The national forum., 1910-07-16
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

little son, drove up. UnobserVed, but
curiously, Edmonston watched Mrs.
Rodney as, after kissing the boy ten
derly, unassisted by her husband, she
climbed out Of the carriage.
"Well come foryou tonight, NAM
mai" called the child.
The husband, however, gave only a
Burly grunt to her cheerful response,
first to the lad, then to him.
"Good-by, sweetheart! Good-by,
Burke!"
"The brute!" muttered Edmonston,
and drew farther back upon the plat
form, that she might not feel humil-
lated by the immediate knowledge
chat he had witnessed the singular
parting.
1t was not till she had purchased
her ticket and stepped out on to the
platform to await the coming train
that Edmonston ventured to approach
her. The flush which her husbands
boorish reply and manner had caused
still suffused her face, but she ad-
FauSSu Will IL SllllG anu du UuJ~
stretched hand to greet him.
Xenil Edmonston was known for
his brotherly kindness and devotion
to all women, but it was with more
chan his accustomed chivalry that he
took into both his own the hand that
Helen Rodney offered. Her face
paled slightly and he felt the hand
he so warmly grasped tremble as he
Baid
ut is a long time since we last met,
Helen. How have you been?"
There was world of tenderness in
the voice that questioned. Sympathy
Is the open sesame to the gates of
long pent up emotion. Poor, patient,
suffering Helen Rodney could not
withstand it, The tears flooded her
eyes till they blinded her sight. The
thunder of the approaching train
rang in her ears, but above it all the
whispered words:
Forgive me-" from Xenil Edmons-
ton, sounded like the music of earlier,
happier years.
Carefully shielding her from OBJ
servation, he handed her into a pri-
vate compartment of parlor car,
and with word of excuse, left her to
find the porter.
Dominated as she was by a series
Of emotions Of which self commisera-
tion was not the least, the tact and
gentleness OF the man appealed most
forcibly to her gratitude and sense of
admiration. When, later, he returned
and took seat beside her, she turned
her eyes bravely to his as she said:
Il am very glad of this meeting,
Xenil, though you have discovered
the skeleton in my closet"
II suspected its existence long ago;
for public gossip, though not remark
able for its veracity, is not without
some foundation in truth. So, Helen,
have longed to see you and learn the
facts from your own lips. resolved,
however, not to plan nor force
meeting, but calmly to await fate's
own good time. was sure it would
come. Do you remember our last
rendezvous, before your engagement
to Rodney was publicly announced?
AS / told you then tell you now
sooner or later our lives must run to-
gether. You laughed at the idea,
though you half ecognized your deep
er love for me. I saw that you must
learn your lesson by experience,
which meant marriage with Rodney,
with whom you were dazzled, infatu-
ated, and thought yourself irrevoc-
ably in love. knew you better than
you knew yourself. Helen, dearest,
though a cruel one, is not the lesson
learned? Are you not ready to cast
off the degrading shackles that bind
you and come to me?"
A startled, frightened look came
into her eyes, but the indignation she
should have felt was absent, although
she drew herself slightly away from
him.
There, Helen, don't misunderstood
me! I am neither a libertine nor
scoundrel, as you know, and being a
lawyer, shall abide by legal measures.
To put the matter plainly and per-
haps bluntly, I want your permission
to obtain divorce for you from
Burke Rodney on the ground of cru
city. then desire to make you my
wife according to civil law, as you are
now in the sight of higher but gen.
orally unrecognized one that of
God"
His voice thrilled her with an inde-
scribable tenderness as he pronounced
the last words, She knew all he said
was true Seven years before they
had been sweethearts. There had
been no definite engagement, but a
tacit understanding existed between
the"A that some day they would be
husband and wife.
X@nil was struggling young law
yer then, just outfrom college. Burke
Rodney came between them with the
glamour OF his wealth, and the volup-
tuous, impetuous nature that made
what he desired Immediately his own.
In less than six months from their
meeting Helen became his wife, and
repented at leisure. A year after
marriage child was born, the little
Philip, and in him she had her only
comfort and happiness.
The impetuosity she had once
'aken for an evidence of love seemed
now wild recklessness that termin-
ated in the most passionate outbursts
of temper If she crossed her hus-
bands will, however unintentionally
If she expressed desire that did
not accord with his mood, he burst
upon her with violent and abusive
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