Page:The Overland Monthly, Jan-June 1894.djvu/266



202

An Episode in the Life of Robert the Simple.

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" I don't understand you."

" I mean that you ought to get a sep- aration from him. You owe it to your- self ; you owe it to your children."

She looked at him for a moment in surprise. " Major," she said, " you have been extremely kind to me ; you have clone more for me than I can ever re- pay, more than anybody else would have done. I cannot tell you how deeply I feel this. But what you ask is impos- sible. I must return to my husband and share his misfortunes, if misfortune is to be his lot. I beg that you will drop the subject ; it is painful to me to think of such a thing ; painful to think that you could advise such a course."

"Well," said the Major, " we will not talk about it any more at present. But think of what I have said. I shall see Robert tomorrow, and tell him to come here and see you. Don't form any plans until after that."

And so it was settled for the time. The next day the Major met Churchill on the street, bright and early.

" Ah, Churchill," said he, " I have been looking for you."

"And I have been looking for you, Major. I have important news."

"Well, come to my office, and I'll hear your news. Then I can tell you what I have to say."

When they were comfortably seated in Major Kamm's private office, Robert produced a bulky letter from his pocket and handed it to the Major. "I have just received that letter from home," said he. " It informs me of the death of my elder brother, and my succession to the family estates. I must return immediately."

" What do the family estates amount to ? How much money will you get from them to live on ? "

" I really have not the slightest idea. I never took much interest in such things at home. I only know that we have always lived comfortably, and have never known the need of money. I

should not have been out here had I not crossed my father's wishes in regard t< my marriage. He had his own views as to whom I should marry, and I hac mine. I followed my own inclination, and he never forgave me."

"And what do you propose doinj now ? "

" I must see my wife and children, and prepare them to. accompany me. Now that I have a home to offer them, there is no reason why they should not go with me."

" Well, Churchill," said the Major, with a smile, " your news knocks what I had to say into a cocked hat. I spok< to your wife last night about getting a divorce from you, and she refused flat- footed. I intended to make you see her and insist upon it today, because I knew I could handle you better than her. But this is a much better solution of the problem, and I 'm sincerely glad of your good fortune. I '11 take an hour off in honor of the occasion, and we '11 go and tell her about it."

" There was another matter I wanted to speak to you about. You 've placed me in your debt to a considerable amount ; I am now in a position to

" We '11 say nothing at all about that. If I can't spend my money in the way that gives me most pleasure, what's the use of having it ? I could n't tell you how much it amounts to if I wanted to, and I would n't want to if I could. Some time when Mrs. Kamm and I come to England you can entertain us on your family estates. In the meantime we '11 keep the account open on the books."

It was a bright summer morning about a week later, that Churchill and his family stood on the deck of -one of the Sound steamers, bound for home by way of the Canadian Pacific, for Robert had said he would feel nearer home as soon as he got on British soil. The sun glistened brightly upon the waters of the Sound ; the sky was without a cloud,, and the green hills were clearlv outlined