Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-08
HOW HE WAS UNFAITHFUL.

she watches across the coffee-urn her husband
enaihi lating his breakfast very hastily indeed
catch the eight o'clock train for town. 90 do
wish you'd either tell me what's the matter OF
else ADOPT different style"
Roger Meredith tries very hard not to frovu
And in a measure succeeds. But his face looks
right thoughtful and grave as he answers:
90 You imagine all sorts of odd things Lillian:
ITS one OF yonr habits You know. And this Is
Don't try to throw dust in nv eyes after
that fashion" retorts Mrs. Meredith, rather
tartly, rising from the table. And then she
suddenly finds herself getting ridiculously angry
and cannot help il or at least does not try TO
help IT. and all on a sudden II conscious of hav-
ing said several most bitter things about a total
lack of husbandiy confidence on Rogers part,
and-fOr all she can say-a WEAKNESS of even
having made her his wife. Then she feels
kesnly that she has made fool Of herself, and
PUSHES from the room. =
Roger Meredith's eyes flashed once very
hcrcely indeed, after his wife's excited exit
sion solemnly calm enough for an ideal of pa
nence itself, and not long afterward leaves the
honse without again seeing Lillian.
Perhaps, after all, there Is some decided ex-
cuse for Liiiian's hysterical outburst. Her hus-
bands manner has certainly been most sober
and preoccupied during fully week past, apart
from the fact of his having remained all night
In town-fof imperative business reasons, as he
explained to her-no less than three nights out
OF this same week. Lillian has been making up
her mind for quite while to fire an arrow OF
that has yet passed between herself and Roger
during their one truly halcyon year of wedOck.
And so the arrow has been fired. Miserable
indeed does poor Lillian feel after having de-
spatehed ii. Certainly two good hours of alter
nate emphatic CRYING and pensve meditation
eiapse after her hurried retreat from the break
fast room to the seclusion of her own chamber.
When Jane knocks gently at the door, and
states that Mrs Frillngton SHOWN stairs, Lillian
does not feel at all inclined tn see that estima-
BILE lady. Indeed, il is on the end of Lilan's
IOnQnP Sha ia oil md
cannot see anyone, when the thought suddenly
occurs to her that probably Mrs. Friilington's
hiPpant, gossippy, mischievous style of CONVEX
satlon may have rOusing OBJECT, even if il had
nothing else; and she feesdull and inert enough,
just now, not to object if somebody assaulted
her witha stOut pin.
see Mrs Frillington. and Is presently shaking
hands with a pleasant-faced, fieshy little per-
son, individually forty, rapid in her style Of
speaking. fun OF hveliness and spirit that en-
title her 20 being called ''good company" even
by her worst enc mics.
1t is not long before Mrs. Frillington has de-
tected, or fancied that she has detec ted, marked
signs Of depression in her friends manner.
Some people would pass over such discovery
tn weli-bred and considerable silence; not 50 Mrs.
Frillngton. Something is wrong, she payfully
insists, and playful demands, also to know what
the something il.
At last, Lillian, somehow even against her
will, admits that there has been a slight disa
greement-'.Only very slight, you knOw"-be-
tween herself and Roger that morning.
daresay was altogether wrong" she adds,
euite penitently. '.Roger is such kind, good
husband, You know. that it's a shame for me
ever TO ind fault with him"
Whereat Mrs. Frillington coughs rather
sharply.
I" Oh, yes" she nurmurs,' - of course"
faint flush dyes Lilian's cheeks.
"YOu're certainly not Jsatrical, hope?' she
makes somewhat emphatic comment.
being 80, my dear?- And Mrs FrillingtOn ends
her sentence with an emphatic little laugh.
=. But III allow, Lillian, love, il you don't mind,
that rather queer thought did occur to me
when you made that amiabie criticism on your
husband"
"Ana pray what was your queer thought, if 1
NAV be inguisitive enough to ask?''
Only this. my dear; that We wives know 50
little, after all, regarding our husbands true
characters. When we trust them we are 50
often deceived, and when"
"StOp. please, !" Lilian's voice rings trenchant
Interruption. Do YOU mean To imply anything
Of that sort regarding Roger? l hope not,
knowledge of her husbands character is
thoroughly perfect" -
"Are you sure of that?'' Mrs. Frillington
speaks, whilst smiling what is somehow not a
smile. Then the smile leaves her lips and is re-
placed by q very serious look indeed. al al
most feelit my duty Lilian-though most disa-
hing which have recently heard concerning
Roger" questions the young wife, eager
Mrs. Frillington mods an oracular little nod.
please explain what YOU meant"
''Do you really insist"
"Ofoourss insist"
Swell, then, 1 mean something that my
brother Andrew told me the other evening
during the visit which he paid us On the pre-
yious night Thursday remember hearing
you say that Mr.. Meredith had remained in
town"
"Yes"
al don't exactly know how the mention OF
your husbands name was brought about pur-
sues Mrs Frillington, with sOrely panied ex-
preston in her hOorward eyes; 'but as soon as
the subject was preached, brother Andrew sur
prised me BY saying. ooh, yes, saw Mr.. Mere
dith Last night, in New York why, Andrew
returned, Il wasn't aware that YOU and Mr..
Meredith knew each other I'VE don't was
the reply; that Is, not except by sight And
then, my dear Lillian, Andrew proceeded TO tell
me that on the previous night, at about half
past eleven O'Clock, whilst he happened to be
passing through one OF the upper streets, he
glanced toward a certain stoop where a man
ami a woman were standing, and, in the full
bright moonlight, he distinctly recognized your
Poor LIlian's face is ashen now.
'.Well, what Of ths?'' her husky voice in
Qulres- "Did-did he notice the woman at all?''
In Iced, and quite young. She had-but don't
"a nix ought to tell YOU this, Lillian; 1t really
Pshaw, Go on, please;- with a sick, chilly
omile. al am quNe able to hear the worst"
She had given him her hand" hesitated
Is Fritffngton, with charitable timidity,
~ nc Wa pressing IL DetWccn Dolu MS own
m looking up into her face with an expression
mt Andrew could not help but call, he said /,
directorate in the extreme"
Not very long after this Mrs Frillington
fakes her departure.
Lillian keeps her feelings within bounds till
her guest Is well out of the house; then she gives
vent 10 q passionate and hystericai burst Of
tears.
But tears are soon succeeded by what must be
called 'dry-eyed rage. And this Is the real
neen1ng Of Rogers absence from home Of late.
nfEht after night? Only year married! Oh,
un dreadful. But she viii not tamely bear it
o, snosea. Thank Heaven, she has q refuge
agnnst the continuance Of such insult. She
mas great mind % 20, that very afternoon, to
uwn-to her brother SANKEY'S.
!" can imagine Stanley's anger when tell
hmm, she murmurs, '.And dear Letitia's. too !.
ueutia was Stanley Wafters's wife0 - They
viii almost insist upon my never seeing RoVer
again Shall 60, or shall wait q day or two
longer"
half-hour later, Lilians resolution to M 4.
firmly made And the reason that 10 IL 80 made
may be found i'm the following telegram, which
has reached her from New York:
cen. Y, May, is7-.
.. Shall not be home to- night. Am detained
Nv business. X. MEREDITH
Lillian arrives in New York that evening, nj
about five o'clock. 1t Is still broad daylight
and she has no fear of taking the solitary walk