The Washington times., 1909-03-14
MARIE B. SCHRADER
written Expressly Serial for The Evening Times.
Dramatic Translation and All Other Rights Reserved)

no reason for wanting to drop this
charge "
But. Betty the fellow hes been con
siderate enough to hand owe. the money.
He should be rewarded"
rs that the only reason for your
generosity?' asked mis- wife.
Why, yes What else could there
be-"
That's what L want to find ont. re-
rljed Betty.
We might as well be ri; easy on
tie fellow" went on Wharton Not
neny would have handed over the
money just because q woman asked
for it,"
He didn't have TO do So" continued
Betty. That's true But 1 fall 10 see
why he shouldn't be punished tust the
same
For the reasons that I have Just
mentioned. said Wharton, watching
her keenly to observe the first signs
of relenting
But don't agree with vow rea-
sons replied Betty Besides, some
thing tells me that they are lot your
real reasons. You are conceaIing the
true facts from me. why2'
You don't know what you re talk
ing about answered Wharton, who
was again losing his patience.
"Oh. yes l do said Betty. Il know
perfectly what I am saying II you
would only tell me the reason.
There is none other than what /
have just said answered Wharton.
will, you are not frank with me.
can truthfully say that l have never
had secret from you in all our mar
ried life. and until today I had thought
that you had been equally as honest
with me, but"
Butt inquired Wharton. with a
certain anxiety in his tone well, out
with it. Let's hear the worst"
4 can't help feeling" continued Bet
ty, that there is a barrier between us
What it is, ] hardly know, only it is
there"
You aren't becoming suspicious, are
your" asked Wharton
II am not suspicious woman re-
piled Betty. You ought 10 know by
this thine that I am not that sort. It
isn't that. II you had condded in me.
would not feel this way. but you
haven't"
For the simple reason that there is
nothing to conflde.'' said Wharton. in
a tone which was evidently meant to
be reassuring. Don't you believe me,
Betty?"
NO, Will I don't, she replied. look
him squayeIy in the eyes
Wharton fung himself into a chair
and buried bis face in his hands Betty,
however. sat upright
Her fighting blood was u, ana she
meant 10 70 on TO the end and say al
the things which few minutes before
she had ~ Intention Of saying
Haven't / been a good wife TO You
WIZ she demanded
Wharton did not look ur. but con-
tinued to sit there in the same detected
Pttitude
Il suppose so. ne responded.
You suppose 50, repeated Petty with
an expression Of intense dlsappcinrn sr :
on her face Don't you know that
I have?"
Wen. YES. You have been. / sup
pose he answered. as far as ordi-
nary things nave gone
What do vou mean DY ordinary
things persisted Eetty.
4 mean that here has been nothing
raorlinary TO put you TO the test. -
Ihats trGa.' replied l5etty. "Ont
married life ms certainly been unevs1t-
fui, but iE so far as my duty was con-
cerned- could any one deny that have
done everything required Of me7-
Although She spoke the words with
an Interrogation a the end. her hus-
band made no reply.
Il want you 10 always feel .-ar -
eve ,hera rtd been chance for ma "a
snow my loyalty / woulc not have
failed YOU" went on Betty.
Wen, nOw's your chance. Betty" an
swered Wharton, lifting his face iowa "a
her.
ITS TOO late, WI" she id Van
nave doubted me and nv motives and
you haven't been square with me -
on. come now, little woman" hogan
Wharton.
Please let me finish what was
about 10 say. We have been ,a,-ie(1
nearly year, anc 1 have never said
anything about this before, but r,ust
say II now Your attitude toward me
lately Is something which I resent and
which l Will not permit any one 70 er-
ploy. Had / been a blunde~ine SORT Of
wife. with only my own interests AZ
heart, the one idea OF using nv ms
band merely as a means tOVar ri tho
end Of securing for me Injuries and
amusements. I would not have 3 right
10 speak as I shall; but J am nor thar
type Of woman. and no one could ever
accuse me Of being so. I haven't asked
for much, and when ( didn't get even
the Htue ] required / made no COM
plants
How thoughtful OF you..' sneered
Wharton
yes, II was thoughtful" said Betty.
her voice rising in indignation. I am
Just beginning 10 discover that all nv
good intentions. all my little sacrifices
have been unappreciated. ! have often
been told by other women that 7 should
think Of myself FIRST and not WORRY
about my husband: that the more did
for YOU the more You would expect.
that in the end YOU would give your at
tentions and your money TO some one
else
To some one else?'' repeated Whar-
ton
Yes. To some other woman
They said that, did Lhey?' c.ied
Wharton, a savage glare i'm his eye.
Then he gave vent TO a string Of emf
thets which caused Betty 10 LOOK at
him IN disgust She was learning some
thing new about him every minute
Yes" she said, in response TO his