Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-04-13

DAkuS, duO 90 ultlo lOlb6fllg IN quiet
nook, he said. The time hung heavily
on Mrs. Richmond's hands; perhaps
she signified as much perhaps Mr..
Laurence OWNED it. "Do you row,
Mrs. Richmond p he asked one day.
enc; Mr.. Richmond was alway going
to teach me when I was first married,
but he never had time" She spoke in
the "sad imperfect tense" and sighed
without knowing it. "Let me teach
you," he begged; and so it happened
that the other inmates of the Dovecote
used to laugh and call Mrs. Richmond
the water-nymph and Mr.. Laurence the
river-god. In accepting the invitation
Mrs. Richmond had no other thought
than 20 please her husband with new
accomplishment on his return, hoping
that together they might explore all
the sinuous windings of the river, and
renew their days Of love-making. The
idea of showing him that another man
valued her companionship, found a
spell in her society which he had over
looked, arrived later. She had not
counted upon finding any pleasure in
the presence of Mr.. Laurence or his lily
concealed admiration. He was simply
young man who was inclined to be
obliging and courteous. But presently
she was looking forward to these excur-
sions, presently detected that the fact
of Mr.. Laurence preferring hen compan-
ionship. when there were youth and
beauty to choose from, lent her subtle
sense OF power, restored the self-confi-
dence she had lost, gave her delicious
sort of surprise, such as girl who had
always believed herself plain might ex-
perience if some one should own she
was bewitching.
Mrs. Richmond would have been wise
had she recognized the dangers of the
situation and avoided them. But who
OF us is wise in season? In the first
place, she had committed herself to
these pleasurings, SO to speak it would
be embarrassing to Withdraw, would
look as if she were prudish and vain, had
taken the affair an seriemx At the same
time, she was grateful to him for con-
vincing her that her power to please
had not deserted her, and her long-re-
pressed vanity asserted itself. This de-
licious fattery was too pleasant to be
given up all at once-to- morrow, may
be; but, to paraphrase an old poet,
"to-day itself's too late
The wise denied themselves yesterday"
She satisfied her conscience, however,
by sending Mr. Richmond a faithful ac-
count of their comings and goings, al
though, with the best intentions in the
world, she naturally omitted something,
since there are hundred delicate
shades of information and expression in
the daily intercourse of two people
which no letter can transcribe. If the
season had not been SO fine. and the
scenery SO enticing, Mrs. Richmond
would have wearied, perhaps, of rocking
forever on the tide by sunset, by moon
rise, of anchoring in some silent cove
where the wild flowers looked at their
image in the water, where the stars lay
like jewels, while Mr.. Laurence lighted
his meerschaum, and confded his loft
lest aspirations, his doubts, his beliefs
lit is so sweet to be confded in, SO
fatteringI To have heard him, one
would naturally suppose that Mrs Rich
mond was commissioned to write his
biography.
It must be confessed that there were
times when his egotism rather bored
her /; but when she hesitated about con-
tinuing their recreations, word to the
effect thatno one else sympathized with
his moods, shared his sentiments, un-
derstood him. carried the day.
Slipping home on the tide to the
Dovecote landing one night. SO dark
they could hardly see each others faces,
alter silence in which they listened to
the whippoorwill's lonesome tune, the
soft sighingo the water washing against
the shore, he learned toward her, and
said. slowly;
"Do youknow, I should like to drift
on SO forever-with you. I love you.''
At that instant it seemed to Mrs. Rich
mond as if the heavens had rolled to-
| gether like scroll. She felt stunned
and faint. " Row ashore, Mr.. Laurence .
she gasped, but there was command IN
her whisper. 81 have been to blame.
I have been blind, but I love my hus--
band"
Not word was spoken SIS they shot
through the darkness Of the landing.
Then, as he assisted her over the slip
perry stairs, !" I thought" he ssid-ssI
thought you were widow"
But Mrs. Richmond's cup was not yet
full. Her humiliation was not complete
till she read the letter which arrived for
her few days later.
You are cruel, wicked woman,
Mrs. Richmond" lit said) Roger Lau-
renee was my own, my lover, my all (;
| and Won vnry false yv;fn Won hava cfo1an