Show P afre drw t M of I 1 I 1 MY POOR W WIFE I 1 r A C i 0 i A 3 BY I 1 J P SMITH I 1 V 1 1 1 1 CHAPT X continued 1 I don t like your tory story paul helen observed rising abruptly with a shiver I 1 let ui us go home it li Is get ting ling quite cold yes if its an unpleasant tragedy enough I 1 assented rather easterly let us turn our thought thoughts to lighter subjects 11 bye helm what li Is this I 1 bear about a garden party at the orange next week have we e received an all invite yea yes it rame came this morning DOJ doat t you remember me showing it to youg you lady expects lar 1 son ca saturday for the race rates anil and the ball at marilen parties maceo ballet balls lly fly jove the county ie Is waking up at lait lost I 1 hope you have your frock frocks in order nell lou w have haves that right I 1 pal my dear I 1 continued ed rather awkwardly after a few minute minutes benee dye know le I 1 e been thinking its it rather hard oil idith after che fully tully bearing the stagnation it of the g and winter being carried oft off to wit i the old g gentleman etleman juit just when the fun in 1 coming on an very bard indeed now ten ion t it try cry helen don t you think it would be 3 neighborly thing thins if it we e asked her to 8 atop top on a week or ten day days with ui us here and join the general after the j race races I 1 i it would beall we ask her ber eh th it 1 you with wish it paul 11 1 I I 1 dont kibb lab it particularly if you don t my dear I 1 answered rather lamely tor for her curt uninterested replica replies put me out though I 1 scarcely knew why I 1 only thought it would be a neighborly act and very little trouble to ue us aa as ot of course we must attend all these festivities then let ui us ask her you are the person to do that ahe she would not come on my invitation I 1 think if it you asked the general arst he a auch such a suspicious auspicious crotchety old gla below lt it would be better ill ask him tomorrow now let Us u go 0 in please the air ie Is quil quite le c chilly II 11 rahe he kept her word and the general g giving ong his consent edith came to us on the following thursday Thu and to all I 1 appearance my wife and she he got on most cordially lally together so to much so 0 o that on the third or oc fourth day I 1 ventured to quention quent lon edith a emphatic assertion in lit the cedar walk but she he only a hook her bead head no no I 1 am right she doea does not tike like me and she never will it a ot at no use my tr ing to make her hush i hush here the he comeal cornea don t let her I 1 aeo ee you speaking to me paul and with a nervous movement that I 1 saw naturally attracted my wife a a attention t and even brought a faint color to her cheek edith turned from me and affected to be deeply in a book in the beginning of the following week I 1 was as unexpectedly called away from home on an business connected edith a trouble helen drove me to the station and suddenly when the train waa was on an the point of a at tar arting ting implored me to tal tat e her with fo to leave her behind impressing on me tt it was the first time we had been parted since As e were married and if it I 1 loved her the least bit to take her with me we now now CHAPTER CHAP TEIl XI rather impatiently disengaging the hand she bad had seized I 1 reminded her of her duties to her guest whose existence abe she seemed to have forgotten at which ahe she recovered her senses begged me not to mind her foolishness as and with a cheerful smile nodded farewell ell I 1 wae was detained in town longer than I 1 expected and when on art the fourth day the express bore me northwards again I 1 sighted the beech woods of Col codworth worth with a feeling ot of plea sulf and satisfaction I 1 had not exper experienced tente d even avers after the absence of at years yet no one but the groom met ilet me at the station though I 1 ha bad d wired my arrival A hasty inquiry relieved my fears all had gone well in my absence I 1 was informed and at the lodge gate edith awaited me and with an excited gesture begged me to descend here you are at last dear boy she the whispered espered glad welcome elcome spar sparkling kAng in her lovely ees awe I 1 we choul thought ht you were ere neer coming helen a busy with the baasel beeper I 1 don t think she know the train is due et so bouli you 11 have time to take a turn la to the wood with fib me and tell me all all ab h paul such a time I 1 is e spent since b but ut for your dear cheery letters I 1 couldn coulden t lealie borne it halt half an hour later I 1 entered the house briskly calling my wife a name but no answer came she wn as not in any of the fitting sitting rooms so I 1 hurried up to her own room and found her standing motionless by the window she did not move or seem aware of my entrance until I 1 touched her reproachfully then she turned with a alight slight shiver and hid bid her face against my shoulder sho uhler A hy by did you 50 ci au away ay oh why did you go away paul was all