Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-09-23
REDEMPTION
BY MARGARET A. NORTON.

&c. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate)
1t was crucial moment. Rachel
recognized 1t. Without seconds hesi-
tation she grasped the steaming coffee
pot and, with an alarming agility, sent
1t, contents and all, right through the
big pane Of glass in the dining room
window.
Then, with slightly heightened
color, but apparently otherwise calm
and placid, she began filling some
glasses with water to substitute In
Mace Of the usual beverage.
Ralph, astonished, aghast, his mouth
Open stood as If turned to stone and
watched his wife's movements. To
his astonished gaze she appeared as
cool and chilly as a winter morning.
"They" had told her why, even
Ralph's own mother had warned her
that Ralph's ugly temper had spoiled
his first wlfe's life; that he was given
to fits Of "meanness," which while
they lasted made life near him, or
with him, a misery and terror
"They" had said that she would rue
the day she married him. for he was
"overbearIng and tyrannical" and had
no thought for anyone but HIMSELF
To all well-meanlng critics, except
Ralph's mother, Rachel had turned
smiling but unmoved face. With Mrs.
Rodman she had talked earnestly.
For some months her tactfulness
and the love Ralph undoubtedly bore
his handsome and cheerful wife held
his tyrannlcal temper within bounds.
But this lovely April morning he had
risen with all his disagreeable propen-
stiles on the surface.
Rachel had not uttered word OF
remonstrance, not even when her hus-
bard kicked the unoffendlng cat threw
a chair In his path to the other side
Of the room and nearly broke the
covers of her new range when he
replenshed the fire. She pretended
not TO notice that her merry remarks
were unanswered or glared at. 1t was
not until through his own careless
ness, he had spilled few drops OF
hot coffee on his wrist and had, with
a muttered oath, thrown the offending
cup across the room, landing 1t In
scraps on a pretty and priced rug, that
Rachel acted.
II was then that she followed his
example. but to his horror and the
sudden cooling of his pettlsh resent
ment, not only followed his example,
but went his several better, for the
window pane was valuable one and
the coffee pot one Of their best we'd
ding gifts.
Neither spoke during the hasty
meal that followed.
At dinner she acted just as usual.
Ralph was very silent. He noted that
the debris Of the morning explosion
lay where II had fallen. His mother
and uncle were coming TO tea.
After dinner he gathered up the
broken glass and cleared away the
coffee grounds.
That night she prepared letter. II
was not long. In II Rachel told her
husband that she had been warned
about his infammable temper; that
she loved him despite that very bad
blemish, and she believed he was man.
ly enough to conquer his ruling pas
sion. She told him that she meant
for a while. "only for while, and
Just as an object lesson, to show you
how terrible such behavior Is. When
I see that my acts are not bearing
fruit and that you are not bearing
fruit and that you are not worth my
descending to such tactics then I shall
say 'good-by,' and forever 'good-by' l
cannot live with a husband unworthy
my respect. I should still love you,
Ralph, but should leave you just the