Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-06-10
The Fifth Wheel
By INA BREVORT ROBERTS

the shadow. His wife must have been
aware of his entrance, but she did not
speak for some time. Finally she
said: 81 am glad you are here. / have
something to say to you, something
that | fear will hurt"
Arkwright drew a long breath. Vas
she going to tell him that she loved
Carlton?
Mrs. Arkwright broke the silence.
Il want to tell you that we cannot
go on as we have BEEN" she said. Il
suppose" she went on in the same
soft tone, you think that you love
me. No, don't speak yet. l know
what you would say: you want to
swear that you worship, adore me, that
| am the one woman in the world to
you, but l 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 eve 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
pable of feeling. why did you force
yourself into my existence? was
happy enough as I was, as happy as a
woman can be who has never loved"
Arkwright WINGED.
But there, l must not be unkind to
you" Her voice had grown indie.
scribably tender. After all, you are
not more to blame than 1; indeed, not
so much, and l know you are sincere
in thinking that you love me. l thought
| loved you too-once. But now |
know that it was not you l 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 a little? 1t was bitter enough to
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.
His wife leaned forward and laid a
hand on his arm you don't know
how ! 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; l love him."
The way she said the last three
words made Arkwright dizzy with
pain. 1t showed him how she could
love.
"Of course, | a never be anything
to him now" Edith went on, ''for 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?
Il know it is a 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. 1t
may be hard for you to go, but, be.
lieve me, you will find it harder to
stay. | am sure of this because-if
you loved me as-as | love him, you
could never have borne it to be so
much to me, and yet so little. | think
| felt this in a vague way from the
first. That is why even when l thought
| loved you l would not tell you So"
Arkwright drew a 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
her again.
His wife rose to her feet. Come"
she said in a voice she strove to make
matter.of-fact, Eve 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 a curtained doorway. Just be-
fore 1t Edith paused and he felt her
hand upon his arm again. 81 am sorry,
Oliver, l am indeed" she whispered.
Oliver! Arkwright felt a sudden
dizziness. Oliver! She had thought
he was Oliver Carlton all this time.
Why-then she must have been talk.
ing about him-her husband. She
must love him!
After a moment, when his mad exui.
tation had given way to a great peace.
Arkwright took his wife's hand, and.
lifting the curtain, drew her into the
lighted room beyond.
South's Sawdust Is Utilized.