The Washington times., 1894-11-25

that was still oscillating. "Be here in a
mint "
Clarence took in the apartment with a
quick glance Its furniture mad the frayed
and discolOred spIendors OF public parior
which had been privately used and MAJ
/ treated. there were stains IN the large medal
lioned carpet the gildoG yeener had been
chipued from a heavy center table, showing
the rough. white deal beneath. which gave
il the appearance OF a stage property, the
walls uaneled with gilt-lramed mirrors re-
aected every domestic detail or private re-
Taxation with shameless publicity.
A damp waterproof shawl and open news
paper were lying across the once brilliant
sofa: powder puff. a plate OF frult. and
ulav book were on the center table, and OH
the narble-topped sideboard was Mr.. Hook
ers second-best hat. with soiled collar, eyl-
dently but lately exchanged for the one he
haG On. peeping over its brim
The whole apartment seemed TO mingle the
furtive disclosures of the dressing-room with
the open ostentations OF the stage. with even
Il slight suggestion of the auditorium IN d
few scattered programmes on the floor and
chairs.
TIE inner door opened again with slight
theatrical start, and Susy, in an elaborate
dressing gown, moved languidly into the
room.
She apparently had not had time TO change
]
stage on its delicate lace edging as she threw
herself into an armchair and crossed her
pretty slippered feet before her.
Her face was pale; its pallor incautiouslY
increased by powder, and as Clarence looked
al its still youthful, charming outline ne was
not perhaps sorry that the exquisite pink and
| white skin beneath which be had once
kissed, was hidden from that awakened
recollection.
Yet there was little trace or the girlsh Susy
in the pretty but premaIurely iaded actress
before him. and he felt momentarily relieved.
II was her youth and freshness appealing 10
his own youth and Imagination that he had
loved-not her.
Yet as she greeted him with slight exag-
geraton of glance, voice and manner, he
inferred that even as a girl she was an
/ actress.
Nothing of this. however, was in his voice
and manner as he gently thanked her for the
opportunity OF meeting her again. And he
was frank-for the diversion he had expected
be had found; he even was conscious of
thinking more kindly of his wife, who had
supplauted her.
u Told jim ne must fetch. you. if he had to
carry you. she said, striking the palm of her
hand with her fan. and glancing at her hus-
band: Il reckon he guessed why-though /
didn't tell him-I don't tell him everything -
Here Jim arose. and, looking at his watch.
EuteSEl 44E u III OhCA ~ LAlC l-lGh 14Ouct
get some cigars.
II he was acting upon some hint from his
wife his stimulation was so badly done that
Clarence felt his first sense of uneasiness.
But as Hooker closed the door awkardly and
ost tatioUsly behind him. Clarence smilingly
sal, he had waited 10 hear the message from
her own lips.
Jim only knows what he's heard outside;
she talk Of men. you know. and he hears a
/ good deal OF that, more. perhaps, than you
do. Il was that which put me up 10 finding
/ out the truth. And I didn't rest TIL / cid
/ I IA not to be fooled. Clarence-you don't
mind me calling you Clarence. now we're both
married and done for-and I'm not the kind
to be fooled by anybody from the low coun-
tries-and that the Robles rancho I'm a
Southern woman myself, from Missouri, but
I'm for the Union first, last. and all the time,
and ! call myself a match for any
His blood had stirred quickly at the men,
tion OF the Robles rancho, but the rest Of
Susy's speech was too much in the vein of her
old extravaganza 70 touch him seriously.
he found himself only considering how
strange il was that the old petulance and in
pulsiyeness of her girlhood was actually
bringing back with it her pink cheeks and
brilliant eyes
..You surely didn't ask Jim to bring me
here, he said. smiling, Ito tell me that Mrs.
PeytOn''-he corrected himself hastily, as a
ustllclOIs sparkle cdlue 4ntO SuSy due
eyes-'that my wife was Southern woman
and probably sympathized with her class?
Well. don't know That l should blame her
for that any more than she should blame me
for being Northern man and an Unionist. {"
And she doesn't blame you?" asked Susy,
sneeringly.
The color came slightly into Clarence's
cheek, but before he could reply the actress
! added:
''No-she prefers to use your
II don't think I understand you," said
Clarence, rising coldly.
mo; you don't understand herr retorted
Susy, sharply. Look here. Clarence Brant,
you're right; didn't ask you here to tell you
what you and everybody knows that your
wife is a Southerner l didn't ask you here
TO tell you what everybody suspects-that
she turns you around her little finger. But l
did ask you here to tell you what nobody, not
even you. suspects, but what know. And
that is that she's traitor-and more, a spy.
And that I've only got to say the word-or
send that man Jim to say the word-to have
her dragged out of her copperhead den at
Robes rancho. and shut up in Fort Alcatraz
this very night"
Still with the pink glowing in her rounding