I registered for Hildreth and myself as "Mr. Arthur Mallory and wife,"
in the register of an obscure hotel hear the noise and clatter of a
hundred trains drawing continually out and in.
It made me happy and important to sign her name on the register as
something belonging to me.
Once alone in the room, Hildreth, to my consternation, could talk of
nothing else but Penton.
"--to think that he would do such a thing to me, only to think of it!"
she cried vehemently, again and again.
"If he believes in freedom for men and women, why was all this
necessary? the sordidness of the public clamour? the divorce court?...
oh, my poor, dear, sweet, wild poet-boy, you're in for it! Don't you
wish you were well out of all this and back in Kansas again?"
"No; I am glad. As long as I am with you I don't care what happens. I
love you, Hildreth!"
* * * * *
In the night she woke, screaming, from a nightmare. I could hardly stop
her.
"Hush, dearest ... darling ... sweetheart ... I am with you; everything
is all right" ... then, as she kept it up, "for God's sake ... Hildreth,
do be quiet ... you're all right ... the man you love is here, close by
you ... no harm shall come to you."
"Oh, Johnnie," clutching me, quivering, "I've just had such a horrible
dream," sobbing as I took her tenderly in my arms....
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