Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-08-29
CHAPTER xxx.-continued.

but energetic bitterness. Besides"
she hssitated an instant before going
on-'Gladys deserves her fate. She
doesn't really care for him. She's
only jealous of him. She never did
love him."
How do you know" said l sharp
ly, trying to persuade myself it vas
not An ugly suspicion in me that
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 mar for a woman,
without any response, isn't love, isn't
worthy the name of love. It's a sort
of bafied covetousness. Love means
generosity, not greediness." 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 l, "as l said to
her, to ask my wife such a question
would be to insult her. II you were
riding with him, it was an accident"
AS IL my rude repulse Of her owe
lures and my keeping away from her
v e since would not have justified her
in almost anything.
She flushed the dark red Of shame,
but her gaze held steady and untiinch,
ing upon mine. 1T was not altogether
by accident" she said. And I think
size expected me to kill her.
When a man admits and respects
q woman's rights where he is him
self concerned, he either is no longer
interested in her or has begun to love
her so well that he can control the
savage and selfish instincts Of pas
sion. II Mowbray Langdon 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
t~raitorous.
ut was he that you meant when
you warned me you cared for another
man." said l, 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.
Yes" she said, her head down
now.
A long pause.
You wish to be free?" I asked, and
my tone must have been gentle.
Il wish to free you," she replie1
slowly and deliberately.
There was a long silence. Then
/ said: II must think it all out. |
once told you how l felt about these
matters. I've greatly changed my
mind since our talk that night in the
Willoughby; but my prejudices are
still with me. Perhaps you will not
be surprised at that-you whose pre-
JUDGES 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
just and judicial, and to seem calm
Il admit it 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 nc
longer a child, as you we're when
married you. You will be careful not
to 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, "as much
on your account as on my own
Then. and it seemed to me merely Q
truly feminine attempt to shirk re-
sponsibility, she added, Il am glad
my going will be a relief to you"
Yes, 1t will be a relief" con,
fessed. Our situation has become
intolerable.' had reached my limit
of self-control. l put out my hand
"Good-by," I said.
II she had wept 1t might have modi
fed my conviction that everything
was at an end between US. But she
did not weep. Can you ever forgive
me?" she asked.
Lets not talk of forgiveness said
!, and fear my voice and manner
were gruff, as | strove not to break
down. Lets try to forget" And
touched her hand and fastened away
When two human beings set out tc
misunderstood each other, how fast
and far they go! How shut-in we
are from each other, with only hating
means Of communication that break
down under the slightest strain!
AS | was leaving the house next
morning, gave Sanders this note fol
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 eve had any substance
they have starved away to such weak
things that they collapse even as | try
to set them up. | hope your freedom
will give you happiness and me
peace"
You are Iii, sir?" asked my old
servant, my old friend, as he took the
note.
Stay with her, Sanders, as long as
she Wishes" said |, ignoring his qnes.
ton. Then come to me-
His look made me shake hands
with him. AS did it, we both re
membered the last time we had
shaken hands-when he had the roses
Tor my homecoming with my bride
It seemed to me I could smell those
roses,