The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-01

Listen to mel You misunderstood
entirely and. | believe, wilfully the
scene between Mrs. Clarkson and me.
If you hadn't been dishonorable
enough to read my letter you wouldn't
have been here housekeeping. Put
since you were, l have the right to tell
you that l don't lie to you and that
I'm innocent. l declare It on my
honorl You can believe it or not, as
you likei"
She was standing near the door,
watching me, startled, but, at these
words, she threw back her head and
laughed harshly. las you make the
assertion on your honor, l do not be-
lieve It'll" And she was gone.
l slammed the door behind her,
locked 1t, buried my face in my hands
and, to my own horror, burst into
hysterical sobs.
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 l had just
passed l was too much shaken, my
nerves were too raw, for me to want
to chat with a crowd of men, and l
went instead to spend a couple of
quiet, restful hours with my mother.
l told her nothing of what had hap
pened, but her very presence Gained
me. Leaving her at ten o'clock, l
came home and let myself into the
apartment noiselessly, supposing that
nArfa hoH nana 80 h1- 1900. o-d 1-1
sibly, to sleep. With no other thought
in mind, l pushed open the door Of a
little room which we called the den"
AS l entered, l saw that the room was
lighted only by the glow from the
grate-ire. 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 a new evening gown, and,
even in that moment, l remembered
with a sensation akin to ~ironical
amusement that only today l had sent
her dressmaker a check for it. Bend
ing over her, and gazing down at her,
was Jack Moore. His hand held hers,
and she smiled up into his face. The
lOOh III MS Cy co az Aho nohN ~ ~
him. stepped forward and touched
an electric button, flooding the room
with light. In a glance. l saw on the
table by the couch two glasses, siphon,
and a bottle half full of Scotch
whiskey. Before l could collect my
wits, Moore laughed lightly.
Il 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, l
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 epithet
by obeying silently. and so quickly
that in less than thirty seconds l
heard the front door close behind
him.
Without a word I caught my wife
by the arm and dragged her to her
feet. AS l did SO | felt my fingers sink
into her flesh. / saw her vince, and !
was glad. She gazed at me as if fas-
cinated. | heard myself speaking as
though l were another man--all the
while holding her firm, cool arm. 1
told her that this was the end of
things between us; that l could no
longer endure her and her lies; that
she could go her way and / mine;
that l would support her, but / would
never live with her again-never!
She made nc protest, only stood there
and looked at me with a half.sneer on
her lips.
What have you got to say?" l
asked her at last, in a hoarse voice
which l scarcely recognized as my
own. I let go of her arm and waited
for her to speak. She must answer
me, l thought, but she was silent.
What have you got to say?" /
repeated. more loudly. Once more I
heard my voice rise to a q~uerulous
~falsetto. My teeth chartered as
though ! had a hard chill. / gripped
my wife by both shoulders, seizing her
SO tightly that I thought she must cry
out that l was hurting her. l hoped
she would, as l felt my fingers sink
again into her flesh. But this time
she did not vince. She looked me
straight in the eyes, and her reply
slowly and distinctly.
That you are a cad, and | hate
you!" she Kissed.
My hands dropped. l saw on her
bare shoulders the prints of my strong
fingers and the livid dents my nails
had made. I watched the finger-marks
as they changed from white to angry
crimson.
Then l went out OF the house, and
left her standing there.
Three months after my wife and |
had parted, / CHANGED one Sunday
noon to be passing the fashionable
church Of which Doris had been a
member before our marriage. A throne
Of people were pouring out after the
morning service. A within seized me
to enter. OF late years I had at
tended church but seldom. / remem-
bered that after the service just ended
there would be the celebration OF the
communion, to which only a small part
of the congregation would remain.
Entering, l went into a pew in a
Swallowed corner and listened to the
service, until, looking up suddenly,
saw Doris passing up the aisle to-
ward the chancel. A wave of regret,
conjunction and compassion swept
over me-a desire to be at peace with
her-and, obeying an inexplicable