The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-04-05
CHAPTER xxx.-continued.
0o9RE57 AQ2S

but energetic bitterness. Besides
she hesitated an instant before going
cn-"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 | sharp
ly, trying to persuade myself ii was
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 man for woman,
without any response, isn't love, isn't
worthy the name of love. It's sort
of baffied 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 | said to
her, to ask my wife such question
would be to insult her. If you were
riding with him, il was an accident"
AS if 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
SIFa aynaptad mo IN kin hpr
When a man admits and respects
a woman's rights where be 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. If 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
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.
Yes" she said, her head down
now.
A long pause.
You wish to be free?" | asked, and
my tone must have been gentle
81 wish to free you," she replied
slowly and deliberately.
There was a long silence. Then
/ said: II must think il 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
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 no
longer child, as you were 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"
II wish TO be free" she said, each
word coming with an effort, las much
on your account as on my own"
Then, and il seemed to me merely a
truly feminine attempt to shirk re-
sponsibility, she added. II am glad
my going will be 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.
If she had wept IL 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
Let's not talk of forgiveness" said
], and | fear my voice and manner
we're gruff, as strove not TO break
down. Lets try to forget" And
touched her hand and fastened 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 hating
means OF communication that break
down under the slightest strain
AS was leaving the house next
morning, gave Sanders this note for
her.
Il have gone to live at the Down.
town hotel. When you have decided
what course 10 take. let me know. II
my rights ever had any substance
they have starved away TO such weak
things that they collapse even as try
TO set them up. I 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