good-by." | said.
II she had wept Il might have modi
Ned my conviction that everything
was at an end between us. But she
did not weep. Can you ever forgive
mer' she asked.
Lets not talk OF forgiveness" said
I, and | fear my voice and manner
were gruff, as strove not to break
down Lets try to forget" And
touched her hand and hastened away.
When two human beings set out TO
misunderstood each other. how fast
and far they gol How shut.in we
are from each other, with only halting
means Of communication that break
down under the slightest strain!
AS | was leaving the house next
morning, ! gave Sanders this note foi
her:
Il have gone to live at the Down.
Town hotel. When you have decided
what course TO take. let me know. II
my rights ever had any substance.
they have starved away TO such weak
things that they collapse evta as try
20 set them up. | hope your freedom
Will give you happiness and me
peace"
you are III. sir2" asked my old
servant. my old friend. as he took the
note.
"s'Sy VITA her Sanders as long as