Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-09-22

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Yet Mr.. Colburn always seemed so
quiet-so much Of a gentleman"
He is when he's not drinking-but
alcohol changes his whole nature. Oh
if you knew" shudderingly, what I've
gone through in the last six months"
II wouldn't think of that now" gen
tly.
How can help it? Do you think
l can ever get those scenes out Of my
mind? And last night-oh, I'm
through-Tm through! Last night de-
cided it! When he's over this-Tm
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 off like
that"
What do you think he said last
night?" her eyes ablaze. THAT if l
left him-he'd never give me a 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 were parasites-that nine.
tenths of them lived with their hus-
bands because they were too lazy or
too incapable to work. That if l
wanted my pay-rd have to stick to
my job"
But he wasn't himself" pleaded
Helen. What he did proved that"
Then hesitatingly, "How-how did it
happen? Was it right AFTER
She nodded. "He came home in an
ugly mood I went to my room and
until let him in. His face was awful
I never saw him so Infatuated. He al
ways keeps a revolver, but it's never
loaded. I didn't think it was last
night, until he showed me the car
tridges. Even then I wasn't afraid
suppose I didn't care. Oh, don't re-
member what he said-but at last he
Then I heard the shot,
She shivered and caught her breath.
II found him lying on the floor, the
pistol beside him. Rosa and I got him
on the bed and phoned for a doctor
it seemed hours before he came Oh,
it was awful, trying to stop the blood!
The doctor stayed with him until the
nurse came, and II haven't seen him
since"
Has he asked for your"
She nodded.
And you refused to see him."
Yes" bitterly. 81 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, l can't" recoilingly; I 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 Colburn
rose to follow the nurse
Don't co. appealingly to Helen.
"Wait for me-"
/ Drawing chair to the shaded light,
| Helen took up a 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. Colburn
wants you to come to the door,
Helen followed her across the hall
to the darkened room. Mrs. Colburn
was sitting by the bed, fearing to
move lest she awaken her husband,
who was now sleeping quietly, one of
her hands tightly clasped in his.
| Her whole face had softened. She
smiled up at Helen, tremulous I'M
certain smile, that seemed to acknowl-
edge her weakness, the weakness of
love-not of dependency.
/ Very gently Helen closed the door.
and, knowing that she was now no
longer needed, went down to her own
apartment.
On the hall rack hung one of War
ren's overcoats. With a rush of emo
tional tenderness she buried her face
in it's rough folds, which held the faint
man odor of tobacco and downtown
SCOT
How fine and strong and dependable
Warren was! How trivial his faults
of irritability and temper now seemed.
How much she had-how much more
than that poor little woman upstairs!
From the wide flap pocket she had
drawn out heavy gray glove. Slip
ping her small hand into it, she wrig-
gled the long untitled fingers with a
feeling of exultation at Warren's size
and strength. He was so big and