ebe she aid said I 1 helen what a gree hat hats s the matter va alti ith you child am I 1 not back to you nw now hole in mind ant and body I 1 oh vo VM you are I 1 she answered halt drowsily I 1 I 1 hope you had a pleasant time in town waa was it not vot very hot I 1 looked at her uneasily and waa as startled by the great change in her ap bearance pe arance z 0 startled that I 1 did not peak speak for a minute my absence doer does not seem to have a agreed greed with you nell I 1 said with a forced sprightliness and pinching her wan wart cheek 1 I must not let ou try fc a spell of widowhood tor for some time again oh therea theres nothing particular the matter with me she he returned gently withdrawing from my tonch I 1 there loe goes the luncheon bell be D quick and get ready paul raut we must not keep our guest waning alting you know 11 1 she scarcely poke spoke or ate te anything during durin 9 the meal rn e 1 but vt sit with downcast down caal e eye y e 1 playing laYing with her e r k knife ni fe lia replaying a and n d forb fork tb the ep oftener I 1 g glanced u c e 4 n at t her tier thi th more painfully I 1 war wait str truck uck by the cointe ellinge in her looks intensified by contrast with adith 1 a roe rose cheek cheeks sparkling eyes and lay gay sabet sweet laugh her tier akin skin had completely loel lost its it clear healthy hue an was wa gray and opaque her ees ere sunken sunke a ani gut dull and there was ass a hard litra line about her mouth that robbed her face of ita its youthful appearance e helenm I 1 gald said anxiously following her froni from the room hen the he wa was leaving to dress for the garden party at the orange 1 I 1 do not think you are well to so to the party you iad bad much better remain quietly at home borne and lit III ret get or dr F inlay to prescribe a bouic that will bring back your color and appetite there la to nothing the ma matter tier with roe MO I 1 tell you N by do you worry 80 0 o paul and try to preterit me from going to the narty party I 1 have wn W n ho cs look ing forward 9 1 won t stay at hoan there I 1 drew ha bat k almost dumbfounded by the ills violent of her tone anil and aid said lothing lathing more arrived at the orange I 1 waa was stol ped by an old indian friend and lost fc bt of lit my party for some time I 1 waa was try ing in to find them at leat least my wife who I 1 knew still felt shy hy and III at ease mong th h ji of hi it county and give her the support of my coun court cenance when I 1 as detained by my hortess hostess blics hn exclaimed adly ah her here you are at lat last mr uen den nyal I 1 have been looking for you every everywhere here to make up a set of thank you tou I 1 eald said hastily I 1 I 1 am looking ir fr I r my wife she sh wa was eo so poorly this arter afternoon noon that I 1 wanted anted her to go to boil WA instead of coming to your charming party poorly your wife wifel exclaimed lady it Y It ernshaw gazing at me in to astonishment I 1 mr air deenya why everyone Is e inventing inu enting on her appearance I 1 never nover saw aw her look so well I 1 scarcely recognized her at firant 1 why by the she la IS the attraction of me tile afternoon the men are flocking round her like bees round a honey pot and I 1 I 1 im per fecal detracted d traded trying to find partners part nera for those yard yards of unfortunate girls lining the tennis ground do help me make up a few sets or with a meaning glance in the direction my eyes bad had also taken end send your invalid v if ite c home to bed at once I 1 looked stupidly at my invalid w wife ite I 1 she was reclining on a counti of cushions I 1 under a spreading prea ding chest till nut t tree surrounded eur rounded by a crowd cro ol 01 young DID r n her boat bost a very dissipated looking man of 22 kneeling at ber her feet act holding a plate of araik berries and cream while other others were treasuring her parasol and her fan ian at all 1 bleb which overpowering attention she was receiving with the haughty ease and carlees car clesi legs aplomb of a professional beauty of five years standing sta my helen n who but a month before would have haie turned away with a scared blush from the careless ca glance of a stranger I 1 es esi I 1 responded slova slowly ly taming turning to my austn bu ittis you are right lady hera shaw haw my poignant anxiety Is rell relieved eved tor for the moment pray command my services in the tennis ground CHAPTER XII I 1 played I do not know how man sets with varying success still tle the group under the chestnut tree did not disperse disper fe but rather increased as the afternoon wore on of ceze ce cc s ze se I 1 as vey ve y phased pleased my wife should be the 0 object of auch such flattering and uncompromising p rom ising attention as I 1 had resented reen teJ the lukewarm careless manner in which she bad had at first been rec received elved by the county families and the scarcely veiled contempt and pity in which I 1 V aa as held for allowing myself to be entrapped