The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-07-22

pr1ely, IN that event they would he
less apt to interfere than ever. II was
true she could do nothing. She sank
down on a hassock. clenching her
hands.
AS she sat. her eyes fell on a chest
OF drawers screwed against the bulk
head. The top contained various toilet
articles Of silver. Among them was a
picture. the picture of a woman. II
was not her picture. Moved by what
impulse she did not stop to analyze,
she rose and picked It up. The face
she looked at was ineffably vulgar and
common. Across the bottom was writ
ten In a scrawly Uniformed hand. your
devoted wife" There was a date sew
ersI years before that hour. Your de-
voted wife! She had been In that
stateroom before; she had never seen
that picture. He had only brought II
out since the rupture between them.
And so while entering into this re-
lationship with her, In compliance
with principles and IDEAS which she
at least regarded as sacred and holy.
he had not been . free mani There
was another woman to whom he had
been bound. Oh. not by the marriage
tie that she disdained. but BY the
honor which was supposed to exist
among thieves and which certainly
should exist among philosophers. And
such q woman! A cold fury filled her
mind as she looked at the picture.
The last completing touch had been
given. To contempt and pity for him
was added hatred. The combination
she would seek him. i
He was still In the cabin. She could
hear him muttering thickly TO himself
Impulsively she stepped to the door.
turned the key in the lock. threw II
open and entered the brilliantly
lighted luxurious cabin. He had dis
missed the attendants some time
since with orders not to reappear I'M
less he summoned them. and they were
alone. There was no likelihood OF any
interruption whatsoever. The man.
who was leaning back In his chair.
door. He laughed viciously. II she
had reflected. she would have mar.
veled at the change that a few weeks
had wrought In one whom she had
hitherto deemed worthy Of her sffec.
ton. but she had eyes and thought for
nothing except the business In hand.
so you've come out have your" he
stammered triumphantly. Come OF
your own free will You've found out.
have you. that am master and you
are coming to heel,"
He whistled to her derisively. whis-
tied as II to a dog!
who Is this7" asked the woman In
voice carefully suppressed. yet which
shook with wrath.
She held the photograph in its
heavy silver frame up before him.
That's my wife," he said equally.
with no surprise or CONSERVATION.
I'VE haven't lived together for some
years." he went on with drunken good
nature. "or I'd take you back TO San
Francisco and introduce you to her"
"Your wife!" exclaimed the woman
In that same low. tense voice. Then
what am IT, fs
MY Mistress" said the man. blunt
~. throwing the last shred Of conceal
msnt and decency to the winds. and
q damned obstreperous one at that"
he went on.
Now. the woman believed In no
Providence. but trick got from her
ancestry wrung the words from her
lips.
My Godl My Cod" she whispered.
You haven't any" sneered the
man. you told me so yourself" He
laughed. And believed you.
would have believed anything to get
you"
Well. there was no God the woman
realized. but she would be her own
god. Her body shrank together q lit
tie. her hands clenched The feline
was uppsrmost She could have sprung
upoa him. but she waited. waited for
shs tasu not What - - - :.