Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-01-23
EXCHANGE OF ROLES.

were somewhst faulty. Sometimes he
admitted it genially, sometimes with a
mild self reproaoh, but always with the
air of being quite irresponsible for his
failings, and indeed he was one of those
men whom scarcely any one judges
hardly. Good looks, pleasant smile,
an easy affeCtionateness and generous
hand are excellent covers for very seri-
ops faults if too fervid liking for the
and women, is to be counted among
them.
Hang it, you know, a pretty woman
can always make fool of me, he used
to acknowledge, land l positively can
not help it. Lillian knows it too"
Lillian was Mrs. Stanhope, and she GER
tainly had abundant reason to know il.
Charlie had married her In fit of in
fatuation for her beauty and amid the
ominous prophecies Of their friends as
to their future happiness, and if the
husband and wife had been philanthropy
ically inclined they might have had
the satisfaction of knowing that they
still afforded a thrilling topic of CONVEX
naIlOh W lntlL sOClul ClICIS-
In the course of five years Of married
life there had been much for Lillian to
forgive, and Charlie had habit Of sud
denly confesSiug himself to her and re-
ceiving dissolution for his sins, under
the shadow of which for month he
would live irreproachably, forswear his
club, going TO no supper parties and es-
corting his wife to afternoons and balls
and reverting altogether to the hus-
band-lover of their honeymoon. In very
truth it is not too much to say that he
loved and respected his wife above any
living creature; only it was not in his
nature to be faithful 10 any woman.
You are saint, Lillian, my pure
white lily" he often said in his fits of
remorse, land I'm black brute, not fit
to kiss the hem Of your dress"
And he thoroughly believed it, too,
for the time being.
So when one morning he came down
to breakfast and opened and read GER
tain letter that was lying on his plate
he only experienced a furious anger
against the author of it. 1t was written
In hand awkwardly sloped the wrong
way and obviously feminine, and bore
the ominous signature, "A Well Wish
er, and contained nothing bnt a saw
age and coarse attack upon his wife,
coupling her name with that of a man
who had just been notoriously expelled
from n smart club for cheating Mt cards
Charles haudc3:uc face flushed darkly,
and he muttered q savage oath under his
breath.
What devils some women are Can I
they even leave Lillian alone? She, OF
all women in tho world, to be written
of so! It's that jade, Maud Bellair, I'm
certain. She has never forgiven me for
refusing to Introduce her to Lillian.
Well, 1 may be "a blackguard myself,
but my wife shall never speak to such
women. She must never know of it. II
would half kill her, and if 1 showed il
to her she might, perhaps, think sus
pected her. l suspect Lillian! Great
heavens, what would the world be com
ing to-and 10 couple her name with
Bugh Dacro'si It's pity she didn't try
to invent something little more proba.
BILE"
His faith in his wife was not shaken
for an instant No devout worshipel
would think of dethroning his pure
white idol because some miscreant
throws clod of dirt at it, but the word,
Of the letter fascinated him, as thing.
impossible and INDUSTRIOUS do, and hi
was so absorbed in it that he did no,
heed footstep coming through the oper
door, and started violently when hand
was laid ON his arm and Lilian's voice
said:
Whatever are you scowling at so fe
rociously?"
"Oh, nothing of any consequences
stupid letter." he said confusedly, try.
ing to crumple it up; but his wife put
her finger ON it.
Are you so anxious I shouldn't see
itF" she said reproachfully.
1T isn't what you think at all, Lii, u
he said, guessing her suspicious. Its
not letter from woman-at least
mean it's of no Importance.
Let me see it, them" she persisted
gently, trying to draw it away.
"Oh, don't read it, dear. It's an
abominable, shameful letter wouldn't
have you pollute your eyes by reading
it," he said, taken of his guard. Il en-.
treat you not to read it -
why, you must think / am some.
thing more than woman to refrain aft.
or that, said Mrs. Stanhope, smiling as
she drew it from his reluctant fingers.
She was very lovely woman. slender
and fair, with pathetic gray eyes and g
serenely sad month, and the smile gave
just the last touch her beauty wanted.
Don't think heed it for an instant
know we'll enough who's done it,
said Charlie nobIy, but she held up hel
hand for silence, as she quickly read the
sheet. He could see her eyes travelling
from line to line; could see a flush
quickly rise to her forehead. and as
swiftly change to whiteness
"Ah, Lii, my darling I knew YOU
Could not stand it; oughtn't to have
let You read it," he said, catching al
her as she swayed slightly, but she freed
herself and stood facing him, with part.
cd lips
"Then You don't believe it?" she said
slowly.
believe it'll My God, what ques.
ton from you to me! My queen, my
saint! AS if I'd believe all the world
against you !" he broke out, passionate
ly. i've been bad lot myself, but dc
you think l don't know a good woman
when find one %
You'd believe me against all the
world" she echoed, ''but if Joined the
world against myself what would you
believe then?'
II don't know what you mean. Don t
Jest ON such subject, and, trust me,
I'll make the woman who wrote those
lies smart for it.
"But they are not lies, "said Lillian
Stanhope slowly. at is the simple
truth ~