Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-01-21

slippery Mexican saddle. while Gray
plodded along behind
at is reassuring to see you looking so
we'll, said Donald after little, looking
back with a glance that duly considered
her glowing cheeks. Il did not know
until last night that you had not written.
had to run down to Denver Tuesday,
and was detained until yesterday. But
when found no letters from you began
tormenting myself with the idea that
you must be sick; and this morning
could hardly get started early enough.
judge that my fears were altogether mis-
| placed.
"Oh, yes: have been perfectly we'll"
a shade of confusion on her face. II did
not write because-oh. well, there were
several reasons"
II presume you understood that
would be anxious if you did not" life
lessly as a schoolboy repeating lesson.
Il am afraid that view of the case did
not impress me very clearly. with lit
tie uncomfortable laugh.
She had not dreamed that merely to
have him beside her could stir such a
tunult of gladness in her heart again
She knew, and was strangely glad in the
knowing. that with one caressing touch
he could put to rout utterly the demon
of anger that had swayed her; knew that
with the glance of his blue eyes upon her,
tenderly compelling, she could deny him
nothing But they must have Il full ex-
PLANTATION. Donald must know what he
had made her suffer, and how nearly Sc
rious the consequences had been. He
lNl
night to soften the memory of it, and
give her promises that would remove all
her lurking fears. Her Joy could not be
perfect until they had come to perfect
understanding But--a sudden chill
falling upon her-must she, on her side,
be wholly frank? Must she tell the
whole story of Gray's miserable infatua-
ton?
In all the novels she had read, the good
wife in similar circumstances always told
her husband all, thereby generally in
volving all concerned in no end of trou-
blesome complications, which, however
useful to promote the novelist's plot,
must be remarkably unpleasant in real
life. And in the present instance, Anita
anxiously reasoned, what good end would
be served? Donald might blame her
and, indeed, would he be wholly wrong,
when, knowing Gray her lover still, she
had brought him on that forty mile
drive alone?-when, even after his open
avowal, she had not sent him away?
There was no getting around the fact
that she had behaved with childish I'M
prudence, to use no harsher term. And
the shame of confessing it'll And then
no iv,I
cite! Donald was not easily moved to
anger, but his temper once reused was
fierce as the summer thunder storm, all
the more startling from contrast with
the warm, smiling sunshine of the hour
before, There might be a terrible scene
between these men, and to what pur-
pose?
Donald could have no suspicion now
rapidly reviewing the situation under
the trees, while her wrath at Gray
famed up afresh. No, the boughs had
hung too low-the shameful scene was
hidden And why should she drag it
forth? A vulgar paraphrase of the old
adage came into her mind: Honesty may
be the best policy, but to give ones self
away is always the worst. The pithy
sentence seemed to her replete with good
common sense 1t seemed in every way
reasonable and best that she should not
give herself away"
The rain had ceased before they
reached the ranch. Donald lifted his
wife down upon the piazza, and then
sprang upon the saddle himself again
IL have small package for DR.. Rogers, ="
he said listlessly, land ] think I'll ride
| vi h hot hn oh
| My horse is quite fresh"
What! now? exclaimed Anita in a
high, displeased tone. You are all wet
age perfectly we'll"
mo, have some messages for him
too must see him myself, and may
as we'll go now and get the thing done
with" He was longing to get away by
himself, to gain time to look this strange
new trouble in the face and measure its
meaning. Il won't be gone long" he
added lifelessly.
"Oh, don't think of hurrying on my
account" her eyes flashing angrily, the
telltale red flaming on her cheeks Gray
won't mind trying to keep my spirits up
will your" laying her hand familiarly
on his sleeve, smiling brightly as she
met his eyes with coquettish glance.
HE has made wonderful success of it
this week, can assure you, with care
less nod at Donald, as. without another
word, he rode away.
The brilliant smile was gone, leaving
a hard white face, with anger burning
like Goals in her eyes. Gray looked at
her compassionately as he silently walked
| beside her following her nuicR parvo1e
march up and down the deserted piazza.
Everybody seems to be having sup
per-" he remarked with studied careless
ness presently. Had we not better get
into dry clothes and have ours, or will
you wait for Donald?"
She laughed-a hard, mirthless sound.
well, five want any supper at all
think we would better not leave it to any
such remote contingency as that"
"And yet-you have not had enough