The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-03-06

Il tell you We ought to be taught
we ought to be taught, when we are
young, what marriage really MEANS
just as We are taught not to steal, nor
lie. nor sin. In marriage we do all
three-when we're i'll mated. We steal
anection from some one else, we lie In
our lives. and we sin in our relation.
ship"
Ethel asked him very quietly:
do you mean that you are sinner,
thief and liar?"
Brent looked ut her in horror.
"Oh. take some Of the blamew said
Ethel. Don't put it all on the wo.
man."
You've never spoken to me like this
before"
1--WE often wanted to-" replied Ethel;
then she asked him, What do you in
tend doing?"
Separate" he answered eagerly
You don't doctor a poisoned limb
when your life depends on it; you cut
1t of. When two lives generate a
deadly poison. face the problem as a
surgeon would-amputate."
"And after the operation what
then?" asked Ethel.
"That is why l am here facing you.
Do you understand what l mean?"
"Oh, dear. yes-perfectly! have
been waiting for you to get to the
point"
Ethel" and he impulsively stretch
ed out his arms, embracing her.
She drew back slightly, just out of
his reach.
wait" She looked up ut him quiz
zically. Suppose we generate poison?
What would you do-amputate me?'
You are different from all other
women"
Didn't you tell your wife that
when you asked her to marry you|
He turned away impatiently. Don't
say those things, Ethel; they hurt"
I'm afraid, Christian, I'm too frank.
Am not?"
"You stand alone, Ethel You seem
to look into the hearts of people and
know why and how they beat"
II do-sometimes. It's an awkward
faculty."
He looked at her glowingly. How
marvelously different two women can
be! You-my Wife,
Ethel shook her head and smiled her
calm, dead smile: "We're not really
very different, Christian. Only some
natures like change. Yours does. And
the new have all the virtues. Why.
l might not last rs long as your wife
did"
Don't say that. We have COM
mon Misunderstanding"
'Think SOP"
II understand you
II wonder"
"You do me-"
"Yes-that is Just the difficulty"
II tell YOU am ut the crossroads.
The finger board points the way to me
distinctly"
"Does it?"
1T does" He leaned across to her.
"Would you risk it,"
"What?" she asked.
"Ill hide nothing. I'll put 1t all be-
fore you-.the snubs Of your friends;
the whisper Of q scandal that would
grow into roar; afraid to open n
newspaper, fearing what might be
printed In 1t; life ut first in some lit
tie continental village. dreading the
passers through, keeping out Of sight
lest they should recognize one. No. 1t
wouldn't be fair to you.'
Ethel thought moment, then an
Swered slowly:
mo. Chris, don't think 1t would"
"YOu see am cad-just selfish
cadg
"Aren't your" and she smiled up Mt
him.
"1'll never speak of this again.
would have spoken now-only-l'm dis
tracted-compIetely distracted. Will you
forgive me for speaking as did?"'
Certainly" said Ethel. I'm not
offended. On the contrary. Anyway,
Ill think 1t over and let you know"
"You will. really?" he asked grecdily.
grasplng Mt the straw of n hope. you
VIII really luluk IL OVer!
II will, really"
"And when she sets me free" he
went on. I'VE could. we could"- He
suddenly stopped.
She looked coolly Mt him as he hest
tatetl and said, ut ia n difficult little
word Mt times, isn't it,"
"Would you marry me?" he asked.
with supreme effort.
II never cross my bridges until I
come to Them" said Ethel languidly
"And we're such long way from that
one, aren't wei"
"Then l am to waltz
Eyes; d." she replied.
CHAPTER XIII.
An Unexpected Arrival.