The Detroit times., 1914-05-12

had supposed a husband means to
you name-and a check book With
inexhaustible leaves
so you begrudge me the money |
spend You grow"
Your expense account. fully met
is the best answer 10 that. | think.
But | want more than money. Do
You think little money-a little
paltry money-can repay me for your
neglect and selfshness?"
$50 you scorn money Its news
to me- But think you've nothing to
complain Of"
Nothing" she cried is II moth
ing that | have TO go everywhere
alone, always having TO listen to whis-
pers behind my back OF my husband 5
foolish attempts 10 play the man
about town? You see, you couldn't
keep your escapade OF last year from
me- Or that you've turned the old
set against me by cheating poor Tim
othy Woodhouse out OF his last prop
erty?"
lie WINGED and flushed painfully at
that. She saw and believed she had
pierced his armor. She rose again,
that she might deliver her final thrust
most effectively.
do YOU call it nothing that you,
who have no time or thought TO spare
your wife, brazenly fiaunt your wom'
en- in public, on the streets and In
the parks, for all the city TO see and
gossip about?"
He was standing rigid, both hands
gripping his cane, his gaze fixed un-
waveringly on her The tightened
lips had become the merest line.
If you refer TO Mrs. Whiting" he
began ut last steadily, you will please
lise more respectful terms.
you Teprove me on her account!
This" she cried tragically, this Is
too much. | suppose this Mrs. Whit
ing If that's her name-is your mis-
tress-perhaps should say, your
latest mistress,
''Why, you-s-"
The storm burst choking back
speech, but hnding an outlet through
his eyes. lie reached out~swiftly and
caught her hand in cruel clutch
crushing the soft useless member un-
til her rings biz into the flesh and
she cried out in pain.
Let me go" she gasped. You're
hurting me"
He did not heed ~ Bitter
thoughts OF her burned resentment
for the years when she had played
upon his desire, upon his wistful long
ing for amiable companlonship and
then upon his loyalty TO their con
tract for the Grass bully's stupidity
with which she. intelligent in other
things, had approached their rela.
ton for her refusal to share his life
or TO create common life, with
which she had recompensed his early
passion, feeble counterpart OF love
though it had been. Most bitter OF
all was the thought OF the love be-
tween which and him she stood
hopeless barrier. He had, even in his
anger, no exalted notion OF his part
in their relation: but at least he had
sought. as long as he could In hope,
to make il decent and beautiful, a
refuge from the ugly strife against
which a secret part OF him, as ten
acious OF existence as was his desire,
had never ceased TO mutter its futile
protest To her both he and their re-
lation had been but means TO an
end, And what an end
into a chair She tried TO draw her
self up haughtily.
$50 you stoop to-"
Don't be ridiculous" he snarled.
"I stoop TO anything these days Just
now I'm trying TO think out what you
and / are going TO do. Sit down and
quit playing the tragedy queen
She hesitated then obeyed. He
closed his eyes and leaned back. The
storm spent itself leaving him weak
and heartsick. After many minutes
he looked up to her
I'm not very proud OF this scene.
You may take that as an apology"
What are apologies worth?" she
answered coldly.
Nothing. OF course. But | want
you TO know I'm ashamed" He
paused, wistfully regarding the love
liness so prodigal in promise. Il
think we've come to the end or our
chapter. Unity. But Ill give you
us-one more chance
You'd think | we're a criminal"
I'VE both are-but let that go.
Heretofore you've made our life. And
you've failed. Since our first month
we've never been really happy, at
least In each other. Now let me
choose. Let's go away somewhere"
To New York or abroad?'
Not to New York or abroad. To
Bethel or some place where we can
live a quiet, decent, natural life. let
us begin over again and try to re-
cover what we've lost-or rather
what we never had"
you are absurd"
"Is it absurd for man 10 ask his
wife-you've claimed the title-to
share the life he wants and needs?'
You forget to consider what
would have from such an arrange
ment"
"You would have me"
She answered with a contemptuous
shrug. Il will do nothing so silly.
You ask too much"
All, You're franker than thought
you could be. I'm glad you're frank
He rose. looking curiously down at
her III you look back, you'll find
I've never asked you anything until
now. I've been content to take-at
least, I've taken-only what 1t suited
your whims to give me. And you've
given exactly nothing. Nothing more,
anyhow, than the street woman would
give-not so much, because she
would sometimes consult my wishes
and interest. If only for business rea-
sons. You've taken me, my acquies-