Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-01-23
BE did not answer. but still stoo,

he did not answer, but still stood
gazing ut her. She had crossed over to
the mantelpiecs and stood with one ell
bow resting ON it, her face turned to-
ward him. The sleeve Of her morning
wrapper had slipped down, and he could
see the curve of her round, white arm.
Perhaps he would still have believed her
IL she had not suddenly smiled such a
smile as he had never dreamt of on her
face.
He did not know what he said-per-
haps he only made some inurticulate
cry-but he sank into chair and hid his
face in his hands from that look
Neither Of them spoke. 1t seemed to
him that minutes were merging into
eternity. The ticking of the clock Oh the
mantelpiece was like the strokes Of IA
hammer on his brain. His heart seemed
shrinking under tho touch of rCdhot
iron.
Lillian vile! Oh, it was incredible.
impossible, some hideOus dreaml
he raised bis head again to look at
her. Surely lifetime had passed since
that smile, and yet the clock had only
marked three minutes.
II am glad you know, " said his wife.
II was so tired of pretending to be
good. And she stretched her arms as
one laying down IA heavy burden, Il
wonder you have never guessed it be-
fore"
Guessed it! II reverenced you too
much to insult you by thought.
You mean virtue was my role, and
it was for you to play sinner. Oh, sou
were too egotistical. You wanted always
to play lead. "
"Oh, what did it matter how much
sinned? l was never good. But you !!
You have been n saint in heaven TO me. 4"
"No woman is ever saint, and, re-
member, l have been your wife five
years. l was good once, but your love
has been liberal education for me. "
Her whole bearing seemed altered
The sweet sadness of the mouth had
changed to mockery; her voice rang
clear and hard. Every word struck home
to his soul as nothing had ever done in
the course of his gay, successful life.
"Thon l have damned you and my
self, he said hoarScly.
Don't talk SO primitively. We have
been educated out of all that now, she
answered There are hundreds Of
husbands and wives i'll our own case"
But this man-DaCre''-he brought
out the words rs if they burned his lips.
"You-you can't love him."
She shrugged her shoulders oarelessly.
Love? What does it mean? He was
sufficiently amusing. Did you love
Lady Fancourt, Miss Bellair and-but
why extend the listi''
Il? That is quite another thing. A
mani But he stopped short under the
scorn of her eyes.
What will you do? You can't di-
vorce me- You could never appear in
court with such record as yours" she
went ON. II don't see, myself, why this
should make any difference to us. We
know the truth about each other now
and can be mutually complacent.
The vileness of such words on her lips
was unbearable to him. He sprang up
and caught her by both arms, studying
every line of her face with savage inten.
sity.
Are you going to kill me2" she said
shrinking little. II did not take your
confessions so tragically.
Il can't believe it. Ican't understand
it," he muttered. "You, who were
worlds above me, TO have sunk SO much
beneath MEL
Il think we are on level footinl
now" she retorted. "Our sin is Of the
same quality"
"But know myself for the black
guard l am, and you-oh, Lillian, dom
you realize what it is for you?"
She shook her head slightly. A sud
den hatred of him had sprung up in her
and instinctively she knew that nothing
she could do or say would wiring his
heart us did her callous bearing.
He looked ut her for an instant with
despairing Dyes and then caught her tc
him a. if he would kiss her, but re-
coilcd and, lCOs;ug her, dashed roughly
| from the room. Paul's.