The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-05-16

ways-always-lcst,"
But why in the name Of heaven.
did you do it"
She did not treat him 70 tears.
abuses Or reproach. She simply STOOD
| there calmly, AID looked him straish.
in the face.
Almost unconsciously. he hung his
head Before. he had not been in
the least ashamed OF himself. He
to consideration the fact that he was
unhappy in his home-per.ectly JUG
tilted. Now-well, some people
might think that to ruin your wife
and children by gambling, and then
bring further disgrace On them by
committing suicide, the action of a
brute and cad.
"Because-oh, because I was mis-
cradle, reckless, mad-I did not caro-
what I did! A man must go some
where to find amusement, happiness,
and II found no happiness in my
own home.'
"Oh-John,"
At last she broke down. Her face
worked, tears coursea down her
cheeks
Mary" he lifted his bowed head.
You remember the old days, when
we were poor. how we longed to get
rich? We did get rich, and learned
to curse-yes. curse-the money
which forged letters of gold around
my neck! What was money to me.
do you think, when my children and
my wife-ah! especially my wife,
were daily drifting away from meo
You despised me! You, Mary, were
able to take your place in society
women adapt themselves to their
surroundings far more easily than
men do-and IL was not. So, now
l am best out of the way"
The low, desperate voice broke OF
in kind of sob. He moved to the
table for the revolver-yes, he would
do it now, in front of the woman
who had ceased to love him
The weapon was not there
With fierce exclamation he |
turned to mis- wife. Mary was breath
ing heavily, her face was deathlike,
two little crimson drops-she had bit
ten her under lip till the red blood
trickled down her chin.
"Haye YOU ever thought, when you
had done this dreadful thing-the
children are provided for-what was
to become of-of-meo"
you are 4 beautiful woman, Mary.
know plenty of men who admire
you-you will marry again"
She made no reply--it was as if
she treated the remark with con-
tempt. She asked him something
else.
when all your debts are paid-all
your affairs wound up-shall I have
any money!"
very little"
She drew close to him. He heard
the soft rustic of her gown; a faint,
subtle perfume of violets waited
across his face.
I'VE lived-on very little'-once
He glanced at her, sharply. When
Mary's face-that look of tender hap
love? All! he remem-
bered! On that summer evening,
years and years ago, when he had
asked her to be his wife
And we were happy--too. |
He stood as one struck dumb, gaz-
ing at Mary's radiant face, her shin
ing eyes.
Far happier than VIC have ever
been since we were rich"
The silence in the room was in
tense. The ticking OF the little clock
on the mantelpiece-theo only sound
which broke the stillness-was like
the beating Of a heart.
Suddenly, he felt a soft arm round
his neck.
"John!-you never knew it, you
were always SO busy, you never
seemed to have time to talk to your
poor little wife-but for years IL
have hated the money, too 1t was
all right for the children-they were ,
young and had never known anything ,
else; but we've were old folks. old
smiled-"and, what !
ever l might have appeared outward j.,
y, could never quite throw of the .
past. You thought the new prosper ,
ty made me drift apart from you; ,
we'll, thought it made you drift
apart from me. You were always so
with Your business, your
lffairs, which I was too stupid to I'M
]erstand. But now the money is
ost. and am glad-yes, giad,-for
o me, too"-and there was sob in
he low, tender yoice-"it has been
etters round my neck, John!-oh,