New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-06

waning light enabled neither TO distinguish
fcaturcs and expression with that intimate
acquaintance which a husband and wife
must possess.
She trcmblcd in every limb, for the cold
aloofncss Of those words, "Mrs. Waverton,
argued i'll for her achievement; but she
forced herself to speak.
Claude. she said again, and her voice
was strangely sweet and low, 81 have ven
turcd 10 disobcv Your wishes because ! felt
that if YOU and could open our hearts freely
We might reach an understanding not 10 be
attained by the written word. Forgive me,
Claude. am acting for the best, and, II you
will only listen 20 what have to say, prom
isc 10 obey your final decision, even though
you bid me 60 away, and never try 10 see or
speak to you again.
Waycrton raised q hand TO his eyes in
gesture Of pain that was new to his wltc's
dcvouring gaze. "Oh, YOU should not have
done this thing, he muttcrcd, and his face
looked white and drawn; though during
thcs, later days he had, in the opinion Of
Rice and Others, seemed TO be recovering his
strength rapidly.
Il could not help it, Claude, she pleaded.
"Somc secret impulse more powerful than
myself urged me TO take the long journey
from the coast and not waste a moment be-
fore | sought YOU out
She drew little nearer and, gaining con
fdcnCc, looked up at him. How thin and
worn he was. How his illness had aged HIM
What q different man from the bloatcd, red
faced creature from whom she had fled more
than wear ago, Yet suffering had restored
that air Of distinction, Of refinement, which
her girlish fancy had found in the bride
groom. only 10 lose all sense Of its existence
in the man who had wrung her very heart
strings bv his maltrcatmcnt.
~Your letter forbade an answer, | know"
she went on with growing carncstncss; but
ever since YOU saved Our dear kathlccn's life
could not bring myself 10 believe that we
were parted forever Claude, won't YOU say
something: Must be forced TO believe that
YOU really wish TO thrust me out Of your life
forever. Indeed. indeed, | am not here TO
rcproach voul Rather would | VOW 10 you
and with YOU, on our knees if we mingled our
pledges with prayers. that the horrid past
shall be forgotten, that we shall strive 10
help each other in that forgetting, that, in
sharing the love of our child, We shall strive
to blot out memories of all the wrong and
misery that have gone before. Oh, Claude,
do listen to me! Don't turn away rs if your
heart was still hardened against me. If my
words offend then give no ear TO their TIN
studied form, but try to realize that they are
yelling up from the depths Of woman's
nature. "a woman who is still your wife, and
who must ever remain the mother Of your
child.
"Plcasc, please, Mrs. Wavcrton-Doris -
do calm Yourself" he broke in, and his utter
ancc was husky, as if he was fighting against
some oycrpowcring emotion. Il would have
made any sacrifice rather than have this
happen You are distressing Yourself UNI
duly am quite unworthy Of such chivalry
on Your part You must remember what
divided Us, | was wholly TO blame. and YOU
would be mad TO trust yourself again to
man who behaved SO dcspicably, 50 out
ragcously. ! am sober now; but | shall go
back to the swine trough, it is in my blood,
and then indeed YOU would have cause to
bcwail Your lot. Yet, rs | say, | am pcrforcc
in possession Of my senses for the hour; 50
let me apologize for my conduct, and let my
regret be the measure of my sincerity in
urging YOU to leave me now and for all time
THOUGH his wife was strung to a pitch Of
agitation that was almost unbcarable.
she caught some new cadence in his voice.
some note Of deep reverence and unavailing
sorrow, that made divincst music in her ears.
Never before, even in the blithc DAYS Of