The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-02
(Continued.l

0tlttllttltAttttttt NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
(Continuedl
Eiwood was steadily regarding her.
He understood. Evidently Guy had
explained the compact to her.
This matter is between Chalmer
and myself" he said: "but since 1t
seeens that you are aware of the con-
ditions, you must understand that
proof is necessary before he is free to
20 his way. What you say 10 al
most sufficient, but not quite. Are
you prepared to answer plainly for
him?"
Just for a moment Mary stood 81
lent He was asking her for what
she knew would be a deliberate lie,
yet to tell him the truth was to de-
feat the object of her presence there.
All her honesty rose up in rebellion
against the thought of deliberately
lying to her husband. especially when
the lie was to separate her from him
for ever. She could see no way Of
4 escape. and in her dilemma she
sought her woman's resource. She
temporised. She must have time to
think Although her brain was
working at high pressure it was not
moving quickly enough.
"You have not answered me-" she
cried. BY what right have you made
this compact? Where are your
promises to me? where are your vows
N made before God? You demand a
direct answer" she went on, her an
ger driving again. ''show me first
your right to It; show me your right
to make such terms as you have done
with this man. Show me by what
right you have made me, your wife,
! who by your own sacred vows you
have sworn to protect, the playthiny.
the shuttlecock between you. outrag-
| ing. cruelty. wantonly. the holy state
OF wifehood, and making a woman's
I virtue q matter for contest between
YOU Show me the reason. the Jus
( tice Of what you have done, and
win give you my answer"
Her voice had risen higher and
/ higher 1t was evident that she could
endure little more. Elwood, watch
ing, her, understood this. He under
stood, too. that her whole nature
\ was aroused. she was lifted out Of
herself. It was her womanhood STIR
red to . frenzied selfrdefence. This
meeting. this completion Of the COM
pact had taken an unthought-of turn
But the justice Of her demands ap
pealed TO him. Here was the very
thing he had feared leaping out al
him. : 1t was the unconsidered weak
ness. the wrong he had not under
stood that he was doing her. It was
what even Guy Chalmer had seen
and pointed out to him. He mus;
tell her the truth to indicate his nc
ton
But before his reply could frame It
self an interruption came from Guy
He scented danger in Mary's de-
mands. the danger Of explanations
Stepping to her side he laid q de.
tanning hand upon her arm.
There is no, need to waste time, ,
he said quickly. But she shook him
on
Don't Interfere" she commanded
drawing away from him as from
something unclean. II have promised
YOU your life. This liz between ms
husband and myself. Now" she cried
turning back and confronting the
other. your answer"
Elwood bowed his head IN silen
assent and began at once. He spok.
in that low, soft tone in which h
always spoke when keeping a strons
hold upon himself.
He reviewed the conditions of theil
marriage and their early married life
his voice rising and falling as emo
ton stirred him. He left no detail
untouched that could possibly beai
upon the compact. He CAREFUL,
went over all the events that led III
to Marv's illness, and the thought
and feelings, which prompted MI
agreement with the man he believed
TO be his rival He spoke to hel
alone They might have been in tn,
privacy of their own home, for Chal
mer was completely forgotten b.
them both In the story he unfoldet
to her listening, longing ears. Hi
tones soothed the woman's nerves
and his words sank deep into he
heart From the moment he began
change came over her. Sh,
thought no more of the answer n,
had demanded of her, only sh,
thought of him. of the love which
stirred her. of the growing hope hi
words inspired.
MARY" he proceeded, after he hat
drawn her q picture of the seen,
which had occurred at the time sh,
was taken ill, his tone almost that o
a suppliant, what could I do? You
words told me that you loved thi
man, that he had been all the worlt
to you. and that your heart was still
unchanged Can you not see my po
sition? I loved you SO that my onl,
earthly desire was for your happf
ness. That was first and foremos
with me. My own feelings, my owl