The Washington herald., 1914-07-05

and wrote. 1t was only a short note. but
she rewrote 1t many times:
Il suppose there is a limit TO the
cruelty and humiliation to which a man
may subject even the most crin9in.,
abject woman. And reached that limit
today. / think / can understand now
how woman can kill a man she loves
That sounds like cheap melodrama,
doesn't II? But then you have aIways
said was melodramatic.
You need not telephone when YOU
return from Buffalo. / shall not be
here. too, say now that am through
that l have had enough"
She mailed the letter, and then slipped
slept.
Ihe telephone was ringing shrilly. She
started up and gazed bewildered at the
instrument. Her mind was still con-
FUSED from the deep sleep and the sud
den awakening. 1t was several mo-
ments before she could think clearly.
then the events of the night before
swept back through her mind. Her
glance sought the clock. A quarter az
ter ten She had slept until then.
The telephone was still ringing. She
answered II now.
MIR. Stamford is calling" the girl
announced.
Who" she said weakly. although she
had heard the name clearly, and it had
sent her heart to her throat.
Mr.. Standford,' the girl repeated
sharply.
viii you ask him to come up?" The
words came mechanically.
Even after she put up the receiver
she still clung 10 the phone for support.
She was trembling all over. He was
here! What did it mean? And then
she realized that she was not dressed.
quickly she ran into the front room.
opened the door into the hall, and left
1t open, then ran back, closing her bed
room door. Often when he called un-
eNpectedly, she would let him come I'd
IN this way, and he would wait in the
front room while she dressed.
In moment she heard his step in IN.
hall, then she heard him enter the room
and close the door II took her lust
ten minutes to bathe and dress. and in
those ten minutes her mind held no
clear or distinct thought.
lie was standing by the window when
she entered the room. As she opened
the door he turned and came toward
her.
Too early for you." He said il half
indulgently, half contemptuously.
Il don't understand" Her voice was
low that she might keep it steady.
Don't understand what"
Why you came"
Because | wanted to. Occasionally
that's my reason"
he drew her down on a couch beside
him. DO you know that YOU are harder
to keep in order than race horse?" II
had been weeks since he had spoken 10
her in that half-laughing, half-moclinR
voice. You're always flying off on
some wild tangent. Now what is it this
time"
4 thought my letter was quite clear"
1T might have been if you had meant
And you think I didn't mean it-you
OF course you didn't mean II. not
htteen minutes after you wrote itr'
She was struggling to get away from
him now. OIL will prove it to you
| will"
He silenced her by drawing her to
him and kissing her, roughly at first.
and then more gently. She ceased
struggling and lay perfectly still. She
was conscious only that she was near
him, that the strength OF his arms was
about her, that once more every ouiver-
ing nerve thrilled at his touch.
Well. are We to begin over again ,"
She drew back and looked up at him.
her eyes full OF wonder. To begin over
again."
Yes, to begin over again"
oh. do you think we could do that"
Why mott"
To go back and be happy as we were
in the beginning?"
Why not:"
oh; if We only could-if we only
could"
Why can't we3"
And you-you will be kind and gen
lie and considerate as YOU used to Be-"
"Ah, now. don't 60 so fast Some of
this readJustment must come from you,
you know"
"Oh, yes. know. will do everything
everything l can. But you will help
me-"
Why shouldn't l help you?"
And you think YOU can be with me
more: 1t is these long absences that
make it so hard. They seem to build a
NALL between US. and make me so con-
strained and Self-conscious when we
meet. And the telephone-oh, | have
,ome to dread that! | don't seem able
o talk 10 you any more. I feel almost
frightened now when you call me up.
Oh. if | could only be sure that l would
zee you even once week-that would
lelp me so much, more than anything
.lse!'
Il can't see YOU when I'm not here"
"Oh, I know that. But when you
Ire-"
Il must look after my work, YOU
NOW. | can't afford to neglect that"
oh, OF cOurse-I wouldn't want you
o. | only meant if you would come
When you could"
Now suppose you leave that to me.
ct me be the judge OF when can
ONE"
His whole attitude was negative and
vasive. Even then she saw that. And
lie left without giving her one thing TO
old to-nothing but that moment in his
rms.
And yet-an hour later a messenger
eft her apartment with this letter:
The contempt you will have for me
;hen you read this note cannot exceed
he contempt | have for myself as I
rrite IT. These are the facts-I will Of