Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-12

Giofys put W tVcA8h WIZ ""
true generosity.
Aftcr long pause he spoke.
"You think she will have you, Davis?,w'
At sm sure Of it. II not, you can stiii
try your chance, you know"
Leave nv chance out OF the question
and try yourown. and wish You success
with all my heart, Tom" 40,
Three months later the marriage OF Miss
Parry and Mr.. Davis was announced in the
papers. and Chris whclan, who had been
Keeping himself out Of the way through
the best part Of the season, now felt him.
self nj liberty to return TO town.
"You won't mind my looking you up
occasionally, suppose 2" he said TO Davis,
!" / shall like to know how You get on"
"Oh, come by all means" Davis said en-
Enthusiastically. lyon have night TO see
congratulate yourself when you do see IT.
We are making success Of marriage,
Madge and J."
So Chris went. The Davises had nothing
of what is usually termed position" but
they had a coy little place at footing,
where Chris got into the way Of going very
often indeed, always sure of a warm wei
come from bis friend and his friends wife.
Mrs. Davis, indeed. was particularly gra-
cious and cordial toward her husoands
friend, bat now and then Chris caught
glimpse of something behind her friendly
manner that puzzled him. She erseeImed
10 have any hesitation inl letting him see how
devoted she was to her husband, and how
completely happy in her married lie.
Sometimes, indeed it seemed as If she rather
went out of her way to impress him with
her felicity. for she often positlvely over
whelmed Davis in his presence with demon
strative affection, or sometimes, when
Whelan and she sat talking. as they often
did all through long AFTERNOON. growing
confidential together. listening to each
others pet theories and day dreams, specu-
lating upon all those immaterial and mys-
teal themes that are so delightful 10 dis-
cuss Just because we never can arrive at
any understanding of them, changing IN
sentence from sarcasm TO solemnity, from
tragedy to frivolity. growing earnest. over
trifles OF playing lightly round the edge OF
immensties- talking, in short, as only peo-
pie who thoroughly know and like eacn
other can talk--she would suddenly break
off and indulge in an utterly commonplace
eulogy of her husband.
This would have bored Whelan II 1t had
not puzzled him so. for he bad known
Davis a good deal longer than she had, and
was perfectly familiar with his virtues and
his faults, too. Mrs. Davis was the most
charming and lovable women he bad ever
seen, and of course she was passionateiy
attached to her ugly, commonplace huS
band. This was quite as it should be. only
why did she so labor to convince him OF a
fact he never had doubted!
So time wore on, and II ne began 10 nhu
that the hours spent in his friends house
were the only hours worth having in his
life. the discovery did not disturb him
much. He went at his own risk; DAVIS
was glad to have him, and Madge was alb
solutely safe in her exaggerated love for
her husband. He was satisfied that it
should be SO. for he had not an evil thought
in connection with Mrs. DAVIS. indeed.
incredible as it may appear. he had prooa-
bly, never had an evil thought III connec-
ton with any one.
Indeed. he took sort of wretched
pleasure in tho success of his sacrifice. and
as often as lie left the friends OF his own
set TO 90 down TO the quiet. coy little
house at footing be told himself en-
pbatically that he did not regret it.
Now it happened that while Davis and his
wife had been on their honeymoon tney had
fallen in with an old uncle OF Dayls's VINO
was o great admirer of pretty women, ana
and brightness that on parting with thein
he Immediately made his viii In ms
nephew's favor "as a recognition OF his
Good sense and cleverness IN securing
such G charming and amiable woman as bus
wife"
The old man said nothing about this at
the time OF afterward. He probably saw
other pretty women. and forgot Gil ABOUT
Madge. for be never held out a helping
hand to her husband in all the long strug-
ole with poverty which followed their mar
rage and took no notice when he was in
formed that their second child was called
after him. But If he forgot his fancy Tor
Madce he also forgot to make any other
will and when at last news of his death
reached Davis in London he found himself
the owner of good deal Of railway stock,
a fine old country house, several well-let
farms, and coal-mine at Glywwych, North
Wales. ..,
the three lives. Davis and his wife had
now the means TO enter that sort OF society
which is spelled with capital 81" ana
were only doubtful as to whether they
should found their claims to admission on
his wealth or her beauty, and Whelan found
those pleasant impromptu or matter-oi-
course visits quite out of the question.
Formerly, when Chris had left the FASH
ionable world and gone down for those
pleasant. Quiet hours OF footing, no one
had known or cared anything about 1T.
Now. in the full glare of capital S'ed socIe,
Nv. oll that was changed. If he had tried
n monopolize the beautiful Mrs. Davis the
thing would have Immediately become
conspicuous and commonplace mere
vulgar Irritation, degradation OF his sac
rihce. 80,
Whelan and the Davlses still saw great
deal of each other. met the same people,
went to the same houses, but the Arcadian
DAYS were past.
For the first time since his friends mar
riace Whelau found himself alone. He had
TO face the problem of life apart from
Nadpe Davis, and could make nothing OF
At III end of the season Mr.. and Mrs.
Davis went to Wales, but their departure
made very little difference to Chrls, the
separation of the past months had peen
so complete.
Presently. however, ne received lettel
from the Davises asking HIM to spend
few DAYS with them, TO inspect the new
house and the farms and the coal-mines
and the scenery, and TO rurailze generally.
He went gladly enough, and had q very
pleasant time, almost as pleasant as the oid
DAYS at footing. Davis was full OF triumph
in his new possessions but he did not bore
his guest with them; he let him on easy as
far as mountaineering and farm inspecting
were concerned. But on one point he was
resolute; Whelan must so down coal
mine.
Whelan agreed, but he was not very en-
thusiastc about the expedition; so IT was
postponed time after time until the day
before he intended leaving. At breakfast
Mrs. Davis, remembering that Chris had
not vet seen the mine, proposed that they
should walk down and visit 1t that morn
ing. Davis agreeing. they lost no time in
setting out, but half way there they met
the manager, who reminded Davis that IT
was holiday and the men were not work
ing.
Dear me, so it is" said Davis. u had
quite forgotten. What is to be done? We
can't let you 60 back without seeing our
mine, Whelan."
1--WE can 90 oil the same, can't we?" ask
ed Madge. 1T is the mine we want to see,
not the men. ] have not been down myself
vet. and want to go so much. You can find
us guide, suppose, MIR. WyattS" this to
the manager)-" and if You have not any
engagement yourself to-day, perhaps you
would come with us?"
MIR. WYATT said he should be most happy,
and set OF to find guide. and in due time
the party found themselves wandering
about in the dark and dirt and bad air. and
irving to pretend that they liked 1t because
it was new sensation.
AIR. Wyatt and the guide bad wandered