The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-02-25
COPYRIGHT 1912 BY EMERSON HoUGH
embroidery.

Or, if ones current wife has had the
old-fashioned and not wholly well-bred
! habit of meeting one at the door OF an
evening, at the close of the days Ia
| bors-iust as in the evening the cave
woman greeted her man at the mouth
of the cave to ask him what had been
the fortune of the days hunt-and II
now that football, ill-bred. yet after all
| habitual-and was it wholly unWel-
come, after all-shall have ceased for
ever, with what equinimity, let US ask,
can we regard the memory of the
woman who formed that habit and
handed down an annoying expectation
to her husband, impossible OF fulhli-
ment after her departure?
1t is, as John Rawn wisely has said
true that much may be said in favor
of the idea of marriage; yet upon the
other hand, how very much there IS
that could be said against it, or at
least against it as implying an unre-
stricted continuance, offering no
change in association. The which is
by way of saying something to prove
John Rawn's excellently philosophical
course in life to have been quite cor
rect. There could have been no doubt
as to the wisdom of his marrying Lau-
ra, his wife. in the first place. no doubt
as to the wisdom of continuing the
marriage relation with her for many
years; but, upon the other hand, 1t is
obvious that his idea Of the timell-
ness of the divorce in due season was
equally wise Indeed, the only reser-
walton in his mind in regard to this
matter was one of censure for wom-
an who, having entered into the holy
state of matrimony with gentleman
of his parts, had had the temerity to
create in his soul an addiction for.
shoulder of pork and cabbage; who
had left her tatting upon the table;
and who, departing, had given no fu-
ture address whittier her tattlns
might be sent! Yes, Laura Rawn had
been, without doubt or question, an
unreasonable and unkind wife.
Above all it was wrong for woman
to go away and leave her Late husband
feeling so much alone. Why should
he, John Rawn, be allowed to become
conscious of feeling of lonesome
ness? Why should he be left to dread
the drawing of the curtains at night,
when there remained only the pound
of the surf along the wall, the wall OF
the wind in the cornice? One chioro-
forms formerly priced dog, but miss
es it. 1t is much the same way with
the divorced wife. Too many unpleas-
ant features attend the process of
Such separation. ANY civilization
worth the name ought to devise some
method less annoying Tor this which
Mr.. Rawn has so fittingly described
as the corollary of the marriage rite.
Surely our Eoasted age has its draw
backs, its shortcomings!
Some men in such circumstances
brood; some drink; others search out
the other woman or women. John
Rawn was cast in different mold. He
had. in short. spoken truth when he
told his wife that he had no new mat
rimonial plans. Situated thus, yet
handicapped thus IN his new-found
solitude, but few days had passed
before he sent over for his daughter,
Grace, and her husband, Charles Hal
sey; there being in his mind a plan
to mitigate certain unpleasant fea-
lures of his life as he now found it
ordered.
He greeted Halsey and Grace at the
door gravely, with dignity, when they
came one evening in response to his
invitation They entered, just trifie
awed, as they Away ere, by the au-
gust surroundings OF Graystone hall,
SO different from their own cottage
near the factory. The owner of the
place looked we'll the part of owner
here. John Rawn still was large and
strong, the city had not yet much soft
ened his lines. His hair now was
winter about the temples. but it's
whiteness left his appearance only
the more distinguished. You scarce
could have found in all the haunts OF
prominent citizens a better example
of prominent citizen than himself,
John RaWn.
The major domo took the wraps of
the young people and vanished silent
ly. Rawn, waiting for them in the
drawing-room-noti in the hall, as once
he would have done-with dignity mo-
toned them to places in his presence,
even brought low chair himself for
the sad-faced, hunchbacked child
which represented the Rawn success
sion in the third generation.
Go kiss grandpa, Lola!" said
Grace to her daughter; and went to
show her the way. But the child,
turning suddenly, only hid her face
in her mothers skirt
"Laura's timid," apologized the
mother. The disapproval on her ia
ther's face was obvious enough. He
Fad passed bitter hours alone, pon.
--,i->r Cve, t':S child hesit2tine