The Courage of Marge O'Doone by James Oliver Curwood
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page 10 of 291 (03%)
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even as he was going mad. And yet he did not suspect her. If another had
told him that she was unclean I am sure he would have killed him. Slowly he came to experience the agony of knowing that the woman whom he worshipped did not love him. But this did not lead him to believe that she could love another--or others. Then, one day, he left the city. She went with him to the train--his wife. She saw him go. She waved her handkerchief at him. And as she stood there she was--glorious." Through partly closed eyes the Little Missioner saw his shoulders tighten, and a hardness settle about his mouth. The voice, too, was changed when it went on. It was almost emotionless. "It's sometimes curious how the Chief Arbiter of things plays His tricks on men--and women, isn't it, Father? There was trouble on the line ahead, and my friend came back. It was unexpected. It was late when he reached home, and with his night key he went in quietly, because he did not want to awaken _her_. It was very still in the house--until he came to the door of her room. There was a light. He heard voices--very low. He listened. He went in." There was a terrible silence. The ticking of Father Roland's big silver watch seemed like the beating of a tiny drum. "And what happened then, David?" "My friend went in," repeated David. His eyes sought Father Roland's squarely, and he saw the question there. "No, he did not kill them," he said. "He doesn't know what kept him from killing--the man. He was a coward, that man. He crawled away like a worm. Perhaps that was why my friend spared him. The wonderful part of it was that the woman--his |
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