Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-08-16

tunate he possessed. Deep in her
heart she had a slight, amused con-
tempt for 1t, a contempt that had ex-
tended to other things. She had felt
1t for him In those early days OF their
when he had looked forward
to children and wanted to live quietly,
without society, in his own home. 1t
grew stronger later when she realized
he had accepted his exclusion from
his world and was too proud to ask
his mother for money.
And now! Suppose he had gone
back to his people? A low ejaculation
escaped her, and she dropped the cur
tain and pressed her hand. clenched
to the hardness Of . stone. against
her breast
The mere thought Of such thing
was intolerable. She did not see how
she could support the idea OF his
mother and sister winning him from
her. She hated them. They were the
ones who had wronged her, who had
excluded her from the home and the
riches and the position that her mar
rage should have given her. Her re-
taliation had been her unwavering
grip on Dominick and the careful dis
cretion with which she had comport-
ed herself as his wife. There was no
ground of complaint against her. She
had been as quiet, housekeeping and
dutiful a woman as any In California.
She had been a good housekeeper. a
skillful manager Of her husbands
small means. 1t was only within the
last year that she had, in angry spite,
run into the debts with which she had
tainted him. No wife could have
lived more vigorously up to the letter
OF her marriage contract. 1t was easy
for her to do it. She was not a wom-
an whom light living and license at
tracted. She had sacrificed her honor
to win Dominick, grudgingly, unwil-
lingly, as close-fisted men part with
money In the hope OF rich returns.
She did not want to be his mistress.
but she knew of no other means by
which she could reach the position OF
his wife.
Now suppose he had gone back to
his people! 1t was an insupportable.
a maddening thought. 1t plunged her
into agitation that made her rise and
move about the room with an aimless
restlessness, like some soft-footed fe-
line animal. Suppose he had gone
home and told them about last night,
and they had prevailed upon him not
to come back!
Well, even IL they had, hers was
still the strong position. The sympathy
Of the disinterested outsider would
always be with her. II she had been
ouarrelsome and ugly, those were
small matters. In the great essentials
she had not failed. Suppose she ant
the Ryans ever did come to an oper
crossing OF swords, would not hel
story be the story Of the two? The
worlds sympathy would certainly no
go to the rich women, trampling OF
the poor little typewriter, the homes
working girl, who for one slip, rightet
by subsequent marriage, had been th'
object Of their implacable antagonist
and persecution.
She said this opposite the mirror
extending her hands as she had seel
an actress do in a recent play. A
she saw her pointed. pale face, he
: expression of worry gave way to on
of pleased complacence. She locke
pathetic, and her position was ps
thetic. Who would have the heart {
. condemn her when they saw her an
heard her side of the story? Her spi
it's began TO rise. With the first CLEAR
d of returning confidence she shook o
Q her apprehensions. A struggle {
> sunshine pierced the fog, and goin
Q to the window she drew the curtain
and looked out on the veil Of mil
every moment growing brighter an
o thinner. The sun finally pierced
9 a patch Of blue shone above, and dro
4 ping the curtains she turned an
looked at the clock. 1t was after ele
, en-. She decided she would go out an
take lunch with her sisters, who wei