Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-10-09
FATE, THE MOCKER.


have but little to say to each other. only
now and again the woman spoke. In
low tones, with little mirthless laugh
alternating with the words. The man
answered dreamily. with his eyes wan
dering over the scene before him.
"You want to know what have been
doing during these yearsr' said the
woman. with slight sigh. cts easily
told. After you lost sight Of me-dG
you remember?-I met Herrick Yeend.
He was rich, and I-oh. was tired OF
the game OF chances seemed never to
win prize somehow. Yeend WAS
very nice, and r.
"You married him.. said the slow
voice behind her. "Wise little womanp
"And you can say that2" she muir
INJURED. with note Of reproaoh in her
tones. "You would scarcely have said
30 at one time"
The man laughed. u little bitterly.
II suppose not. he said. II should
probably have torn my hair and thirsted
for the blood Of the estimable Yeend.
I've grown philosophical, Bertha. "
(which is only another name for for.
getfulness--ehP'
'"There are some things l can never
forget, even IL wished to do 10, :" he
whispered. trying to peer into her face.
"Ahl that sounds more like Leslie OF
old days. she said, looking round al
him gratefully. ~ thought you had be.
gun to hate me. "
"You have never taught me to do
TINT Rnf foil ar hannu ftt
your marriage, even though you have
left certain dreams behindp l suppose
we all drop those on our journey
through life; they are but cumbersome
luggage.
"You have grown philosophical in.
deed, she replied, laughing. well. ]
don't mind telling you--you are such
an old friend-that my married life has
been hideous blunder.
Rather sweeping. said the man,
sending long wreath Of smoke out into
the night air, land decidedly strong :"
mot a bit too strong" she replied
calmly. ut was all right at first after
ward it developed into a nightmare.
from which l have never awakened. +"
She shuddered little and sighed, and
then went on, in n lighter tone: "Well,
we WON talk about IL. Tell mo Of your.
self. What have you been doingr"
"Oh, I've been wandering in the same
aimless fashion about the world, writ
ing poems which nobody reads, painting
pictures which no man buys, gambling
little, running into debt a great deal. I"
"And you are not marriod2" she
asked.
mo; I'm not married." he said
slowly. looking at her. "Did you expect
that should beP''
She did not answer for u moment |;
she only looked shyly up at him, with
flush on her face.
"Poor boyp' she murmured at last,
softly. II remember that you were aw-
fully fond of me--in those old days..
Eyes; was fond Of you, replied the
man, without looking at her.
IL see that in spite of your advice to
me you still carry some Of your dreams,
she said wistfully.
"Some of them," he said.
"And you are still fond Of mo, Les.
lie2" she said.
Can you doubt it2''
"You poor boy, l treated you very
badly in the old days, very badly in
deed wish could make 1t up to yeu. /"
Something in the tender, regretful
voice touched the man; he bent nearer
to her.
"And you thought had forgotten all
about you. You thought could forget7"
he Whispered.
She looked down the lamplit path,
and suddenly sat upright and stiff.
go away now" she whispered,
"Yeend IL coming. l can see his figure
In the distance. Come back to me again.
I want TO talk to you"
She was sitting quite calmly, evil
IDENTIFY very much bored, when her hus-
band came slowly along tho path and
stood before her.
"Wellf" she said questioningly, glano-
ing up at him.
'It's all finished" he said in hol-
low voice "This Is the end. "
"You don't mean she began.
II mean, he broke in, that l have
lost tonight az heavily as before--more
heavily, In fact. have 30 francs left. +"
Thirty francsl' she CALCULATED
fiercely.
"That is all. wanted to save enough
to get us some dinner and---and carry
us elsewhere in the morning. The hotel
bill--well, Wen forget It,"
He laughed grimly. and the woman
shuddered.
80 this Is the end, she said slowly
without looking at him. "beggary and
shameful fight and nothing I'm the fu-
ture This Is all you have to offer mel"
I'VE are still together. Bertha, he
said, looking at her hopelessly.
"Bahl That is the worst part Of IL, "
she said scornfully. "Rich, you were
toIerable; but, poor She made q
quick gesture Of disgust and turned
away from him.
"And you can say this TO meat this
hourp' no said bitterly.
at is such moments ~ these that
teach men and women honesty" she
said. with laugh. you have been
blind not TO see 1t all before. You know
never really loved you"
He turned away with almost sob in
his throat She looked at his bowed
head ouriously. Suddenly she leaned
toward him, almost eagerly.
"Herrick. she said. "give me the 30
francs. Let us risk all or nothing. I'LL
try my luck"
He looked at her modify, then drew
the coins from his pocket and tossed
them into her lap. "As you will" he
aafd 0Tt dnaapIf Ynaffer ,,o..,