The Washington times., 1894-10-28

ried you merely to execute round Of
domestic duties"
"Isabel is a woman with great deal Of
common sense and she knows my views on
many subjects and agrees with them. AS for
you, in my opinion domestic duties. as have
told you before, ought to be enough interest
for any ordinary woman. Duty, he added.
with solemnity, sis the pivot on which the
world turns"
Some fiend seemed to whisper to her, 'It is
also the pivot on which your soul will be
burnt in hell for the sin into which Mr..
Webster will have driven you" But she
choked back the thought, and with a violent
effort pushed it right out of her heart.
II will do as you like," she said, with
gasp,-"will stay here or go to town"
''That's sensible"
perhaps I might make one of the bed
rooms into little studio,' she added. 'and
do some painting"
after moments reflection. tits only waste
of time; it is not as If you would ever earn
any money at it; and as for decorating the
place, we can buy anything we want In that
way cheaper and far better than you can do
it. Phillips is coming down with me for q
couple Of days on Saturday; we shall arrive
by the 2:40 train. You might get for dinner
some boiled cod or any white fish, a bit of
sirloin, and q jam tart, and mind there's an
chovy sauce with the fish. / don't care about
your-what do you call it?'-hollandaise.
By the way, it would be good thing if you
made Jane take up the dining-room carpet
between this and then, and turn it the other
way round. You have nothing to do all the
week, and can see to It"
Dickson Warner pulled up suddenly in OK
ford street
ought to call you Mrs. Webster" She looked
at him with an expression on her face that
was almost fright, and JOY In her eyes that
she could not hide. "I wondered where you
were" he said, still holding her hand. ~
have not seen you since your marriage"
NO size echoed, mot since my mar
riage." He knew her we'll, and the tone of
her voice told him in moment that all was
not right. Il am staying alone at Broad
stairs, she said, "but l slipped up for the
day without any one knowing"
He looked at her curiously, then he said in
a low voice:
81 never understood why you did it or what
| did to make you change toward me-but no
matter what it was, let US try to be friends.
Couldn't we walk a little way toward the
park and talk over old times?"
So they walked on, and in quarter OF an
hour she hated her life more than ever and
dreaded going back to it. At first they only
talked Of pictures and books and the old set.
OF cheap wanderings i'll Normandy and flying
visits to Paris, OF climbing to the gallery of
the opera on Lohengrin night or sitting in
the orchestra at a Richter concert He told
her of the picture that Brownrlgg was paint
ing and the book that Martin had written,
and how Halliday had married and set up in
e cheap fiat near the Edgware Road Station,
and gave little Sunday suppers and what fun
he and his wife had together.
II thought We should do that sort of thing,
Emily" he added, and then she broke down
altogether. This was in the Park and on two
convenient chairs. Then there followed ex-
plantations, and they saw all things plainly,
as many others have seen them-When it was
too late. Gradually sne cast prudence to the
winds and told him about Mr.. Webster, and
betrayed the bitterness and disappointment
in her heart. He understood perfectly.
There's no being more awful in the
world, - he said. ethan your fairly prosper
Gus humdrum British middle-class husband.
He ought to be left to become the prey of the
average domestic woman"
"And l shall never be that"
You were intended for something better, &"
and his arm stole round her. Nobody could
see them. for 1t was deserted corner OF the
Park. There are one or two left; they are
very convenient. II believe love you better
than ever" he added desperately. She COW
cred her face with her hands. II was a terri
ble Joy to think it; she hated herself for hav-
ing hearG MIN, ana thanked heaven tnat she
had
And we were meant for each other" he
went on. why did we both play the fool?
The result is, that l shall kick about the
world and probably come to grief somehow,
and you will go and eat out your heart in the
Adelaide Road or at Broadstairs.n
He drew her little nearer to him, and she
had no strength 10 resist
II feel as if L could never go back, !" she an
swered chokingly.
That means going to the devil, i" he said
gently.
She nestled up a little closer; her eyes filed,
but she could not speak.
Il don't believe you care if it does" he
whispered.
mo. 1 don't" she whispered back.
So he kissed her tears away, and took her
there. She found it more amusing than Mr.
Webster.-Lucy Clifford, in the Pail Mall
Magazine.