Middletown transcript., 1892-01-14
THE BULLET-HOLE.
CHAPTER 1.
THE INSULT.

CdAHI len l.
THE INSULT.
HE lustres sparkled in the faint
blush light that. filled the draw.
ing-room. 1t was so still that you
might have fancied the place unoc-
cupied if q woman's low laugh had
not broken the oppressive silence. By
following the shining panels on the
wall. in the direction of the bow
window, you caught first a glimpse of
a jewelled hand twisting the fringe on
the portiere and the red gilt of a ruby
necklace on woman's white throat.
She was talking in musical mono
tone to someone in the shadow at her
side. The voice that answered her
from the semi-gloom belonged to
Austin Gerard, the much-envied and
much-maligned young millionaire
whose escapades are still the talk Of
the town.
There was something soothing in
the sound of her voice, a cooing in.
tonation that fell upon the ear pleas
antly.
When be spoke, the tones were cold
and passionless, and he kept up an
incessant drumming on the arm of his
chair with his long white fingers, as
though he were nervous.
Had the lights been brighter you
might have seen that the lady was as
dainty in color as q panel by Carlo
van Loo. The searching sunlight
might have revealed some tints en-
dowed by a not altogether benefcent
nature, particularly about the eyes
and cheeks, but at nightsh was ador-
able, from the sparkling, slippers to
the fairy foam of laces on her. bosom
skillfulfy disarranged. Why this
languornus light, these whispered
words? What were they to each
other2
All |" 1t was the first exclamation
she had uttered aloud. Gerard turn-
ed toward her hastily. She, had risen
and was regarding him with q peculiar
look in her eyes that baf1ed him.
Surprised, he turned toward the draw,
ing-room. A man had entered noise-
lessly, and was standing before the
fireplace warming his hands by the
burning logs. Gerard started, and al
that moment his companion struck
him heavily across the mouth with
her ringed hand.
"Coward-scoundrel |" she cried,
in a loud and angry voice. Stung
with surprise, before he could say a
word she had glided from the room.
her eyes blazing, her whole nature in
tumult.
Gerard stood looking after her
dumbly, as if he half hesitated
whether to follow or not. Then his
eyes turned toward the fire place and
the stolid figure standing there. The
man was now facing him, and his
voice trembled with anger when he
spoke.
| shall not ask the meaning of this
tonight, Mr.. Gerard. You are under
my roof and have CHIN on my hos-
pitality."
"But, my dear Drayton, J"
I" Enough prefer to hear the
truth from my wife's lips. If affairs
are as / believe, | shall demand an
explanation from you tomorrow. Col"
And he pointed imperatively toward
the door. "GoI" he repeated.
Gerard laughed nervously, picked
up his hat and coat, and turned away.
At the door he paused and
looked back. Drayton was still
standing by the fireplace. as still as
the alabaster earyatides that upheld
the mantlepiece, though in his eyes
there was an expression that Gerard
did not care to see. But he shrugged
his shoulders with an affected careless.
ness, buttoned up his coat, and went
out into the snowy night.
After the door slammed, Drayton
still stood in the same place. Once
in while his eyes wandered toward
the embrasure where he had witnessed
that strange scene-strange, and yet
he seemed to understand it thorough
ly. He threw his cigar, which had
gone out, into the CRATE, and turning
out the gas labored heavily upstairs
Z" Marian" he called, softly, at the
door of his wife's boudoir, Marian"
She had taken off her evening dress
and assumed tea-gown of dark-blue
Chinese silk. She looked like violet
with heart of gold. He saw that
she had been crying, for tears still
trembled about those eyes he had so
often kissed to sleep. His heart grew
hot within him as he thought of the
scene that had just happened below.
He drew her toward him and kissed
her softly on the forehead.
=" Was he-did he 2" stammered the
poor fellow.
She laid one finger softly on his
lips.
" Forget it-forget it-what you
saw" she murmured. You frighten
me with that terrible look in your
eyes,"
/ want to know all-all," with
sudden vehemence "or-" He laid
bis hand half caressingly on her arm
and led her passively to a lounge in
the corner. "Come, you shall tell
me everything in your own way take
your own time, darling. Why. you
you don't think am angry with
you. Why" and he kissed her
again, as if that was more expressive
than any words. "Come, tell me-
tell me-" giving her a gentle shake.
" I cannot--cannot," turning her