Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-06-10

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 n Seat in
the shadow. His wife must have been
aware OF his entrance. but she did not
speak for some time. Finally she
said: Il am glad you are here. have
something TO say to you, something
that fear will hurt"
Arkwrlght drew long breath. Was
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. 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 | have come to feel that
mere words do not count for much. 1t
il acts that tell the story. Had you
really loved me you would never have
told me 60"
Arkwright set his teeth hard. Was
she going to reproach him for having
persuaded her to marry him7 Well. he
! deserved II. 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 was. as happy as
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 /: indeed. not
/ so much, and | know you are sincere
In thinking that you love me. thought
loved you too-once. But now
know that IL was not you loved In
accepting your attentions I 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
being glad that you. someone, anyone.
cared for me. II 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? II was bitter enough TO
be approached 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 II better for me to tell the
truth? do not love you: love him. -
The way she said the last three
words made Arkwright dizzy with
pain. IL showed him how she could
love.
"of course. can never be anything
to him now" Edith went on. FOR you
will always stand between us; that Is
my punishment; but II is only fair to
him that you should 20 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 mover stop. he wondered. How
much more was there for him TO hear
Il know Il 10 a good deal to ask. but
! should like 70 feel that you forgive
me for telling you these unpleasant
truths and for sending you away. I,
may be hard for you 20 go. but. be.
lieve me, YOU will find II harder %
stay. ! am sure of this because-if
could never have borne II TO be 90
much TO me. and yet so little. think
felt this In a vague way from the
FIRST That Is why even when thought
loved you would not tell you So"
AKlkwright drew q sigh Of relief. He
was glad she was telling all this %
him and not to Carlton. II mean,
much to him TO be able to believe in
her again.
His wife rose to her feet Come. /"
she said In voice she stroye to make
matterof.fact. I'VE 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.
fore II Edith paused and he felt her
fiand upon his arm again. Il am sorry
Oliver. am indeed aha WhlanaraN