into such a fetched retched ret ched marriage but after a couple of hours ot or public reparation I 1 felt my wounded vanity is as a husband satisfied and rather e r unceremoniously dispersing hr h r animated court informed ber her of my wish to return home home homes she repeated repe aed with a lash 0 of f her eyes that was almost insolent nhat ft hat nonsense laul bihy NN by it Is barely 6 a clock besides I 1 have jus promised to play a game of tennis 0 go o home if it a aou are tired and end send th thai pony trap back tor for me in an hour or two I 1 moved away feeling as if it a glass of co cold id ater ter had been thrown into my face and the court of admirer admire rit closed round her acain again As I 1 walked moodily across the tennis 11 nd a toft soft ill 11 tie gloved band my arm and edith whispered enar ob paul dear do help belp me to get rid of this stupid man I 1 1 ra tired to death of him and he be wont won t leave roe me you look tired yourself and as if it you had quite enough of the festivity I 1 was thinking of going home are you ready to come edle quite let us start at once I 1 so so glad I 1 met you paul bidding her cavalier an unceremonious adieu she put her barid han within athin my arm and we walked hom horna across the fields leaving the pony trap for helen to order whenever she liked tap hours went by edie edle and I 1 dill ed tete a tele tete made music together took a moonlight stroll arol to the river still helen did not return at last list some time after midnight we heard the sound of approaching wheels and pre presently ehe she entered with glowing cheeks and glittering eyes escorted by sir ll Hern ernshaw shaw who ho she informed ui u ad persuaded her I 1 to 0 remain to dinner at the orange where they had had uch such a delightful dance afterwards then with a careless nod to me and edith had ltd a whispered good night to ber her escort 4 went straight to bm I 1 stood rooted to the spot pot staring after her until edith a soft palm was passed pityingly over ray my hand band her lip lips close to my ear tar murmured soothingly I 1 am so to sorry so sorry dear boy but you must make excuses for her she I 1 to young you know and from cef i 4 4 I 1 A j I 1 up doc does not understand the th usages of society if it you like III give ber her a bint blat tomorrow that english fir tl women n do not do those thing things vhf mana ml no harm I 1 m lure sure I 1 could have no ext explanation with hlen that night for when I 1 went up to br her room she he wai was sleeping ilee heavily and the th next morning abe she roe rose at day break and did not appear at breakfast break tait he I 1 returned from the club at I 1 found edith established at the tea table with her dainty work strewn round her waiting to pour out my tea juit just ai as I 1 had pictured ber her with timid rapture a hundred time times the months I 1 had courted her so 0 o rev brently lerent erent ly and my wi wife 0 fitting sitting under a tree on oil the lawn facing af a window W AT jim cuddled up in her r m a and sir W wll him bold dark eyes look lk lik into hera hers with undisguised admire aan artra I 1 started from my seat with a sudden desire to kick him then and there out of 0 ray my grou ground rida alen edith dIvIn tnT movement moat anent interposed I 1 aul aut paul for heaven a calru re strain yourself think of the name shame the scandal that would follow and hi meant means no do barm harm I 1 in lure u ob oh indeed I 1 huot had bad th the 1 0 I 1 in ure sure of that ve opportunity tt t of speaking to be ber r but do not licit eek seek the opportunity I 1 in ati fler fiercely cely it be of at no TIO uie use I 1 vill III peal to her but I 1 think nhe she mutt must be loit losli g her irad brad I 1 cant can t make out what A hat possesses her I 1 married aa as I 1 thought a barm harmles less lano iino cent child married her th through pity generosity through the noblest spirit of self elf sacrifice ob I 1 guess the etory story of your our c courtship courte hip and your paul paull I 1 have calr ze my poo guessed it some time and it has not helph d to make ray my lot uri ter to reconcile me to what riot in ill losing the the love of one of the triest noblet ah all what am I 1 what am I 1 byln ehe the cried tried covering her face with ber her hand hands and shrinking from me when I 1 eee see 0 o u i treated like thi 1 11 1 can t help it ray my heart puke speaks gujt it oh ch godaway go a ay I 1 do not look at me please I 1 waa as about to leave the room when a servant entered ent ercil and bonded me a letter after rending it I 1 laid it at 1 lenity before my com companion when ehe she had real ebe she turned to me with burning face and sobbed faintly I 1 I 1 wish I 1 were dead oh I 1 wish I 1 were deadle I 1 hush hush I 1 whispered spere d you you mut must not say y tonight edict it ft mist be she ablie red I 1 lou you III be with me paul pau I 1 you will ill be ith me paul you wilt will not leave met me to bi b continued 11 i |