The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-12-22

u. y
wife while he is alive. 1 don't say I'm
wise; don't even say I'm right. But
that's how 1 feel, and-there's the end
of it.'
She sprang to her feet and drew her
cape round her shoulders again. She
would go back to her carriage, she said.
But he coaxed her. And because she
loved him, because it was delight to
her to be with him once more, even il
their interview was as full of pain as OF
pleasure, she stayed.
AT last, though she would not yield
to his entrcaties, she gave half-con-
sent to his proposal that she should
take lodgings for the ensuing week ID
the house where he was going to stay.
This seemed very good suggestion, as
the town to which they were going was
notorious for the badness of its lodg.
ings, and the poor Scotch inn, where
Cyril and the manager were going to
stay, offered a prospect of comparative
luxury.
But Constance, when she again sat
back in her corner of the railway car
riage, found herself dwelling with so
much eagerness on the pleasure she
would have in being for a week con-
stantly in the society of the man she
loved, thatshe recognized with fear that
the joy was in fact a temptation. When.
therefore, Cyril came to the door of the
compartment at their journeys end, he
found that her mood and her manner
had changed.
Come" said he, gently, as he TOOK
her bag and offered her his hand. "We
shall have to walk, but it ism t far to the
hotel"
She looked steadily before her, with
white face.
Thank you. But have changed my
mind. 1 am going to stay with Miss
Browning"
And she walked quickly away with,
out giving him time for protest or re-
ply
There was no reward of virtue for
devoted himself to Miss Fairbrother;
and Constance, although she managed
to hide the misery she felt, could not
stifle it. She felt that she loved this
man so deeply that her powers of re-
sistance were growing unequal to the
strain. After ali, was there not truth
in what he urged, that she owed no duty
to the man who had so neglected her?
This nominal husband that must in,
deed be dead. For three years she had
heard nothing of him. Was she not free,
in law as well as morally, to contract q
fresh marriage?
So she tortured herself, and mean
while held aloof as much as possible
from all intercourse with Cyril except
on the stage. But the parts they
played were those of lovers; and the
harassed woman felt that they be-
trayed their feelings in every word, in
every look, that they were forced to
exchange in the business of the stage.
At the end of the week, as she left the
theater after her nights work, the hall
keeper told her that there was man
outside waiting for her.
''He wanted to come in and wait here,
miss; but he was too drunk TO stand,
Il
by the doorway. If you go the other
way you'll miss him"
But Constance was looking at the hu-
man wreck the man pointed out with
wide eyes full of fear. She knew him,
changed though he was.
He was in rags, dirty, haggard; an
appalling spectacle. She answered the
hallkeeper by gesture rather than by
words and made step in the direction
of the doorway within the shelter of
which her husband was standing.
He staggered forward and clutched
her arm. As she stopped Cyril Ardener
came out by the stage door on his way
homewards. He uttered an exclama-
ton of disgust and darted forward TO
send the wretch about his business.
With one quick movement he released
her, and supporting her trembling fig
ure in his arms, said, quickly:
MY poor darling! Don't be fright
ened. I'll see you home"
The other man uttered a hoarse
sound meant for laugh. He was stink
ing away without a word, when Con.
stance recovered herself.
let me go. Let me go, Cyril she
whispered. 1T is-my husband
Cyril was so much shocked that he
was speechless. Before he could re-
cover from his disgust and amazement
Miss Fairbrother, pretty, bright, brim-
ming over, as usual, with provocative
coquetry, ran out and stopped at the
strange group. She had caught Con.
stances words, and her face was pic.
ture of amusement, horror and mali.
cious satisfaction By turns.
Constance gave Cyril one eloquent
look. full of pathetic sadness, of rigid
determination. Then she glanced az
the young girl, who seemed unable to
pass the group.
Take her home" she said. in low
voice.
And she turned 10 her husband.
"Tom," she said, ARE you coming
home with me?"
"Yes. if you'll have me-" he answered
| In hoarse voice
He was less grateful than sullen,
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