Connecticut western news., 1896-12-24
FATE, THE MOCKER.


 surprising fashion, yet they seemed to have but little to say to each other, only now and again the woman spoke, in ow tones, with little mirthless laugh ,iternating 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 yearsp said the woman, with slight sigh. "It's easily old. After you lost sight of me-do you remember?-I met Herrick Yeend He was rich, and I-oh, I was tired of the game of chancesl seemed never to win a prize somehow. Yeend was very nice, and I"-
 You man jed him." said the slow voice behind her. "Wise little womanl" And you can say that?" she mur- 'nured, with a note of reproach in her ones. "You would scarcely have said at one time. ]"
 The man laughed, little bitterly I suppose not, he said. ''I should ,robably have torn my hair and thirsted or the blood of the estimable Yeend I've grown philosophical, Bertha ''
 (Which is only another name for for yetfulness-eh?'
 ''There are some things can never iorget, even if I wished to do SO, he whispered, trying to peer into her face. "Ahl that sounds more like Leslie of Id days" she said, looking round at Jim gratefully. ''I thought you had be- gun to hate me"
 "You have never taught me to do hat. But tell me-you are happy in -our marriage, even though you have eft certain dreams behind? I suppose ve all drop those on our journey trough life; they are but cumbersome luggage"
 "You have grown philosophical in- eed," she replied, laughing. "Well, lon't mind telling you-you are such n old friend-that my married life has cen hideous blunder.
 Rather sweeping" said the man, ending long wreath of smoke out into ne night air, land decidedly strong"
 Mot bit too strong, she replied almly. "It was all right at first after ard it developed into a nightmare, -om which I have never awakened. ]" he shuddered little and sighed, and len went on, in n lighter tone: "Well, ,e won't talk about il. Tell me of your If What have you been doing?"
 'Oh, I've been wandering in the same imless fashion about the world, writ ng poems which nobody reads, painting pictures which no man buys, gambling little, running into debt great deal. |"
 And you are not married?" she sked-
 No; I'm not married," he said iowly, looking at her. 'Did you expect nat should be?"
 She did not answer for a moment he only looked shyly up at him, with flush on her face.
 Poor boyl" she murmured at last, oftly. "I remember that you were aw- ully fond of me-in those old days. '' "Yes; was fond of you, replied the nan, without looking at her. 1T see that in spite of your advice to ne you still carry some of your dreams, !" he said wistfully. "Some of them," he said "And you are still fond of me, Les iie?" she said.
 "Can you doubt it?'' "You poor boy, treated you very adly in the old days, very badly in- leed. Iwish l could make it up to you '' Something in the tender, regretful | voice touched the man; he bent nearer | her.
 And you thought I had forgotten all | bout you You thought could forget?'' | ie whispered.
 | She looked down the lamplit path, md suddenly sat upright and stiff. | "Go away now," she whispered, 'Yeend is coming. I can see his figure ,n the distance. Come back to me again. | want to talk to you. | She was sitting quite calmly, evi ,ently very much bored, when her hus oand came slowly along the path and | stood before her.
 | "Well?' she said questioningly, glanc, ng up at him.
 Its all finished," he said in hcl ow voice. ''This is the end. '"
 "You don't mean"- she began.
 II mean" he broke in, "that I have lost tonight as heavily as before-mort heavily, in fact. have 80 francs left .
 Thirty francsl" she ejaculatet iercely.
 "That is all I wanted to save enougf O get us some dinner and-aId carr, IS elsewhere in the morning. The hote bill-well, we'll forget it.
 He laughed grimly, and the woman Shuddered.
 "So this is the end, she said slowl, without locking at him, 'beggary anc shameful flight and nothing in the flu ture. This is all you have to offer me?'
 I've are still together, Bertha," h. said, looking at her hopelessly.
 Bah! That is the worst part of it, , } she said scornfully. "Rich, you wer' tolerable; but, poor''- She made 1 quick gesture of disgust and turned away from him.
 "And you can say this to meat thi hourr' he said bitterly.
 'It is such moments as these tha teach men and women honesty" sh said, with laugh. You have beel blind not to see it all before. You knov ! never really loved you. He turned away with almost a sob il his throat. She looked at his bowe' head curiously. Suddenly she leane toward him, almost eagerly. D "Herrick, she said, give me the 8 francs. Let us risk all or nothing. IT n try my luck. ' ..-
 He looked at her moodily, then dre, t,'e coins from his pocket and tosse them into her lap. "As yon will. /" h