The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-21
would do something we might all four of

US be much more comfortable If he
would only do somethingi He tried not
10 let the least hint of self-betrayal creep
into his face. II suppose, then. you
think me the most idle sort of fellow he
said.
You certainly don't appear to do any
real work she retorted, bristling little
as though she scented covert rudeness.
You potter there among your leyden jars
and your bad-smelling drugs, but nothing
comes of it.
Nothing. ell ?'' he muttered, as though
he spoke more than half 70 himself.
surely no money comes. And We may
not need money though We want 1t.
II sec, see" he said, with his eyes
downcast, and his beard caught rumina-
lively in one hand.
If he had still cared for her as he did in
the old DAYS or If he had not felt certain
of the disgust and sorrow his irrelgion
had reused in her, he might at once have
addressed her III way both confessional
and exultant, but as il was, his lips re-
manned sealed. This. project Of his, which
had now grown dominant passion with
him. she would hear of without sign of
graciousness or sympathy. Oh, yes, be-
yond doubt.
And yet, bordering the matter for several
days, he finally resolved that he would tell
her all. To do so might put . spoke, as it
now seemed slipping down some sort of
risky slant, he hardly knew what. On the
other hand, he dreaded her almost scott
ing ridicuie. mixed with that Gccusative
melancholy to which he had now grown
drearily used. But, all in all. he decided
it was best TO tell her. The faded colors of
his pristine love might revive, by this
means, below the tender stress of some
new congenial warmth.
He made his determination, and chose
certain hour for their fateful talk 1t was
now the end of June, and that perfect
weather which sometimes visits London
at this season had tempted him 70 quit his
laboratory by about o'clock in the after
noon and take . long walk through Hyde
Park. He entered this noble stretch of
eity-girt landscape at the Marble Arch,
and gained one of the bridges that span
the Serpentine. Here he paused, and
tried TO let the green glory of his environ
ment calm and soothe his rather trefnu-
lous nerves. A few swans were tioat-
ing in all the dim pallor of their lovely
curves along the silken gloss of the sin
uous river. Slopes of emerald turf
stretched from either verge, dying away
under the shade of monstrous trees. The
hustle and iare of Oxford street seemed
miles aloof He felt how ripely and can
didly pastoral it all was, how Arcadian in
its bounty Of stream-cieft verdure, how
dNNISG HUM tifG IthEF Vi Ills late
ioagings and dreams. And when be ex-
planned these moods of unrest TO his wife,
with what manner of response would she
meet them? He wanted TO be quite col
lected when the time for disclosure came.
Ii she only caught some of his own con-
Stunning IRE perhaps j JOYFUL senblance of
their persisted past would bless them both.
When he came back TO dinner he found
her unwontedly grave. i large trades
mans bill had just been sent in, and she
told him of it with a meaning sigh. He
answered her so blitheIy and indifferently
that she stared q him in cold surprise.
The boys were more jocund and clamorous
than usual, and once or twice she repri-
manded them with a frown and sharp
word: but Maynard playfully took their
parts, and even craved grace for them as
regarded a second helping of dessert. while
they watched him with astonished eyes,
knowing well that papa was never
tropical clemency in him was plainly rare.
After dinner IL was still bright with
all the limpid lure of an English vernsl
cleaning. The boys went out into the
lyled garden, and their merry voices came
TO Maynard as be waited for the moment
In which the Interview should begin. His
wife gave few orders 10 the maid, and then
was quitting the room, when he softly went
up TO her side and said in low voice:
. want 1.-THE talk with you. I mean
faOlr. Will you come into that den of mine?
I'd rather speak there, if You dom mind y
She turned and looked ar him IN a sur
prlsed and petUlant way. - had some