St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-06-26

the shadow. HIS wife must nave Uo0N
aware of his entrance, but she did not
sneak for some time. Finally she
said: 81 am glad you are here. nave
something to say to you, sometning
that l fear will hurt"
Arkwright drew long breath. was
she going to tell him that she loved
Carlton?
Mrs. Arkwright. broke the silence
81 want to tell you that we cannot
go on as we have BEEN she said.
suppose" she went on in the same
soft tone, you think that you love
me. No, don't speak yet. know
what you would say: you want 10
swear that you worship, adore me, that
am the one woman in the world TO
you. but / have come to feel that
mere words do not count for much. 1t
is acts that tell the story. Had you
really loved me you would never nave
told me so.''
Arkwright set his teeth hard. was
she going to reproach him for having
persuaded her to marry him? Wen, ne
deserved II, ne SuppoSeu'
"Why did you do it?" she questioned
with more passion, more anger, IN her
voice than he had supposed. her ca
pabIe of feeling. why did you force
yourself into my existence? 1 was
happy enough as l was, as happy as
woman can be who has never loved"
Arkwright WINGED.
But there, I must not be unkind to
you" Her voice had grown indie
scribably tender. after all, you are
not more to blame than l.; indeed, not
so much, and l know you are sincere
| in thinking that you love me. thought
| loved you too-once. But now
know that it was not you loved. In
| accepting your attentions l was only
yielding to the desire every woman
has to be made much of, to have
thought, devotion, showered upon her.
What l mistook for love was merely
being glad that you, someone, anyone
cared for me. 1t was comparing you
with him that made me realize this
Had he been in your place he would
never have told me that he loved me;
he would have gone away and suffered
in silence"
Arkwright stirred impatiently in his
seat. Why could she not have spared
him little? 1t swas bitter enough tt
be reproached with his own shortcom
ings without having to hear her lover:
praises sung. Besides, would Olive
have done these things? Arkwrigh
thought not.
His wife leaned forward and laid {
hand on his arm. "You don't know
how hate to have to say all this,
she whispered.
Arkwright shook her hand from hi
arm.
"Of course, you are angry with me
but isn't it better for me to tell tn
truth? / do not love you; love him.
The way she said the last thre
words made Arkwright dizzy wit
pain. 1t showed him how she couI
love-
"Of course, can never be anything
to him now," Edith went on, "for yo
will always stand between us; that i
my punishment; but it is only fair t
him that you should go away"
> Arkwright did not speak; indeed, h
could not, for something came into hi
: throat and choked him.
His wife went on talking. Woul
she never stop, he wondered. Ho,
much more was there for him to hear
81 know it is a good deal to ask, bu
I should like to feel that you .forgiv
me for telling you these unpleasant
l truths and for sending you away.
!" may be hard for you to go, but, b.
+ lieve me, you will find it harder t
stay. / am sure of this because
you loved me as-as | love him, 20
I could never have borne it to be 8
much to me, and yet so little. / thin
T l felt this in a vague way from til
first That is why even when I though
y I loved you would not tell you So"
It Arkwright drew sigh of relief. H
/ was glad she was telling all this |
r him and not to Carlton. It NEAR
n much to him to be able to believe !
s her again.
His wife rose to her feet. Come
d she said in a voice she strove to max
e matter-of-fact, eve must not stay hel
e any longer. He will be wonderin
e where we are"
L, Arkwright rose too, and togeth,
e they moved through the darkness t
IS wards a curtained doorway. Just b
it fore it Edith paused and he felt h,
hand upon his arm again. Il am sorr
d Oliver, am indeed" she whispered.
IS Oliver! Arkwright felt sudde
IL dizziness Oliver! She had thougl
e. he was Oliver Carlton all this tim
Why-then she must have been tai
is ing about him-her husband. 81
10 must love him!
h. After a moment, when his mad ext
&c tation. had given way to a great peac
r. Arkwright took his wife's hand, an
ii lifting the curtain drew her into tt
lighted room beyond.
- South's Sawdust Is Utilized.
70 They are making roads of sawdu