The Glenwood post., 1924-03-13

can't be remedied. you know"
Except this. I'm tired Of you, John.
Sick of you"
sick? Tiredr He again faced
her. "Sick Of" Then for a long
time he was silent again. "There.
sweetheart. don't mind me. OF course
you're tired. III. too. Well talk 1t
over in the morning"
There isn't going to be any morn
Ing. John. At least. not with you"
She laughed. '1Ten years Is enough.
l want someone else now"
"You?" He was on his feet In an
instant. his fingers stretching wide,
his brow working convulsively, you
Medaine?"
Exactly what l said"
"A man?''
You don't suppose 1t would be any
one else?
But Medaine-"
And have your permission to goT
1t seemed that there was little sar-
casln i'll her tone. "Of course, you
Know, I'd do nothing without your
permission. want to be frank with
Tor ten years. You've given me every
thing in the world 1 could ask for,
you've supplied me with all the money
that anyone in my circumstances could
wish for. and you've really made 1t
possible for me to have the money to
DO what | wanted to do when the time
came, and SO | really should ask your
permission. Especially when another
man Is involved"
DO you mean coldness had come
into his voice, that you're going to
take the money that you've saved as
my wife to go to some other MANI"
I've said nothing like that, John.
Merely frankness and fairness to let
you know"
"Who Is her"
"A friend of yours. We needn't
mention names"
No" There were no long pauses
between John Carrington's words now.
The whiteness Of his cheeks, the lack
OF color in his lips, turning them
CHASTITY blue in the light of the drift
wood. the glazed yet flaming appear
ance of his eyes all gave evidence that
temper had gone beyond control.
No? We needn't mention names.
That's what you say, Mrs. John Car
rington, but I've different idea!"
your privilege! But the informa-
ton won't come from me-"
Il don't expect 1t. l can find out
for myself. without the necessity Of
running down any lies which you
might tell me. I'll find out"
II expect you to-"
II WILL" John Darlington, the per.
feet husband, swung past his chair to
face her. his hands gripped, the
muscles of his jaws bulging as his
teeth gritted. Don't worry for an in
stant about that end of 1t! I'll find
out"
"And then?" A peculiar CLINT had
come into her eyes. when you've
found out? Murder, 1 suppose?"
"Murder?" he laughed at her. "Mur-
der, over you? Over woman who has
no more sense of honor than to do
the thing you've done? Murder
Hardly! Merely the satisfaction of
knowing the kind Of a person that
would take up with conscienceless
woman. Nothing more"
Very good excuses. John"
"For whatY
'"The lack of backbone enough to
even face a man who could steal your
own wife from you. You wouldn't
even have the strength to face him."
"No2" His hands worked as with a
sudden spasm. "When 1 face some
body, 1t will be for stealing some
thing-do you understand what I
mean? When face man It will be
because he's taken something from
me that's worth while. and not ridded
me of blank featured incubus, a
thing that's hung onto me like a
leech, given into me at every twist
and turn merely that she could rob
me. someone SO sweet and gushing
that she's sickening, that herself
hasn't any more strength than to take
the word Of the first man who fat
tiers her and who is willing to run
away with him simply because he tells
her any mass Of lies that happens to
come into his head! That's when I'll
face a thief, when he's stolen some
thing-do you understand that?
"And as for you" he nodded to-
ward the doorway-"you can go when
and where You choose. and the sooner
the better. thought you were a
woman when married you. I've
found out in the ten years that we've
been living together that you're mere
ly spineless. resistless, shapeless
mass Of human putty. didn't expect
thing like this-but 1 should have
known that 1t would come. 1t was tho
only end possible, the only thing pos
sible-from a person like you. Resist
ancef You haven't anyf Strength Of
character3 It doesn't exist. Spine
less1 It's the only word can think
of for you-the only"
Then he halted, gasping. A warm.