Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-01-21
A
Passing Cloud
Bv VICTOR REDcLIFE
-, ,o,,, w....r. Newspaper Uaioa.,

.ot,onoI female. and declined further
disclosures.
sand / have no desire to pry INTO
! the same" said Judge Ashton. your
husband feels that hr was rasn anu
unwise In leaving you as he dio' anu
wishes to make peace with-you'
ooh does he, indeedT" Observed
Mrs. Hardy. "How contrite' humD,e
and accommodating, after pracncaiiy
deserving me for a week, creating spec
ulation and gossip and" mothering
a half-sob, repressed with dificuits-
Showing that he has no respect of
no-regard for me-"
Don't say that, Mrs. Hardy" plead
ed the Judge soothingly. II happen 10
know that Mr.. Hardy deplores the I'M
pulse that led him to leave you Tor a
! visit to his sister. he wishes to return
and let bygones be bygones."
The face of his auditor was set stern
and incorporating. Finally shs
said: "This is his home; no one has
turned him out of It."
"Then you forgive and forget and
the dove Of peace"
"I shall never forget" interrupted
Mrs. Hardy bitterly. He has at
fronted me. but l shall try to Danish
his misdoings from my mind"
"Tell you, Mrs. Hardy" spoke the
%peacemaker briskly, well call 1t an
armistice. eh7 Try out a really good
man and make him better: don't be
too hard on him. after ten years OK
happy married life."
Mary Hardy looked unrelenting. but
| she did not dissent to the suggestion
made.
She had not always been thus. AZ
ter a full decade Of comfort and con-
tent, John Hardy had seen grow upon
his wife a spirit Of carping criticism,
apparent Jealousy and whimsical I'M
steadlness of temper. He felt that he
was being watched. under suspicion,
with no reason for thu Amt She
grew peevish, irrational. seeming al
most to hate him at times. Then came
the crisis-rebellion on his part, sting
ing insinuations on hers. He had
swung out of the house In a fury one
day, and the next she learned that he
was at the home Of relatives In an
other town.
As they both were seated In the lit
tie parlor of their home Mrs. Hardy
noticed for the first time that a space
behind his ears was shaver clean Of
hair and bore two piasters. what IL
the troublef" she asked in%voluntarily,
pointing to them. Immediately John,
noting the movement of her lips. hol-
gravely: you will have to speak very
loud to me. Mary, as I am quite deaf.
/ fell Off q wagon at my sisters farm
and have not heard distinctly since.
The doctor says It may pass away In
time, but for the present I can hear
almost nothing"
"Can-can / do anything to aid
your" she inquired. and then masked
, the sympathetic impulse expressed in
her face.
81 think not, only by being patient
with me. The plasters will gradually
ECotoAS IL ih6. thC oOttoI HuyHs
Until they do. I shall be a trial to you"
| Mrs. Hardy bit her lip. II her hus-
band could not hear. she was deprived
Of the privilege Of giving him q piece
Of her mind when the mood swayed
herl After a week Of the new condi.
lions, however. except for un sociabil.
ity. the process Of silence had tanned
down the scolding qualities Of Yrs.
Hardy considerably.
One day a cousin Of Mrs. Hardy.
whom she had o seen for some years,
came to pay her q visit. The follow.
ing afternoon John was asleep on q
couch In the sitting room. when he
was aroused by the sound Of voices In
the parlor adjoining.
II am 30 glad you have come, mis-
wife was saying. 1T shall 40 wild II
! do not ind relief In speaking out
my troubles. Oh. Laura! my husband
is so changed during the last six
months"
He il in the next room." spoke the
visitor.
Probably asleep. and. II not, una
BILE to overhear ~. 1t all came from
the time he said he was away on bust.
ness In the city for Q week. Oh. the
burden Of misery ! have borne since
then" and Mrs. Hardy broke down
weeping.
Tell me all about It. dear, and let
me console you. II ] can"
swell. when he came home ! found a
lady's hne lace handkerchief In one
pocket. and In another q jewelers. rs.
eeipt for Q f~fty-doilar bracelet marked
'Gracis.'"
The sound Of John Hardy coming TO
his feet with q tremendous slam. his
hearty "Ha ] hal On. the folly of II I"
roared out excitediy. startled the two
women. and he stood before them In a
vivid fervency Of emotion.
Lucky my hearing came back th,.
morningi" he cried. "sfary. you're a
goose. Mary. you think q deal Of me.
or you wouldn't be 90 foolishIy teal.
ousi The time I went TO Nh. civ 7
one day loaned brother my oyercost
o call upon his lady love. the same
Oracle you are raving about. 40 this
10 the cause Of all your wretchSdness1
o dear souli Come 20 the arms N
man who couldn't love anyone else
In the world II he tried"