The Carlisle independent., 1909-06-10

room
 Outside on the porch he was pacing impatiently up and down when he caught sight, just inside of the long, open windows, of his wife's slender figure An impulse which he wished to resist but could not made him pause in his walk and step through the window.
 The room was in darkness except for the faint, clear starlight, but Edith was seated so that this fell full upon her face. Carlton was not there.
 Arkwright dropped into seat in the shadow. His wife must have been aware of his entrance, but she did not speak for some time. Finally she said: q am glad you are here. I have something to say to you, something that I fear will hurt"
 Arkwright drew long breath. Was she going to tell him that she loved Carlton?
 Mrs. Arkwright broke the silence. T want to tell you that we cannot go on as we have been," she said. T suppose" she went on in the same soft tone, you think that you love me. No, don't speak yet. I know what you would say: you want to swear that you worship, adore me, that I am the one woman in the world to you, but I have come to feel that mere words do not count for much. It is acts that tell the story Had you really loved me you would never have told me so.'
 Arkwright set his teeth hard. Was she going to reproach him for having persuaded her to marry him? Well, he deserved it, he supposed. Why did you do it?" she questioned with more passion, more anger, in her voice than he had supposed her ca pablo of feeling. Why did you force yourself into my existence? I was happy enough as l was, as happy as woman can be who has never loved" ] Arkwright winced. F.
 But there, must not be unkind to you" Her voice had grown inde- scribably tender. After all, you are not more to blame than I; indeed, not so much, and I know you are sincere in thinking that you love me. thought | 1 loved you too-once. But now l know that it was not you I loved. h accepting your attentions 1 was only yielding to the desire every woman has to be made much of, to have thought. devotion, showered upon her. What I mistook for love was merely l being glad that you, someone, anyone, cared for me. It was comparing you with him that made me realize this. i 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? It was bitter enough to i be reproached with his own shortcom- ings without having to hear her lovers praises sung. Besides, would Oliver have done these things? Arkwright thought not.
 l His wife leaned forward and laid a hand on his arm. You don't know how I hate to have to say all this" she whispered.
 Arkwright shook her hand from his arm.
 of course, you are angry with me, but isn't it better for me to tell the truth? l do not love you; love him.
 The way she said the last three words made Arkwright dizzy with pain. It showed him how she could love-
 of course, I can never be anything to him now" Edith went on, flor you will always stand between us: that is my punishment; but it is only fair to him that you should go away"
 Arkwright did not speak; indeed, he could not for something came into his throat and choked him.
 His wife went on talking Would she never stop, he wondered. How much more was there for him to hear?
 T know it is good deal to ask, but l should like to feel that you forgive me for telling you these unpleasant truths and for sending you away. It may be hard for you to go, but. be- lieve me, you will find it harder to stay. l am sure of this because-if
  could never have borne it to be so much to me, and yet so little. I think l felt this in vague way from the first. That is why even when thought loved you I would not tell you so.'
 Arkwright drew sigh of relief He was glad she was telling all this to him and not to Carlton It meant much to him to be able to believe in 1 her again.
 His wife rose to her feet. Come. / she said in a voice she strove to mako matterof-fact. we must not stay here any longer. He will be wondering where we are
 Arkwright rose too, and together they moved through the darkness to- wards curtained doorway. Just be- 1 fore it Edith paused and he felt her hand upon his arm again. q am sorry. Oliver, I am indeed she whispered. Oliver. Arkwright felt a sudden