Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20
- >The eIsmpeqRfee.

and have tea with those Harris children mex
door"
What's the matter with the Harris chdrenH 2
demanded her husband, busying himself with hi
tie. Haven't got any infectious disease, have
they"
"Of course not. But hardly care to have
our child running about with Mr.. Harris little
eirsl"
What's the matter with Harris"
oh well, il you can't see"
Harris is quite a good chap. They think a
lot Of him up at the office. ] like Harris"
"Oh, no Doubt"
Sid stared at the angry annoyance in bis
wiies tone and eyes as she turned to face him.
You like all these peopls You're quite hap.
! py as long as you have Mr.. Harris to talk to,
and little rubbish-heap of a garden to root
about nl"
In her rising temper, it seemed to her that her
! husband, meeting her gaze, represented not the
love Of her grlhood, but its unhappiness. He
represented the cause Of exile from her own peo.
pie; the daily friction of uneongenial surround.
ings, aggravated by the gnawing never.ceasine
ache Of home-sickness for the rambling old hall
at the foot of the purple mountains she loved
lie mad hole in his sock, too, which she had
forgotten to mend, and at the sight of this her
anger towards him turned to white heat. She
turned her eyes away from him. they fell on the
"splash-back" above the washing-stand worked
by Sid's sister; upon the hideous toilet.cover
they were obliged to use always, lest Sid's mother
should feel 'hurt"
Sid's wife, feeling today that any prison.cell
we're preferable to this gayly.papered, sunny lit.
tie room, allowed all that she felt to become
visible in her flushed face
But without looking at her, her husband quiet
ly finished dressing.
II don't feel he remarked in a slow, steady
voice which had only trace of Cockney accent,
IN % sol e..
being superior to Harris. Certainly, I'm not
And I think it's mistake to be different from
the people you've got to live among
"D'you mean," she flashed at him, eager to
spur him to show some recommendation mean
you're sorry you married me?"
This at least, he must contradict hotly, or take
up a challenge.
Don't be silly" was his only answer. The
calmness of it maddened her.
For I'm sorry!' she burst out in little rapid
gasps. You don't believe me, but AMI am
/ am! ] thought at first shouldn't mind hav.
ing quarreled with father-I thought shouldn't
mind never going home again; but Oh, do! l
hate being here in this horrid little house! l
hate being with you. You've cut me off from
everything | ever cared for, or was accus.
toned to- You've spoilt my whole life" She
stamped her foot as Enid had done upon the
landing. Il hate you'll hate you! 1 wish I'd
died before ! met you-there!"
Sid looked at her silently, took up his boots
and went downstairs.
Painting and flushed, his wife stood while the
tears of rage died on her cheeks. Then she few
across the landing to the visitors room door
Winnie, Winnie! Will you please pour out
the coffee? l had a very bad night, and I'm not
coming down to breakfast"
Winnie Meredith, well accustomed 10 the
storm signals of her family, called out cheerfully,
"All right!' and ran down to attend to her
cousin -by-marrage. She would have chatted
with him of seeds and cuttines-he made hob.
by of his garden, just Robinson did at Belve.
dere and Harris at Cranbrook--but today Sid
was hopelessy taciturn, saying nothing beyond
"Good-morning' and where's Enid -
The child stole in very late, swollen and botch.
ed with crying, and then the silence was broken
only by the crunching of toast. Winnie Mere
dith found it in her heart to forgive the Fates
which had decreed to keep her single At last