Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-08-22


an to whom he had been forced to
mete out death in an unprecedented
and terrible manner. His unwilling
ness to derogate by his own conduct
from the standard of devotion which
he believed had inhabited his wife's
bosom, made it impossible for him to
allow the real love that had come into
his heart for this new woman to have
free course; honor, pride and self-re-
spect scourged him just in proportion
to his passion for Enid Maitland.
The more he loved her, the more
ashamed he was. By a curious com
binatiOn of circumstances, Enid Matt
land knew the truth; she knew that
from one point of view the woman had
been entirely unworthy the reverence
in which her husband held her mem
DRY. She knew that his wife had not
loved him at all, that her whole heart
had been given to another man, that
what NewbOld had mistaken for pas
siOnate desire for his society because
there was no satisfaction in life for
the wife away from him, was due to a
fear lest without his protection she
should be unable to resist the appeal
of the other man which her heart
seconded so powerfully. If it were
only that Newbold would not be false
to the obligation of the other wOman's
devotion, Enid might have solved the
problem in a moment.
It was not so simple, however. The
fact that NewboId cherished this mem
DRY, the fact that this other woman
had fought so desperately, had tried
so hard not to give way, entitled her
to Enid Maitland's admiration and de-
manded her highest consideration as
well. Chance, or Providence, had put
her in possession of this wOman's Sc
cret. 1t was as if she had been caught
inadvertently eayesdrOpping. She
could not in honor make use of what
she had overheard, as it were; she
could not blacken the other woman's
memory, she could not enlighten this
man at the expense of his dead wife's
| reputation.
Although she Ionged for him as
much as he longed for her. although
her love for him amazed her by its
depth and intensity, even to bring her
happiness, commensurate with her
feeling, she could not betray her dead
sister. The imposts of honor. how
hard they are to sustain when they
| conflict with love and longing.
Enid Maitland was naturally net a
little thrown off her balance by the
situation and the power that was hers
What she could not do herself she
could not allow anyone else to do
The obligation upon her must be ex-
tended to others. Old Kirkby had no
right to the woman's secret any more
/ than she; he must be silended. Arm
strong, the only other being who was
privy to the truth, must be silenced
| too.
One thing at least arose out of the
sea of trouble in a tangible way; she
was done with Armstrong Even if
she had not so loved NewboId that she
could scarcely give a thought to any
other human being, she was done with
Armstrong.
A singular situation! Armstrong
| had loved another woman, so had New
bold: and the latter had even married
! this other woman. yet she was quite
/ willing to forgive NewbOld, she made
/ every excuse for him, she made none
/ for Armstrong. She was an eminently
! sane. Just person, yet as she thought
/ of the situation her anger against
/ Armstrong grew hotter and hotter 1t
was a safety valve to her feelings, al
! though she did not realize it. After
all Armstrong; actions rendered her
| a certain service; if she could get
over the objection in her soul, if she
/ could ever satisfy her sense Of honor
and duty and obligation, she could set
/ tie the question at once. She had
only to show the letters to Newbold
and to say: These were written By
the man of the picture; it was he. and
not you, your wife loved" and New
bold would take her to his heart in
stantIy.
These thoughts were not without a
certain comfort to her. All the com
/ pensation Of self sacrifice is in it's
realization. That she could and did
not somehow ennobled her love for
him. Even women are alleged with
base metal. In the powerful and
universal appeal of this man to her,
/ she rejoiced at whatever was of the
soul. rather than of the body. To
possess power, to refrain from using
It in obedience to some higher law, is
perhaps to pay oneself the most fiat
tering of compliments. There was a
satisfaction to her soul in this which
was yet denied him.
Her action was quite different from
his. She was putting away happiness
which she might have had in compIi-
ance with a higher law than that
which bids humanity enjoy. 1t was
fattering to her mind In his case
it was otherwise; he had no con
/ seriousness that he was a victim OF
misplaced trust, of misinterpreted &C
/ ton. He thought the woman for
whom he was putting away happiness
was almost as worthy, if infinitely less
! desirable, as the woman whom he now
loved.
( LNSAS StAhS oL oulAdSS' every ASei
/ ing of shame. every fear of disloyalty
scOurged him. She could glory in 1t;
he was ashamed, Inundated, broken
She heard him savagely walking VI
and down the other room. restlessIy
impeued by the same Erinyes which
of old scourged Orestes; the vioIatol
, of the laws of moral being drove hin
: on. These malign Eumenides hell
; him in their hands. He was bound anC
helpless, rage as he might in ont
; moment, pray as he did in another. NJ
light came into the whirling darkness
4 of his torn, tempest tossed, driver
7 ness, I observe, are philosophers.
became acquainted with Mac Keent