The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-15

ufOppcu Wuen you nave neon- urtnk-
ing"
"And do you think that's all a man
wants-a passive submission to his
kisses, an enforced endurance OF his
lover"
For the second time the husband
hurled his question at her, What are
you going to do about it?"
Il am going to leave you"
And what about the girls?" he
queried. The excitement suddenly
left his manner. He eyed her calmly.
sure Of his ground.
She looked at him in establishment.
Il shall take them with me, OF
course" she declared. The law
would give them to me, anyway,-and
when they know the truth they will
want to go with me-
Who's going to tell them the
TRUTH"
Il SHALL" she affirmed. you needn't
try to stop mel"
II shan't try to stop you," he said
slowly. steadily. But before you
make that decision l have something
to say to you Sit down again,
please; you look tired"
Louise, you may, as you say, tell
your children all, but l want to re-
mind you what that all will be.
Your teaching, year in and year out,
repeated owe and over, has been,
briefly, that the soul is all, the body
its servant; that all decent women
shun fieshly appetites and seek soul
~harmonies; you have told them moth
ing Of marriage except that it is a sort
of earthly paradise In which two pure
mortals wander hand in hand, and
that those who enter 1t without love
sin against God and their own souls;
you have warned them that the wo-
man who marries a man who does
not regard marriage as she does
coarsens her whole being by sinking
to his level. You acknowledge that
these are pretty nearly the doctrines
you have instilled into them, don't
your"
The listener bowed her head. "They
are what l believe. That l have not
found life what l think it should be
would not justify me in lowering the
standards by which / want my chill
dren to live"
THAT is your way of putting it,"
said the MY way would be
that since you have found out that
some things are shams, it would be
well to prepare you children for the
same discovery"
THE things that l have taught them
are not shams!" began the wife eager
ly, but her husband stopped her.
wait n moment, please, till l fin
ish. You agree that you have de-
clared all these things which you call
facts to your daughters. Now you
propose to inform them that the man,
who you have told them was a good
man, was all the time bad, and that
you have known 1t; that he is coarse
and sensual, and yet that you have
lived with him, as his wife, mind you'll
for almost twenty years. What ex-
PLANTATION will you give them of that?
For children OF their age and with
their training cannot understand what
you call the mother-love that would
sacrifice truth and purity for the sake
of the beloved object! How will you
explain all this? For, mind you, il you
leave me, and take my children with
you, / shall tell them the brutal facts
as l know them-that you have all
along known what / am and that you
have lived with me in spite of your
high-11own theories; that you have lied
again and again to them about me,
and that, in fact, o have not lived
up to n Of the doctrines you have
taught them"
Tom, you couldn't do that, you
wouldn't do that! Have you no pity,
no gratitude, when you remember all
that l have endured for your"
But the man did not take her hands
in his. you endured 1t for the chill
dren, Louise, not for me. You know
perfectly well that had you not had
them you would have left me. But I
love them, too, and l propose to fight
fire with fire. / shall not disgrace
them publicly, I promise you, as long
as they are under my roof and pro-
lection. But If you attempt to take
them from me they shall know just
why you are doing 80. What is your
answer"
The wife started to her feet at the
sound of voices in the hall. Here
are the girls now!" she exclaimed
agitatedly.
so much the better!" declared her
husband. For you can answer me in
their presence. They will not under
stand, but I SHALL"
She caught at his arm, but he
evaded her, and, striding to the IL
brary door, flung 1t open.
Come in, children!" he called
heartily.
They came, flushed by rapid walk
ing in the night air and by pleasure
at the sight of their father.
TITS good to get you back again,
daddy" exclaimed Ruth as she threw
her arms about his neck, while less
demonstrative Constance remarked,
Home isn't nearly as nice when
you're away. dad"
The mother turned YEARLY toward
the hall.
Where are you going, mother?"
Constance asked.
Louise Marshall stopped and looked
for a moment at the group. Her fig