Middletown transcript., 1907-05-04
TWO LETTERS
rcoNr,Nurn rRoa LAST wrEK1
BY ELIZABETH ROBBINS

came, d vision OF anxious lowell
ness, and bending down kissed
him. Then she Strengthened up
and stood for an instant looking
down at him, her soft, cool hand
resting lightly on his hot fore
head, her under lip caught be-
tween her teeth to keep it from
trembling. Lyman felt the weak
tears rise to his eyes, and could
not control his voice to say any
thing.
Then she left him, and he tor
tured himself by thinking she
had been merely a creature OF
delirium, till she reappeared.
She had changed her travelling
dress for one more suited to a
sick-chamber, and she fitted
about the room like quiet little
butterfly, with a magical touch
that left unwonted and beautiful
order behind. His eyes followed
her, in a supreme content that
made him forget the ills OF flesh,
till he dropped asleep.
After this he was delirious, but
through it all the knowledge that
she was there made the suffering
and the crazy fancies endurable.
When he had passed the crisis
of his malady and began to con-
valesce, ah! how sweet it was to
see her moving about the room,
to hear her voice, to have her
wait on him.
Apparently she no longer cher
ished the least ill-will toward
him. He assured himself that
their love for each other was as
strong-on his part stronger
than it had ever been. He ex-
ulted over it, and over her return
to him. Was not the last tacit
acknowledgment that she had
heeu the one at fault?
He forgot that he had been
slightly in the wrong, and his
mind returned to its former atti-
tude. Unconsciously he assumed
the old manner, and the old feel
ing that she must submit to him
went with it. The very fact that
she did submit, and did it pleas
antly and as if it were q matter
of course, seemed proof that she,
too, recognized that this was the
position they should hold toward
each other. How smoothly
everything went now!-no quar-
reling, no jarring even.
It filed him with exultant pride
that he could so bend her to his
will. AS he grew stronger he
delighted so in this power that ne
often exercised it arbitrarily, for
the mere pleasure of seeing her
give pher own plans and wishes
for his.
At the same time he was most
lover-like, and fretted if she was
out of his sight.
What makes you so thoughtful!
he said one day. Is something
worrying your
Would You care if there were'
she asked smiling.
Don't l love you? he demanded
in answer.
You think you do.
Now what do you mean by
that.
If you really cared for me you
would want me to be happy.
Well, don't / want you to be
happy, I'd like to know.
Not unless ] can be happy in
your way.
My way is better-invariably.
But don't you see, Lyman, that
there can be no true marriage
without mutual concession?- that
each must want to please the
other?
I see, my angel, that you are
charming to-day, and that you
please me perfectly.
She made one more effort. 1t
is not right or just that one
should have always to submit
Now Laura, you are going di,
rectly contrary to Bible teaching.
st. Paul says expressly that one
should submit-and that one the
wife.
He laughed at her bafied look
and drew her down to the arm of
his chair.
But, Lyman, I feel very
strongly on this subject
Feel as strongly as you please,
my dear, only keep it inside.
The subject doesn't interest me.
There was a hint of irritability in
his tone.
She left him abruptly, though
he tried to detain her, and went
and stood by the window, her
back toward him.