The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-06-07
WIS of Scylla and Charybdis.

woman needed close time now and then
when all mental and physical endeayo
should cease. Norah was by no means in
clined to discourage this theory 1t was ,
wholesome drag on the impetus of he
overwhelming vitality. She was lying hal
In, half out of the hammock, when sh
was startled by the sound of Digby's voice
"My dear chap" he was saying, "mor
. ality is inclination. When we act in oppo
sition to our inclinations we are immor
al"
"Fudgep' cried his companion. "Dt
you mean that you could stand by and sc,
any woman in whom you were interested
make love to another man for the simpl,
reason that she felt inclined top
/ ''If she felt inclined to. There is Away,
an IF, >" said Digby.
''By George, 1 shouldn't like to hold
your views as a married MANI was tn,
4 answer and there was q certain challenge
81 in the tone.
a 81 have said there is always an III, >" re
q turned Digby coldly.
And it seemed to Norah as If the glove
had been picked up.
The speakers wandered past the little
clump of trees which sheltered the ham
2 mock down into the meadow beyond
81 Norah could hear her heart beatin;; il
great throbs above the inarticulate mid
summer thrum which had lulled her tt
peace few short minutes before.
off,
How sure Digby felt of her, how well hi
knew his power over her!
And then the demon which lies dormant
In every woman's heart awoke in hers and
whispered: "He is too sure. He is toe
| 10 l.; a.
let him feel he might lose you, and he IL
doubly yours"
Norath slowly rose and entered the house
Digby's man crossed the hall as she
reached the stairs.
''Who is with your master?" she asked
major le Breton, ma am. He's stay,
ing at the Crown inn and came over di
rectly he heard the master was here"
"Hc dimes here, of course?'
eyes, ma'am; the master said was tic
tell you"
Norah gave some directions about the
table and continued her way up stairs.
When she reached her room, she went
straight to the long mirror and looked al
herself critically from head to foot
Eyes; l will make him rccant," she said
clearly as if in response to some one.
said Digby that evening at dinner.
II am afraid it is my fault ;" said Tie
| Breton. 81 am that dreadful thing, a third,
and a barbarian into the bargain. don't
know how it is, Stevenson, but things
| have altered since was last homo on leave
You've all got so confoundedly clever"
"Have WEI" said Digby, with smile.
"Never mind. Well acclimatize you.
Leave the inn and put yourself into train,
ing under Norah here. She has had some
good pupils in her time, can tell you.
We can put lie Breton up, can't we, No
rahp''
A curious wave of physical repulsion
swept over Norah. She could not endure
the thought of this mans sleeping under
the same roof with her and Digby. She
| grew very pale and stammercd some ex-
crlsc. lie Breton saw that she was averse
TO his coming and ut once conceived the
idea that she had taken an antipathy to
him.
This impression was strengthened later
when they were sitting in the garden and
Digby said: 'Iwish you would accompany
my wife on her rides, lie Breton. Until
my book is done / am on the SHELF
Norah could not suppress slight mega
tive gesture.
81 am afraid my escort is not welcome
to Mrs. Stevenson, said lie Breton stiflly
ooh, it is not that!" she cried eagerly
81 am very grateful, but
"Norah's conscience afllicts her at leav-
ing me at home, that's all, " interrupted
| Digby as he lit fresh cigar
lie Breton glanced at Norah. Their eyes
met. She grew visibly paler and soon aft
erward retired for the night.
Digby and lie Breton talked over old
times far into the small hours.
you've drawn u prize anyhow, old
chap said lie Breton rs they parted at
the gate.
eyes, " said Digby simply.
But above, in the pretty chintz hung
bed, tossed dream tormented head and
parched lips, which cried, "No, no, no,
no." in piteous reiteration.
The leaves had changed to red and gold.
The chill autumn air braccd and revived
after an Indian summer of exceptional
glory. Digby's book nearcd its closing
chapters. The catastrophe was at hand.
Jim lie Breton had succeeded in overcom-
ing what he considered Norah's aversion
by sheer force of devotion.
He had soon found out that Digby was
too much immersed in his work to devote
any time to Analysing his wife, and he had
himself appointed him as her cavalier in
attendance. lie Breton would have indig-
nantly repudiated the idea that he was fall
ing in love with his friends wife. He
thought he was only paying Digby out for
his confounded conceit in thinking that he
could monopoliZe u woman of Norah' S
stamp without troubling his head about
her.
There was also touch of the soldier S
latent contempt for the writer in his es-
timation of Digby.
"Brains never kept u woman yet" he
once said to Norah as they logged home
ward after a long jaunt.
"You think mott" she replied, and her
tone was enigmatic.
Norah never forgot that jaunt. 1t mark
ed an epoch in their acquaintance. They
had ridden farther than usual and missed
their way. She had got faint from want
of food, and they dismounted at little
waysidc inn. lie Breton took her into the
bar parlor and ordered all the refreshment
available-tea, bread and butter.
Without saying a word he poured her
out u cup of ten and held it to her lips, and
when she began to revive cut and spread
little pieces of bread and butter, giving
them to her one by one, as if she We're q
child, until her hunger was satisfied.
Then, without thinking of his own needs,
he went out to look after the horses, and
| NoraIrIa land her head down on the wooden
table and sobbed as if her heart would
| break.
If it had only been Digby!
How fno hnI hn la sf remnants
of her reserve. lie Breton had conquered
and was her friend. He had bound her to
him by palpable chain. But her love
was ever to Digby No shadow of disloy
| atty dimmed its lustcr.
He was not blind to the growing bond
between his wife and his friend, but with
| the marital obtuscness which is coexistent
with lack of constitutional jealousy over
looked the fact that Norah was danger
Gus woman to throw any man into con-
| slant companionship with after declaring
| that he regarded all moral ties as null and
| void.
| His error was brought home to him one
evening shortly after the bread and butter
| episode.
| Norah, tired after u long day in the sad
die, was lying at full length on an oriental
| lounge which lie Breton had drawn up be-
| fore the log fire.
| AS he neared the completion of his book
it had been Digby's habit to return to his
study after dinner and work far on into
the night.
On tho evening in question no felt rest
less and disinclined for work.
An irresistible impulse drew him to No
rah and LIE Breton.
| The room WAS dimly lit by the fitful
blaze of the log fire.
Norah's beautiful rounded outlines were
| clearly defined on the dark velvet back