Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-08-21

warned her. See that you do as
tell you in this matterl"
'T'H do as ] likel" she flashed out
rehemently. You dol"
For Gods sake" / exclaimed
shut up!"
She caught her breath and gazed at
me aghast
"Yes!" went on, my voice breaking
shrilly in spite Of all my efforts to
steady it. Il mean It! Are you try
ing to drive me insane? ! tell you
/ cant stand much more of this dam
nable naggingl And won't stand
| It'll"
Again she gasped, but continued:
Listen to mel You misunderstood
entirely and, believe, wilfully the
scene between Mrs. Clarkson and me.
II you hadn't been dishonorable
enough to read my letter you wouldn't
have been here eavesdropping. But
since you were, / have the right to tell
you that I don't lie to you and that
I'm innocent. declare 1t on my
honor! You can believe II or not, as
you nkei"
She was standing near the door.
watching me, startled, but, at these
words, she threw back her head and
laughed harshly. "As you make the
assertion on your honor, / do not be
lieve i'll" And she was gone.
slammed the door behind her.
locked 1t, buried my face in my hands
and, to my own horror. burst into
historical sobs.
l had expected to go to my club that
evening, and had told my wife so
earlier in the day, adding that / would
not get home before midnight After
the scene through which / had just
passed l was too much shaken, my
nerves were too raw, for me to want
TO chat with crowd of men, and
went instead to spend a couple Of
quiet, restful hours with my mother.
told her nothing Of what had hap
pened. but her very presence Gained
me. Leaving her at ten o'clock, /
came home and let myself into the
apartment noiselessly, supposing that
Doris had gone to her room and. DOS
sibly, to sleep. With NO other thought
In mind, / pushed open the door of a
little room which we called the den"
AS ] entered, / saw that the room was
lighted only by the glow from the
grate-fire. At right angles to the fire.
place was a couch heaped with cush-
ions. Seated on this, leaning back
among the cushions, was my wife.
She wore q new evening gown, and,
even In that moment, / remembered
| with sensation akin to ironical
amusement that only today had sent
her dressmaker a check for 1t. Bend
ing over her, and gazing down at her,
was Jack Moore. His hand held hers,
and she smiled up into his face. The
look in his eyes made me want to kill
him. / stepped forward and touched
an electric button, flooding the room
with light In a glance, saw on the
table by the couch two glasses, siphon,
and bottle half full of Scotch
whiskey. Before l could collect my
wits. Moore laughed lightly.
I was just saying good night to
this fair lady" he said, relinquishing
the hand he pretended to have been
shaking. And now bid you good
night. doctor"
Ignoring his outstretched hand. j
strobe to the door and flung 1t wide
open, pointing to 1t with a quivering
finger. Get out of here, you curl"
exclaimed.
He justified my use of the epithei
by obeying silently, and SO quickly
that In less than thirty seconds
heard the front door close behind
him
Without a word caught my wife
by the arm and dragged her to hel
feet. AS did SO felt my fingers sinh
into her flesh. saw her vince, and
was glad She gazed at me as II fas
cinated. heard myself speaking al
though were another man-all the
while holding her firm, cool arm.
told her that .his was the end o
things between us; that / could M
longer endure her and her lies; tina
she could go her way and I mine
that i would support her, but would
never live with her again-neveri
She made no protest, only stood Their,
and looked at me with a hRlf-sneer OF
her lips.
: What have you got TO say?'
asked her at last, in a hoArse voict
which scarcely recognized as m.
own. let go of her arm and waite,
for her to speak. She must answe
: me, thought. but she was silent.
What have you got to say?''
repeated, more loudly. Once more
: heard my voice rise to q queruIou
falsetto. My teeth chartered a
though | had a hard chill. grippe
my wife by both shoulders, SELLING he
so tightly that thought she must or
out that was hurting her I hope
: she would, as felt my fingers sin
again into her flesh. But this tim
she did not vince. She looked m
straight in the eyes. and her repl
slowly and distinctly.
That you are a cad. and l hat
you'll" She Kissed.
My hands dropped. saw ON he
bare shoulders the prints of my stron
/ fingers and the liVid dents my nail
: had MADE. l watched the flnger-mark
as they changed from white to angr
! crimson.
: Then went out of the house, an
left her standing there.
1 Three months after my vile and
had parted, | CHANGED one Sunda
n noon to be passing the fashionah
l church OF which Doris hs.s been
/. member before our marriage. A thron