The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-06-22


self In love with Firth. Which is ex-
actly as bad as the real thing. Or
perhaps II is the same thing. And,
too, there was the element of adven-
ture, secrecy, apprehension. Love
flowers best In such conditions. Here
lies the chief defect of marriage
ease OF access to the loved one. There
are no difficulties, no obstacles. II
some method could be invented where
by husband would incur risk in see
ing his wife, or the wife have to plan
and evade and dare In order to see
her husband. divorce would disappear
from the earth.
For weeks now Jane had been hold
ing Firth at arms length, reluctantly
and with greater difficulty. She was
happy again, clandestiuely happy,
thrilled. poised on the brink of the
precipice.
On Friday night Mcdonald took
an earlier train than usual, arriving at
his home~shortly after ten o'clock. He
was at the end of his rope. The worst
had happened. He was smashed,
beaten down, cbliterated. AS he alight-
ed from the train he was Just where
he had started fifteen years ago-no,
he was In worse case than he had
been then. Fifteen years ago he had
dared to embark In business for him.
self. He had possessed youth and
hope, and about his neck was no mill.
stone of responsibility. He could make
or break and no damage done to any
but himself. II was different tonight.
When his creditors finished with him
ne would not have two nickels to jim
sle together. Even the house toward
Which he walked so slowly and heav-
iy-that would be gone. He dreaded
he ordeal of breaking the news to
'ane.
Usually he rode home In n jitney--
onight he walked, walked to save the
suarter II would have cost to ride He
bok the short cut through vacant
bt TO his back door. The soft lawn
feadened his footsteps as he rounded
ne house to the low porch, and he ar
Aved unheard. So lost was he in his
apprehension of the coming interview
18th his wife that he was unconscious
{ his surroundings until he stood at
ne corner OF the porch. Then the
Sound of mans voice arrested him.
ie paused, not intending to spy. and
he mans words came to his ears, ve-
hement words, impassioned words. 8.
John Firth was making love to his
Wife
Mcdonald hesitated. He did not
think clearly: was Incapable OF sharp
decision.
"You must love me-" he heard Firth
say. "You must You must. s,
can't get along without you, Jane :.
Jane :" There was a brief silence.
"'rell me you love me. Say you'll go
away with me. Nobody, nothing
has the right TO keep us apart IL we
love. It's n sin to keep us apart"
"I--oh, let me think, let me think"
said Jane.
Think You've had time for think
ing. Weeks and months Of It. You
must know. You do know. Oh.
Jane. nobody ever loved you as do"
TITS sweet to be loved" said Jane.
"But--oh, woman has so much to
think OF.
Just think or you ana moor the
happiness we have a right to have. :.
Tell me. Jane. tell me you love me-"
Not now, John" Mcdonald heard
DIS wire say, NOT tonight Let me
have lust this night to think. Tomor-
row ih-iii tel you-how IL IS TO De,
you'll tell me you love mef foui
feli me you VIII go away with meF'
Jane paused, WINE MCDONALD Wait
ed dumbiy, unable to speak, unable 10
move II nope So she saia' SOFT
~
Mcdonald turned slowly. steaithiiy
he walked away. lie ala not want 10
be seen or heard lie wanted TO get
away ana 10 race th's new disaster TO
stare INTO us eyes ana 10 demand us
meaning lie tramped. Hour aiter
hour he tranlped, his mead seeming
with incoherent thoughts: 80 ne had
lost everything business, wiie, nome
all IN one depaclel lie tried 10 reaiiHe
- ~ - 49, -
lure. he cou'd NOT. he gropeu Tor
some plan TO follow' Tor some aetion TO
take-put there was no llght 10 io'io"'
only me murk OF confinement one
thihS ne knew. one iact $1,000 our. ne
did not want 10 lose MS wire ana MS
nome. ferhaps ms wire might De
petter Wiie ana MS nome happier
hoine-pu, they were MS anu ne want
en them. Inc tilousht OF 'os'hg "hat
ay yonoer was ih'oierabie 10 MN.
ibefe were savage thoughts' ZOO
vioieht tnoug.'s out ne ioueht ,heui
nown' Soineho" ne uiu not p'aiie
flrth' anu ne couio not plame MS
stancee vere af fault II was inst tho