The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-01-14

beside him. and hooked no more.
But ne was glad when the guests began
to drop off, the great rooms thinned ana
Susy, appearing on the arm of her husband
coquettishly reminded him Of his promise.
For L want to talk to you OF old times.
General Brant," she went on, turning ex-
planatorily to Boompointer. married my
adopted mother in California, at Robes, a
dear old place, where / spent my earliest
years. So you see we are sort of relations
by marriage" she added, with delightful
naivete. Hooker's once vain-glorious al
fusion to his relations to the man before
him, flashed across Brant's mind, but IL
left now only q smile on his lips. He felt
he had already become a part of the ire
sponsible comedy of life around him. Why
should he resist or examine its ethics too
closely? He offered his arm 10 Susy; they
descended the stairs; but instead of paus-
ing i'm The supper room, she simply passed
through IL with significant pressure on
his arm. and drawing aside ~ muslin cur
tain stepped into the moonlit conservatory.
Behind the curtain there was a small rustic
settee; without releasing his arm she sat
down, 50 that when he dropped beside her
their hands met and mutually clasped.
Now, Kla'uns," she said with slight
comfortable SILVER as she settled beside
him, its a little like old Robes isn't it?
Tell me. And to think it's five years ago
But, Kla'uns, what's the matter? You are
changed" she said, looking a his dark face
in the moonlight. "or you have something
to tell me-
81 have"
"And it's something dreadful. I know"
she said. wrinkling her brOws with q pretty
terror Couldn't you pretend you had told
it to me and let us so on just the same?
Couldn't you, I<la'uns? Tell me"
~ am afraid couldn't he said with a
sad smile"
rs ii about yourself Kia'uns? You know"
she went on with cheerful Tapidty, Il know
everything about you'll always did, you
know-and don't care ana mover did care,
and it don't and never did make the slight
est difference TO me. So don't tell it and
waste time, Kla'ups."
ITS not about me-but about my WIFE,"
he said slowly.
Her expression changed slightly. 20,
herr" she said. after pause. Then, half
resignedly. GO on. Kla'uns.'
He began. He had a dozen times rehearsed
10 himself his miserable story, always feel
ing il keenly, and even fearing that he
Nigh. be carried away by emotion or NOR
bid sentiment in telling it to another. but
20 his establishment he found himself tell
ing it practically, calmly, almost cynically
20 his old playmate. depressing the half de-
yotion and even tenderness that had govern
ed him from the time that his wife, dis
euised as a mulatto woman, had secretly
watched him in his office, TO the hour that
he had passed her through the lines. tie
withheld only the incident of Miss Faux
ner's completely and sacrifice.
And she got away-after having kicked
you out of your place, kla'uns?' said Susy,
when he had ended.
Clarence stiffened beside her. But he felt
he had gone too far TO quarrel with his CON
hdante "She went away. l honestly believe
that We shall never meet again-or
should not be telling YOU this.'
"Kla'uns." she said lightly, taking his
hand again. don't YOU believe itr She won
let you go. You're one OF those men that a
woman when she once has hooked on TO
won't let 80 Of. even when she believes she
no longer loves him--or meets bigger and
better men. I reckon it's because you are
so different from other Observation-Disclosures
are so many different things about you Ia
hook on to-and you cont slip OF SO. easily
as tho others. Now, if sou were liNe old
Peyton, her first husband, on like pa "'"
or even my Boompoir -
No. my boy, all We
her from gettng al
wnn.tf
the field"
your career is al
ana Boomponter. We a.....
something about you being ia disgrace 'put
the story was that you were soft Oh some
2
ness, I\lauEs. But, Lordyi to think il was
only your own wifel Never mind, Wen
straighten that out. We've had worse jobs
than that on. Why, there was that commits
sory who was buying up dead horses al
one end of the field and selling them To the
government for mess beef at the other; and
there Was that general who wouldn't make
an attack when il raincd. and the other gem
eral-yoU know who ! mean, kla' uus-who
wouldn't invade the state where his sister
liyed-but we straightencd them on. some
how, and they were heap worse than YOU.
Wen get you position IN the war depart
ment here one Of the bureau offices, where
you keep your rank ana your uu.form-you
don't look bad in it, Hla' uns-on better pay.
And you'n come and see mc-and Wen talk
over OLD times"
Brdut felt his heart turn sick within him.
But he was at her mercy nov. He said, with
an effort: "But I've Told you that my ca
reer-nay, my life-uow is in the field
Don't you be a fool tla'uus, and leave
IL there, You have done your work OF fight
ng-mignty good lighting, too, ana every
body knows u. You've earned a change. Let
others take your place
He shuddered as he remembered that his
wife had made the same appeal. Was he a
fool, then, and these two women--so totally
unlike i'm eyerythiug-righ in this
Come. IIla'uns," said Susy. now talk
20 me. You don't say what you think Of
me, OF my home, my furniture-ot my posi-
tion-cvgu of him, Tell me!'
Il find you wen, prosperous, and happy
he said with a faint smile.
as that all? How do / locke"
She turned her still youthful, mischlevOus
face toward him In the moonlight. The
witchary Of her blue eyes was sin there
as of old, the same frank irresponsbility
beamed from them; her parted lips seemed
10 give him back the breath of his youth.
''Susy, dcar'
1t was her husbands voice. Il quite for
got" il went ON, as he drew the curain
aside that you were engaged with friend
but Miss Faulkner is waiting to say good
night ana / volunteered 70 find YOU
TEL her 20 wait a moment said Susy.
with AN Impotence that was as undisgulscd
as il was without embarrassment or CON
fusion.
But Miss Faulkner. unconsciOusly follow
ing Mr.. BoompOinter was already upon
them. For a moment the whole four Were
silent-although perfectly composed.
Senator Boompointer. unconscious of any
lnfelcity in his interruption, was calmly
waiting. Clarence, opposed suddenly to the
young girl, whom ne believed was avoiding
his recognition, rose coldly imperturbable.