Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-03-31

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
affection 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 at 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 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 meanY
"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 at him quiz
z1cally. 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"
Il do-sometimes. It's an awkward
faculty."
He looked ut 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.
I might not last as long as your wife
did"
Don't say that. We have a CON-
mon misunderstanding.
Think SOP"
II understand you"
II wonder"
"YOu do me-
"Yes-that Is just the difficulty"
II tell you l am at the crossroads.
The finger board points the way to me
distinctly"
"Does 1t?'
1T does" He leaned across to het
"Would you risk it,"
"What" she asked.
"Tll hide nothing. I'll put it all be-
fore you-the snubs of your friends;
the whisper Of scandal that would
grow into roar; afraid to open q
newspaper, fearing what might be
printed in it; life at 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 a moment, then an
swered slowly:
mo, Chris, I don't think it would. -
"You see l am cad-just a selfish
cadw
aren't your" and she smiled up at
him.
"Ill never speak of this again.
would have spoken now-only-1'm dis.
tracted-completely distracted. Will you
forgive me for speaking as did,"
"Certainly," said Ethel I'm not
offended. On the contrary. Anyway
I'll think it over and let you know"
"You will, really?" he asked greedily,
grasping at the straw of hope. "You
will really think it over?"
II will, really"
| "And when she sets me Free" he
went on, I'VE could, we COULD He
suddenly stopped.
She looked coolly at him as he hest
tated and said, 1T is difficult little
word at times, isn't it?"
"Would you marry me?' he asked,
with supreme effort.
II never cross my bridges until !
come to Them" said Ethel languidly
"And we're such long way from that
one. aren't weY'
Then I am to wait?'
Yes; d." she replied.