The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-01-12
CONFESSIONS
OF A Wife
TIE SUICIDES STORY

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My party. little book. was "A great
success. Mollie and Chad did not
come. but. Of course. rather ex
pec,ed that. All the rest came. and
II you had eyes. dear little conf
dant. you would have smiled "a
yourself II you had seen Dick ms one
after another OF our guests came In.
Everybody was talking about a
suicide which had just been discov
cred. a very weli.known man who
had been missing number OF days
was found out in n suburban woods
n bullet hole thru his temple.
II never thought that John ster
ling would do such thing as that
lie has always been something OF n
wonder. but no In immensely rich
and had hosts OF friends. Have the
police any idea as 20 the cause. com
missioner" said Harry. turning &c
Tim.
Just before left tho central Of
flee. the report was brought 10 me. .
answered Tim. "nnd read IL over
very carefully. The body WAS found
at the foot OF tree in Piney Woods
and In the breast pocket OF The Goa,
was found letter saying that nc
one was to be blamed for his death
aa he had taken his own life"
IL can throw some light on tina,
matter" said Pat suddenly. but 1,
must go no further. You know the
society editor OF our paper IL a
friend OF his wife's. This morning
Mrs. Sterling sent for Miss Elise
Our society editor found Mrs. ster
ling nearly crazy. She handed her
the following letter. which had come
thru the mail this morning.
'Thc letter begins without any
saiutaiion," raid Pat when you
get this. my dear wife u reads. !
viii be somewhere in the land OF no
where. might take the trouble "a
diasertate on my belief or unbcliei
In anything after death, but the
time for conjecture on the state II
past In a very short while I will
have solved the riddle.
"T do not want you In any way
Go blame yourself for what am go
ing 10 do. Nothing you could have
done would have made any differ
ence in my determination 10 end 1,
all. Strange as IL may seem. am
not nj all desperate. Any one not
knowing me would say that have
no reason 10 take this step. and even
you will probably say the same after
you have read this letter.
"'You have never loved me. my
dear Mabel. and after the first few
weeks OF our misnamed honeymoon
when ! realized that II would Be i'm
into love. found that did not love
you.
I'VE have been good friends. Ma
bel. You have been more careful OF
my name and honor than have
myself. You have presided over my
home with dignity and charm. You
are beautiful. and have been proud
OF you ms have been OF my old
world paintings and my collection Of
Tanagra marbles.
Perhaps II we had had cbiidr~-
would have felt more responsible
ity--morc desire 20 nee the game
thru--but arm tired. Mabel--tiret
OF tho whole thing. You win b.
kmuch better off without me-yor
'bcautifui. self-containcd. seif-center
ed woman. You will look lovelicr
than ever in the trappines Of woe.
am content In the thought that
shall not cause you any great grief
"'You married me. Mabel. for my
money and my name. You have
kept your part OF the bargain. and !,
is no more than fair that should
keep mine. I arm leaving TO you cv
erything that I now possess.
Somehow I cannot think OF you
marrying any one else. but II you
should care 10 do no. let no mis-
tnken feeling Of loyalty 10 my mem
ory keep you from doing what your
heart dictates. Forget me as soor
M YOU can. That In the best thing
! can wish you when for the last
time l sign myself. your husband
JOHN"
To be continued