The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-18
copvrteat. 1els. by Doda, Mead 6. companv

8est to their union. It's been my cursea 'FWhy wrang1fagT' drawIed Ethel 'She didn't understand"
 "You?" asked Ethel. in surprise.
 'My thoughts. my actfOns!7
 "How curious!'
 "You mean you WouIdT'
 Probably
 her hand She drew it away and get tied herself comfortably to listen again. 'TeIl me more about your wife, 'aThe slightest attention shown to any other woman meant a ridiculous q humiiating scene"
 ''Humiliating
 Aren't doubt and suspicion huulh 1ating?'
 'They would be a compliment is some cases"
 ssHow ?"
 '~They would put fictitious value on some men, M "You couldn't hunfliate in that way he ventured slowly. "No. don't think could. If a man showed q preference for any other woman she would be quite welcome tc him" e aNo man couldp' said Brent fnsin- uatinglY. s
 
 Let me see-Where were your Just married. weren't you9 Go on" '"Then came the baby" He said that with a significant meaning and paused to see the effect on Ethel Ii it had any Ethel effectua1ly concealed it Her only comment was: "Ahw Brent went on:
 ssOne would think that would change l things. But no. Neither of us want 1 ed her. Neither of us loves her. Chil 1 dren should come of love. not hate And she is child of hate, He paused. l looking intentiy at Ethel. She looked understanding at him. then dropped 1 her eyes. | Brent went cn as if following up ans i advantage: ''SAe sits in her little chair, her small, wrinkled old. disilIusioBed 1 face turned to us. with the eyes watch ] ing us accusingly. She submits to ca resses as though they were distasteful l as if she knew they were lies. Al times she pushes the nearing face away with her little baby fingers He stop ped, watching her eagerly. Her eyes went down
 q shouldn't tell you this It's ter rible I see ig in your face. What are you thinking?"
 'rm sorry" replied Ethel simply.
 ''For me?,
 "For your wife"
 s'My wffe?" he repeated, aghast
 'Yes." said Ethel. Aren't you? Nol Are you just sorry for yourself?" 1 Brent turned impatiently away So this laying open the wound in his life was nothing to Ethel. Instead of pity for him. all it engendered in her wal sorrow for his wife.
 How little wemen understood himI I There was a pathetic catch in his voice as he turned to Ethel and said responsibility:
 "You think me purely selfsh?' i"NaturaIly," she answered quickly. 'tI am. Why not be truthful about our. selves sometimes2 Eh2''
 I've quarreled last night--abOut you!' he said desperately.
 "Really?''
 Gossip has linked us together. My wife has heard it and put the worst construction on it."
 ''weil?''
 "we said things to each other lasi night that can never be forgiven or forgotten. l left the house and walked the streets-h hours. I looked my whole life back and through as though it 1 were some SlEdHS9E B. GAS NuAAtE4 eAL ruptly away to the windows and stayed moment, looking down tho drive.
 Ethel said nothing
 He came back to her in a few mo mentS
 .I tell you we ought, to be taught we ought to be taught, when we arc young. what marriage really means just as we are taught not to steal noI lie, nor sin. In marriage we do al three-when we're i'll mated. We stea affection from some one else. we lie b our lives, and we sin in our relation ship"
 Ethel asked him very quietly;
 Do you mean that you are q sinner thief and liar?''
 Brent looked at her in horror
 "Oh, take some of the blamePi said Ethel. Don't put it all on the wo- man.
 You've never spoken to me like this before
 i've often wanted to- replied Ethel then she asked him, 'sWhat do you in tend doing2'
 $:sYou don't doctor a poisoned hmt when your life depends on it; you cni it off. \, hen two lives generate D deadly poison. face the problem as Q surgeon would-amputate."
 And after the operation WhaI then?' asked Ethel.
 (To Be ContinUed-E
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