The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-15

knew clearly what he was doing And
so he began to tell stories-vile stories
and to watch their effect upon me.
There was a shining knife beside MS
plate; felt my fingers closing over #
knew then If L stayed I would try tc
kill him. I made some excuse to get
something from the dining room-he had
| ordered the supper served in the H.
brary- 1 slipped out, ran to my room
threw something around me and came
down the back stairs through the base
ment and out into the street"
=
She thre~v herself on the couch now,
and her eyes grew moro hard and more
defiant. It was several moments before
she went on.
What did after that was not plan
ned was IN no condition 30 plan.
Blinded. maddened, crazed, 1 followed
the first impulse that came to ne.
went straight to the rooms of a man
who knew had long cared for me. No
word of love had ever been spoken be-
tween US. yet knew that he cared. BY
chance 1 knew his address-bache4or
quarters in an old-fashioned residence on
Beacon Hill.
I found the whole house dark except
faint, green light shining through the
shutters of the second floor BY the
dim street lamp I read the names on
the brass plates in the entry. The sec
Ond floor was his. I rang the bell.
/ There was no answer; desperately I
rang again and again. Then came the
, tapping sound of the door being I'M
Iatehed from above. But I would not
open it, wanted him to come down.
So rang gain. Then 1 heard steps on
the stairs-and the door opened. We
stood there in a smoking jacket, clss.r
in his hand.
4" Mrs. Darlington"
For a moment could not speak. He
said again: Mrs. CarinetonP
Then I laughed Historically. Yes.
Is II too late to call? 1 thought you
might be pleased-.I-"
He came out into the vestibule.
where he could see more plainly
What is it-what has happened7'
sternly.
IT don't remember lust what 1 said,
but it was something hysterical about
thinking it would be interesting to make
midnight call You don't seem very
hospitable.' 1 persisted. Aren't you go
ing Toto ask me in?
No"
why?
eft isn't necessary to say why. II
you will wait here will get my coat
and take you hoiae. o. if there IS any
reason why you won5 20 home. I VIII
take you to your sister-in-law's or any
where that you win be safe
HE took my silence for consent, and
hurried upstairs. 1 waited until knew
he was in his rooms, and then 1 fol-
lowed him. In iis haste he had left
the door OF the front room open. I
went in without knocking. 1t was a
large, high-ceilinged room. There we're
a number Of deer-heads on the. wall
and some large fur rugs on the floor.
The only light was a green-shaded
lamp on the table. I don't know why L
noticed these things then. but did.
81 crossed over to a large leather
chair by the table. I could herr him
moving about in the adjoining room. In
moment he came through, with his
hat and coat. He did not see me and
would have hurried down mad L not
spoken.
II don't know what either OF US said
after that, but I know that all his rea-
sonings were of no avail. I stayed Do
you know, Mary, then when a good wo-
mana woman who 7as been good all
her life-at last becomes desperate, she
you know, Mary, that when a good wo-
man who at heart iE half bad? Well, II
is true. proved it that night.
'Remorse-shame-re As yet
I have felt none Of those things. OF
course, I am not happy, but in some
ways I am happier than 1 have ever
been.
And I know If God Is just-if He
knows all that I have endured all these
years Of my marTiage-He viii not reg
lister ever one little mark against me
for this thing. Mary, / believe that
fully.
las for my duty or loyalty 20 Frank
If 1 ever owed him any-don't you
think 1 have laid it over and over
'ssain? In the nine years we have been
married he has had a dozen mistresses.
and has subjected me to fnconceivabie
Insults. And yet through all those aw-
ful years 1 was true and faithful
wife. and would be still. had he not
finally goaded me deliberately 70 des-
peration- Do you think I stil owe him
anything-do you?
''As for the children"-the bitterness