Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-05

stand there like plaster saint? Have
you no answer to give me?"
A bitter rebuke, a few words of I'M
utterable sCorn came into her mind,
but she checked them before they rose
to her lips.
81 have no answer to give YOU" she !,
replied meekly, save that | am to
blame, and am sorry for you"
"You are my wife," he exclaimed |
hoarsely, yet you have been>no wife
to me: Is this what you have learnt
from religion to be kind and gra.
cious to every one but your husband,
to devote your life to charity, and ne
elect the man who needs your lover
81 have tried to do my duty to you"
she replied with downcast eyes.
sYou duty, yes; and you have done
it well--as housel1eeper, as friend, |
but as a wife I ask for love and you
give me duty; for bread and you give
me a stone
"You know l cannot love you," she
replied sadly. Il would do so, if l
could control my heart. But love can.
not come from an effort of will. | can
only give you all that is in my power.
II look after your comfort; I try to
make you happy"
| He stepped forward and caught her
in his arms. Happy he cried fierce
ly, edo you think I can ever be happy
| till I have won your love?" He looked
down at her face with passionate
eyes, and bent down his head as if to
kiss her But as he did so, his soul re-
volted against the act. 1t seemed al
most sacrilege to defle that white
face with the touch Of earthly pas
sion.
He shuddered and let go of his wife,
though she had not even tried to free
herself from his embrace.
'sYou cold, beautiful saint" he ex-
claimed "Why don't you cry out?
Why don't you strike me In the face?
1t would be better than this silence,
{ than this quiet submission. When |
touch you it is like touching block
t of ice. But | cannot endure it longer.
| We must part You must go your way
and I must 60 mine l do not know
5 what will happen if we live together
t any longer. Perhaps I shall go mad,
: and strangle you. It will be better for
d us to be apart | cannot live like this.
y 81 have tried so hard she faltered
i "No one knows that l am anything but
r a loving wife and have tried tc
t make it easy for you
t GIVE me love-" he thundered hold
h ing out his hands, that is all want;
5. give me love-"
It 81 have no love to give, she re
e piled. 81 have dedicated my life to the
e poor and suffering"
e eyes, yes" he cried, "but what o
e me? You can find peace in your goot
y deds: but what have to take tn
place of love? Do you think that thi
f. dreary country life satisfies me, tina
S. round of dinners and garden pal
of ties is all that l want; that shooting
.e and hunting and fishing can fill up m
v life? What Of me, Laura, with n
re serious object in life to distract m
w thoughts? Do you think that | ca
sr endure it,"
at ''There are many things a man ca
ad do, many things into which he ca
We fling himself heart and soul Politics
or for instance: why don't you stand fc
is Parliament"
1e .Bah!'' he cried angrily Il haven
brain enough to take any place in pc
Re itics. and don't wish to be a sile1
,a member of back seat. No, Laur
u l.
al | shall go abroad. Perhaps the doctt
on has ordered it for my health. Perhal
"a I want to shoot big game somethin
q that will strike back and not roll owe
he like rabbit. Any excuse will do.
shall leave you at once
re 81 can 60 if you wish me to. TIL
to is your house. your own home"
or, mo. Laura" he replied firmly, s'yt
ed are better here. Go on with the VOL
DIS you have begun. Perhaps you W
think more kindly Of me when l a
rm away. l cannot hope that you will ey
nd respect me again after the words
no have used to you today. The de7
within me spoke For months | ha
.,v tried to control myself. can do it
,er longer. You know now what to expe
me of me if stay here longer But the
,ep shall be no repetition Of this scene
ght am going to leave you at once. The
be- will be no scandal"
she She looked at him with pity in h
re- eyes. Never before had he appear
in so favorable light She forgot t
MT. words he had uttered in the first n
BOD ments or his fury. She only RENE
ace bered the long months in which
rav had imposed upon him. Even now
ant intended TO leave Tankerlane Cou
self so that she could continue her VIC
to among the poor and suffering. H
lad different from the old days, when
Lpu, would have been more courteous
de- his language. but hard and cruel
q slave-driver
lis 81 am so sorry" she said gently.
,me thought | had hoped that new
in had commenced for both of us
hat OF peace. without love, but with
the anger.
cart ga new life?' he said with bit
iety laugh "Ah, yes, for you, Laura, W
his your schools and YOUR hospitals {
ted, your poor A new life has opened
his for YOU. But for me I am still W
iety I was the man who sacrificed
the that he had to gain YOU; who coun
ngs sin and shame and dishonor as NJ
IIor inu If he collld only accomplish his