Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-03-25

stirred the fire to a glorious Llaze and
waxed conversational. The theme he
selected for discussion was the topic in
troduced and interdicted at the break
fast table few moments previously
the debatable engagement of their New
York acquaintance. On this subject he
chose to exhibit an unusual, and as
Norma felt unnecessary, degree Of curl
osity. He cross questioned the girl Wig
orously, and failing to elicit satisfactory
replies laughingly accused her of an at
tempt to earn a cheap notoriety by the
elaboration of petty mystery.
II wish you'd stop trying to put me
on the witness stand, Nesbit," she ex.
claimed in vexation; "why don't you
read your own letters2 One is from
Ethel, know. See what she says"
Thorne took his wife's missive from
his pocket, opened and glanced through
it hurriedly, then turned back to the
first page and reread it more carefully,
the expression of his face hardening into
cynicism. slightly dashed with disgust.
The letter was penned in large running
hand and covered eight pages Of dainty
cream laid paper. It was rambling in
phraseology and lachrymose in tone, but
it indicated want and made that want
clear.
It was-divorce!
Mrs. Thorne gave no special reason
for desiring release from her marriage
vows She dwelt at length on her
"lonely and unprotected" condition, and
was very sorry for herself, and consid-
cred her case a hard one, suggesting
blame to her husband in that he had
not taken the necessary steps for her re-
lease long before. She intimated that
he had been selfish and lacking in proper
consideration for her in leaving it to her
/ to take the initial steps in the matter.
He should have arranged about the
divorce at the time of the separation, she
! said, and so have spared her annoyance.
! AS he had not done so she hoped he
> would show some consideration for her
now, and help her to arrange the disa-
greeable business as speedily and pri-
vately as possible. He really owed her
indulgence latter all that had passed"
| The last words were heavily under
| scored.
Thorne, conscious that the present po-
sition of matters between them, as we'll
as the past unhappiness, was quite as
much her fault as his, and the act Of
separation more so, he having been the
passive and consenting party, did not
consider it specially incumbent on him
to make things easy for his WIFE In his
irritation and disgust at her heartless
selfshness he half determined to make
them very much the reverse. He was
not surprised at his wife's communica-
ton. He knew perfectly we'll that she
| would seek divorce sooner or later, as
the iberality of the world in such mat
ters made it natural that she should do
He also knew that it was the larger
command of the income which he had
allowed her for his child's sake, COM
bined with the lack of strong personal
motive, which had prevented her from
getting a divorce before. Her letter irri-
tated him, not because she desired to
break the shadowy bonds which still
held her, but because he had behaved
we'll to her. and she had taken it as her
right with careless ingratitude. What
he had done, he had done for his sons
sake, but he was none the less provoked
that Ethel had failed of appreciation
and acknowledgment.
Read zhatI' he said, and tossed the
letter into Norma's lap. While she was
doing SO he broke the seal of the other
letter, which proved to be communica-
ton from a firm of solicitors in a small
town in Illinois, in whose hands Mrs.
Thorne had placed her case. TWAS deli
cately and ambiguously worded, as be-
came the nature Of the business. and
contained simply courteous notiica-
ton of their clients intentions
Norma had been prepared for Mrs.
Thorne's letter by that Of her friend,
Mrs. Vincent. and perhaps also by 80
cret hope on which she had fed for years
"a hope that this would happen. She
read the letter therefore without emo
ton and returned it without comment.
"WellT he queried impatiently.
"Wellp she echoed.
What do You think Of it,"
81 think that Mrs. Thorne wishes to
marry again"
"Nol do your" The tone was thought.
full; the Interrogation delivered slowly.
The idea was a new one, and it put q
different complexion upon the matter,
because of the child; there were still sew
eral years during which the personal Gus.
tody of the boy was the mothers OF
right. It behooved him to look into this
matter more closely.
Eyes, I'm sure of it." responded
Norma; ''it's town talk. See what Kate
Vincent says about it."
She handed him her letter folded down
at this paragraph: people have beer
mildly excited, and tha gossips' tongues
set wagging by ruISSr which hoated
down from the Adirondacks last sum
mer and has been gaining body and sub
stance ever since. You remember how
Cecil Cumberland philandered after 4
certain lady of our acquaintance las
winter, and how unremitting were hi
attentions? Friendship, my dearI Harm
less friendship on pure platonic plat
form; you understand-honi soft gu
NAL y pense. Well, this autumn the plo
thickened; the platonism becameless ap