The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1914-09-17

How very clever! l must tell your
wife"
She leaned forward a little toward
Unity. oh, Mrs. Tr1itt-"
Unity gave ear.
Il must tell you the clever thing
your husband just said. We were talk
ing about your school-Miss Smiths
seminary, wasn't it? And | called it
finishing school. And Mr.. Truitt
said"-Mrs. Saunders voice carried
well-"it isn't even a starter Awrly
good. think" A faint litter ran
down the table. "Ah-where is Miss
Smiths seminary, Mrs Truitt?"
1t was Henley himself, strange to re-
late. who came to Unity's rescue.
Never, Mrs. Saunders" he re-
marked, with an edge to his voice that
the men recognized, never uncover
the past-here, at least. Only the
other day Saunders was telling me
he often wakes up in a cold sweat, be-
cause he has heard in his dreams, Dig
in. ye tarrier!'
The men all laughed reminiscently
Unity and Mrs. Saunders exchanged
sweetest smiles. The dinner resumed
its even tenor.
Now" Mark grimly reminded him
self, I've let myself in for it,
But anger was surging. lie deemed
that, through Unity, he had been made
ridiculous.
The evening passed. Mark handed a
smiling Unity into their carriage. Not
a word passed between them during
the drive homeward, nor until they
were in their house. Mark led the way
20 the library. The gas jets were not
lighted. but the glow from generous
log fire threw their angry faces into
sharp relief. as they faced each other.
We'll, Unity, / suppose we're going
to have this thing out"
How could you?" she began storm
lily. And on this night of all nights!
Didn't you know she was leading you
on?'
"Yes-when it was too late
The sugary jealous snob! She
thinks because she's been abroad and
came from Philadelphia she's so aris-
tocratic And you-you-helped her
to shame me before them all"
How could l know that my wife
had been-fibbing about her ante
cedents?"
Would you have me admit them
to her and have her patronizing me?
Haven't you any pride?'
Haven't you any self-resp-"
But the bitter retort was halted, bit
ten off by the quick tightening OF his
in a slow, distinct. quiet voice that
Unity had never heard.
"On second thought, we will not
have this out. We couldn't agree as
to where the offense lies Mo-" He
raised hand, sharply, in protest,
as she began holly to interrupt. Il
mean that-quite. I'll remind you that
I'm not a culprit boy but husband
who has at last cut his leading strings.
Also that we have had enough scenes
in our pretty career together; one
more would be too many"
You take that tone-to me?"
Even to you"
She stared too amazed for anger.
why. what do you mean?"
You may take il as a declaration
OF independence"
Are you thinking" she gasped, "of
of divorce?"
Not yet. That may come, though.
Ii depends" He even smiled.
She tried a weapon that had been
effective. her pose of long-suffering in
iured innocence. But Unity, like all
the pampered. was a coward. He was
intuition again told her, capable Of
carrying out the cool menace in his
last words. The pose broke down mis-
erably. Forgetting the anger in which
she had come TO the interview, she
went toward him with a frightened
whimpering cry.
oh Mark"
He turned away with a careless lift
of his shoulders and a curt, Good
night"
Alone in his workroom he sat be-
fore the fire, staring despondently into
the dancing flames.
II have been a fool" he said II
have given up enough Now will let
CO."
AS well as he could, he tried to keep
that promise to himself.
tTO BE CoNTINUED)