The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-29

words MY precious darling" down
TO the fragment of devotional ardor
which her stiffled gasp interrupted.
"Enid-you!" he rasped out harsh.
~ as he started TO his feet. His own
face became drawn and white as his
glance rested on the terrible express
sion in hers.
That morning at breakfast he had
faced care-free. laughing girl; now
he saw her woman with a tragic
agony in her CHASTITY face. He could
see in her eyes the unspoken accusa-
ton. and he knew with a sense of
horrible fnality that he bore every
expression OF guilt
The silence between them seemed
to last into au eternity. Then, in
voice that was unrecognizable even
to herself, Enid spoke.
Philip, how could you do this
thing?" she no more than whispered,
while she pluckcd with unsteady.
nervous fingers at the posy she had
gathered so lovingly with such ten.
der thoughts for him. How could
YOU have another woman in your life
and keep me ignorant OF it? How
could you blast my life like this?"
Hurriedly. furtively, the man
glanced sideways at the letter.
Il can eXplain-if YOU will listen"
he began, but Ends laugh, shrill
from her broken heart, cut short his
sentence.
Explain! What. would you add
to the disgraceful deed with spoken
lies? have seen all l wish 10 see,
have heard all ever wish to hear
from your lips. No explanations in
the world can cover the fact that you
are writing letter full Of passionate
love to another woman Do you
deny it?" she waited breathlessly, al.
most hoping he would.
mo. l do not deny 1t. 1t would
be futile" he assentcd duly.
"You have probably written
others?' asked Enid with frightful
GOODNESS In her tone.
Eyes, I have written others. But
II YOU will let me explain''-
Il repeat, l want no explanation.
There can be one and only one; that
much can assure myself with every
nroof-you are another woman's
lover. And you are no longer my
husband"
"Enid!' 'r,-,,
you thought I was safely out OF
the way; YOU forgot, with your usual
lack Of foresight, to remember that
the door has faulty catch. You
deemed yourself safe from the In.
trusons OF a woman who must be
loathsome TO You since you put an.
other in her place"
Enid. it is all wrong / swear to
YOU. all %rong!"
Then tell me TO whom II is you
write that ir'passioned letter, 10
whom you have written those other
letters? All! there is an envelope, /
shall see" She stretched forth her
hand for the envelope which was ~
Ing already stamped and addressed
but half-concealed b. a book on the
desk. Instantly Philip snatched II
out Of reach of her hand and flung II
into drawer which he shut with q
bang
Enid shrank back.
80 you refuse me that much of
what is my just due?' she said the
cultural words sticking in her
parched throat.
Beads of Precipitation stood out on
her husbands forehead, his mouth
was set in n straight. hard line.
II must refuse you, Enid-for hon.
or's sake l must refuse you what 7
know only too wcll you have every
right TO ask and TO know" he replied.
His wife stepped back from him.
Her face was scornful. and her eyes
swept him as something abhorrent.
"Honor!" she repeated. and
laughed. The man WINGED. "You 10
talk Of honor! That. Philip. Is some.
thing that you have done with forever.
You have degraded your manhood.
You have done worse, you have do.
GRADED me. You screen from mo tho
name OF the woman who has stolen
YOU from me. Very wel, Philip March,
there is only one thing for YOU to do,
30 to her. From this instant cease
10 be your Wife She turned and