The Washington times., 1894-11-11

If you like"
- suppose that means you have already
/ consulted him. and he agrees with you"
Violet bit her lip.
''That happens to be the case she said,
''but it doesn't make your saying it less
offensive"
~ did not mean to be offensive" he said.
THE inference 1 drew was very natural
/ one.'
Violet was silent a moment, as her gray
! eyes rested on her husbands face.
Il am not going TO quarrel with you, she
/ said. There is nothing in the world so bour-
1 geois as guarrellng. What shall We settle
about JackY"
II have stated my opinion"
"And mine. We disagree; we often do
! disagree. but there is always some arrange
ment possible. Peyeril agrees with me. Would
you ike to consult anybody else?"
II do not SEQ what anybody else has got to
do with it. l don't think it would do the boy
any good to be sent in September; as far as
his good is concerned, it would be equally
satisfactory if he went at Christmas or Easter.
And wish to have HIM at Constantinople. l
am very fond OF Jack.
''He is reaching that age when children are
tiresome. all children are cubs at certain
ages, and the fact that be is my child doesn't
blind me to the fact that he is a cub, too. He
viii be very happy at school, and he will
learn not to be a cub
John Psveril looked at his watch.
Il cannot wait any longer, l am afraid, +"
he said. Il have only just time to change
and catch my train. You must settle the
matter as you please"
He turned 10 leave her. The sun was al
ready near It's setting, and the horizontal rays
caught all the amber lights in her hair and
turned them into gold. Her cold, perfect
mouth was slightly parted. and her eyes were
drawn down frowning. He had never seen
her look so leautiful, and had never felt
her 50 utterly alien from him.
But before he quite turned, he spoke again.
1T is good-by. them he said. II can't
say more about Jack, but l will leave you to
do rs you please Violet, you are more beau
tiful than ever. Won't you say good-by TO
me?"
A sudden regret, which he had not felt for
years, sprang mp in his breast. Their aliena-
tion had been so gradual that he could not
put mis- finger on any moment or any day and
say. Here it began" They were both so ac-
customed to their mutual separation that any
change would have seemed unreal and al
most unwished for. They lived their own
lives and they had become entirely used TO
their relations. But in spite OF it all his i'm
pulse was strong. He was a man, she very
beautiful woman. and nothing, not even
tedium. ennui, weary daily intercourse, can
quite kin that legitimate spell.
She turned to him with a look of surprise.
''Yes, why should / not say good-by. Good
by, John. l hope it won't bs too frghtfully
hot in Constanunople. l shall see you again
in November. Good-byn'
He kissed her lightly on the forehead and
went in. But she remained where ho had
left and her his regret woke in her vague
wonder. Could they not have made better
fob OF il ali? Had they not lost something?
Yet, had il been in their power TO keep what
they had IOst2
The mood did not last long. but no mood is
without its effect. The least sound, the yibra-
ton OF a birds wing through the air, the
chirp OF "A grasshOpper IN summer grass, sets
in motion waves OF sound which gird,e tho
earth. and every thought that passes through
our minds sets its marks there. and Is always
capable OF growing up and barring fruit.
Whether or no 1t was Niolets fault that
people had an opportunity OF talking about
her and Lord Staple on. il was at any rate TO
her credit that they did not avail themselves
Of that privilege. Slander and gossip always
passed her by with folded wing and mute
tongue. 1t may partly have been that the
world in which she lived was little afraid Of
her. but apart from that she was SOMEHOW
one Of those women who seems 10 DEFY crlti-
eism or comment. "She may or may not have
a heart they said, "bJt she has a very
l,eautflul head. aud the color Of her hair IS
certainly natural
she and Lord Stapleton were sitting out
after dinner, that evening, on the terrace,
and enjoying the cool sir. The thunder
storm had broken while they were at din
ner, and Niolet's sense Of oppression had
taken wings with it. or with the wagonette
waich had carried her husband to the sta
ton.
'Yes. John went this afternoon" she was
saying: II shall follow him in November, I
hate Constauunople.
why follow him in November then, asked
Lord Stapleton.
Violet turned toward him. His boyish
beardless face was tanned by the weather, for
he had just come home from yachting tour.
He was a young man OF about thirty years OF
age. and perfectly imperturoabe.
''Why?" she echoed. because must.
There are many very disagreeable things in
lie. AID Constantinople is one OF them.
i should have thought you were exactly
the woman 10 deny that there need be any
disagreeables in lie. to say that all disagreea-
bIes are Of one OWE making"
"Certainly. all dissgreeebles are OF ones
own making. Constanunople is OF my own
making"
"Wiil you let me take you there in the
yacht:'
Violet laughed.
Il don see why / shouldn't say yes But
1 don think I shall"
S,spicton bent forward toward her.
An, do say yes " he said.
81 expect l shall have to take Jack, too -
she said. His father wants him, and he
was mean enough TO say that he would leave
il entirely to me. whether be came or not. 90
l suppose l shall have 10 take him I DO
hate people giving me my own way in that
manner. j means one has TO do what they
wish. But I'm afraid Jack wouldn't do FOR 8
chaperon in any case.
u think he'd make very good one said
StapietOn.
Nio ct leaned back in her chair.
u suppose l ought to be shocked at you
making such a suggestion, but I N not easily
shocked. AIy emotions are not easily reused
1t is great misfortune.
Il don 1 th nix it is all a misfortune said
Stapleton; lust the contrary, in fact F"
= was speaking generally. not Of this par
ticuIar case" said Violet. In general, il is !
a great misfortune. What it means is. that
few things interest me. or excite me- It's more
amusing 10 be shocked than to be indiIer-
ent. Doctors saythat in few generations we /
slant have teeth or toes. because we never
use them. and / don't think we shall have
emotions. either You see, duelling has gone |
out Ii one man makes love TO another mans |
wife they don't 90 out and shoot each other, |
tut they lunch together at the club and talk |
II over. Jealousy has gone out, and, think. |
love is going out. too. There is a general de- |
terioraton Of the emotions going on
Stapeton was listening intently
Il am not sure that ] agree with you,'' he |
said
"Oh, am right, am certainly right" she |
replied. This IS rather an unconventional |
conversation; but ii doesn't m@tter. l an
very fond OF YOU. Why shouldn't I say so? /