The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-29

some entertainment, to which he was
disinclined to follow her.
They gradually drew apart, living
different lives, and asking less and less
of each other. John grew daily more
absorbed in his business. He was very
fond of Cicely, but he Ia given up
showing it, and this is what a woman
hates. Occasionally, after leaving him
to a lonely evening, Cicely would ome
down to breakfast in a re pentant mood,
wishing to put things back as they had
once been. h would make some
pleasant remark, and John would say
yes, dear, or mo, DEAR" in his quiet
tone. and would ask her if she would
have bacon or fish, and then would
open the Times and spread it be-
fore him like some hideous barricade
without a loophole, till her warm in
tentions iced in pride, and she finished
her breakfast silently.
Cicely, like all ONE who fancy
themselves neglected, craved for ex-
element, and sough intimacy at
houses to which, a rear back. she
would not have cared to go. She grew
extravagant in dress, wearing clothes
for effect rather than for adornment,
and walking consciously.
In her new "set" it was fashionable
W. RAoJ O0S AK INV VI
moderate, and, with her supply of
money, the trihing losses were no in
convenience. The excitement, though,
told on her, and perhaps, after a long
evenings play, she would allow a COM
pliment to pass unchecked which
would ave annoyed her in a calmer
spirit. More especially was she lem
lent to n man, George Proctor, who,
of all her friends, was the most agree
able. He was a man in whose nature
the animal somewhat .predominated.
He had that sort of cunning which is
wrongly called PATIENCE; and he vas
subtle, making himself useful to Cicely,
with the purpose of becoming indis-
pensable.
Cicely liked him; any woman Of her
age and inexperience would probably
have done so. He met her very fire.
quently, and often came to the house.
After a few months he let fall some
remarks on the yoke" of marriage,
and the injustice Of all laws. By de-
grees he gained her confidence; he
learned hat her husband was much
away from. her, and he treated her as a
neglected soul,' offering silent SYM
pathy. Poor Cicely! She was only
twenty-five, and the desire Of life was
denied 10 her; she had no child. Mat
ters Grev on to a climax atSthe end Of
November; a lighted taper soon burns
dow n hurts ones fingers.
III.
John breakfasted alone one morning.
Cicely had been at a dance the night
early as 8 o'clock.
When he reached his office he found
he had forgotten some most important
papers, which he had taken home with
him the night before. He had left
them in his safe in the bedroom, and
there was no one to whom he cared to
| intrust the key. He sent for Phillips,
his head clerk.
"Oh-er-Phillips, I find I must go
home again. I have left some papers
behind me. Will you do these orders
and see that man with whom I have
an appointment this morning. Tel
him 1 was obliged to go, and shall be
back 500 after IL. I shall be off as
soon as Pve got through these letters,
so just ask the boy to get me a cab.'
John told the cabman to drive quick
ly. When they turned into the street
he noticed a hanson standing before
his house. He supposed Cicely had al
early caller. In the hall a canvas
trunk was lying. He ran upstairs ia
LIN AAS Will ~ SSS "AI LOU CO11xC.
he had not heard that any guests were
expected.
Cicely vas standing on the hearth
rug, b%uttoning her glove. AS she look
ed up and saw him her face became
awfully white, and she waved back
ward.
"Cicely!" John was just in time to
catch her as h fell. He put her on
the sofa, and shut the door. There was
l cnnoo vvofn~ IN n xyo~o 49, ~:~-o
and he sprinkled some on her face.
After a while Cicely opened her eyes;
there was a look Of horrible fear in
them.
1.-The letter." she said, trying to 81,
up.
What letter."
"On the chimney-piece; give it to
me-"
John looked around. A letter was
resting against the clock, addressed to
him in Cicely's handwriting. At once
fearful intelligence seemed to light uI
within him.. Little occurrences Of the
last month-a word here, an act there
the fear in Cicely's eyes, the letter in
his hand-drew sharply together in his
mind, like the figures in a kaleidoscope
and made a horrid pattern. He tore
the letter across and across, and knel;
down beside her. The fear was still
80 > oS SAS OAS at AAA1AAs WI
in a moment came the relief Of tears
John took her in his arms, soothing hel
gently as a man can do.
what a fool I've been," he though,
what a bitter foo I've been not to
have seen it all long ago."
While she was crying he had time te
think what should be done, and as she
grew caimer he said, r~eassuringly:
There, dear, don't cry any more. I,
is all right now. d. I'll tell you
what We'll do: there's a cab at the
door, and we'll just run down to Brigh-
ton for a week and enjoy the sea
Shall we? Would you like that?"
"Oh!" Cicely nestled closer tt him
and began to cry again.
Nov, will you be ready in five min.
tues? I must go to the city first, sC
we can start from London Bridge
Cicely, dear" he said. kissing her. :
He rang the bell for the servant.
ssDpsf Mr. yHnonsa fp,nk IN tho Nal