The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-07-16

CT MI AOtUuIn Always bSSAhSA
quiet-so much of a gentleman"
"He is when he's not drinking-but
alcohol changes his whole nature. On,
II you knew" shudderingly, what I've
gone through in the last six months"
Il wouldn't think pf that now" gen.
tly.
How can l help it? Do you think |
can ever get those scenes out OF my |
mind? And last night-oh, I'm
through-I'm through! Last night de-
cided 1t! When he's over this-Pm
going to leave him." passionately.
I'm going to make my own living
somehow"
That's very foolish" Helen stroked
the hand that had clasped hers. "You
know he wouldn't let you go on like
that"
What do you think he said last
night?" her eyes ablaze. THAT II i
left him-he'd never give me cent.
He says that's his hold over me-that
I'm afraid to leave him because ! can't
support myself"
"But he never says those things ex-
cept when he's drinking?"
mo, but he must think them. Peo-
pie don't say things, even when
they're drunk, that haven't been in
their thoughts. Last night he said all
women we're parasites-that nine.
tenths of them lived with their hus-
bands because they were too lazy or
too incapable to work. That If !
wanted my pay-Td have to stick to
my job"
But he wasn't himself" pleaded
Helen. what he did proved that"
Then hesitatingly, "How-how did 1t
happen? Was it right after"
She nodded. "He came home in an
ugly mood. l went to my room and
locked the door-but he banged on It
until let him in. His face was awful.
l never saw him so infuriated He al.
ways keeps a revolver, but it's never
loaded. I didn't think 1t was last
night, until he showed me the car
tridges. Even then / wasn't afraid
suppose didn't care. oh, don't re-
member what he said-but at last he
left me and went back to his room,
Then I heard the shot"
She shivered and caught her breath.
Il found him lying on the floor, the
pistol beside him. Rosa and l got him
on the bed and phoned for Doctor
1t seemed hours before he came. oh,
it was awful, trying to stop the blood
The doctor stayed with him until the
nurse came, and IL haven't seen him
since"
"Has he asked for your?
She nodded.
And you refused to see him"
"Yes," bitterly. Il never want to
see him again"
Don't you think that's rather
hard?
you wouldn't think so If you
knew"
A tap on the door and the nurse en-
tered.
Mrs. Colburn, your husband keeps
calling for you. He's exciting himself
and his fever's very high Won't you
come-just for moment?"
"oh, / can't" recoilingly; " ! can't!
Don't ask me-"
Il think you should" urged Helen
A moments silent struggle with her
bitterness and outraged pride, then
with slow reluctance Mrs Colburr
rose to follow the nurse.
Don't CO." appealingly to Helen
wait for me-"
Drawing chair to the shaded light
Helen took up book. But she could
: not read; she was picturing the scene
In that other room.
Fifteen minutes--a half hour passed
: Then the nurse came in.
Hes sleeping now. Mrs. Colburr
wants you to come to the door,
: Helen followed her across the hal
to the darkened room. Mrs. Colburr
was sitting by the bed, fearing e
I move lest she awaken her husband
3 who was now sleeping quietly, one o
: her hands tightly clasped in his.
I Her whole face had softened. Sh'
. smiled up at Helen, tremulous IN
certain smile, that seemed to acknowl
4 edge her weakness, the weakness o
s Ioye-not Of dependency.
r Very gently Helen closed the dool
: and, knowing that she was now n
longer needed. went down to her owl
apartment.
/ On the hall rack hung one OF Wal
e ren's overcoats. With rush OF emf
tional tenderness she buried her fac
$ in its rough folds, which held the fain
v man odor Of tobacco and downtow
SCOT.
/ How fine and strong and dependabl
Warren wasi How trivial his fault
Z CT irritability and temper now scenes
: How much she had-how much NOR
:, than that poor little woman upstairs
d From the wide flap pocket she ha
drawn out a heavy gray glove. Sill
:. ping her small hand into it, she wril
IS gled the long untitled fingers with
s feeling Of exultation at Warren's sil
,e and strength. He was so big an
Il strong and virile-so wholesome an
d clean-habited-rubhing her cheek 10
ingly against the shaggy coat 81
D. had never realized before how deep
grateful she should be that Ware