The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-10-16

broke the current. Halo" said ur
young novelist.
Mildred, is that you?"
"Yes, is it you, Alice?"
Yes. Mamma does not feel very we'll
and wishes you to take luncheon with
US. She has sent the carriage. Be
ready to come as 10 as it arrives OBJ
riously no more authorship to-day. So
slipping her paper into the desk she
departed.
The new purpose of authorship
brought a great light and hope into
Mildred's life. She pictured to herself
lis reading her story. possibly review
ing it. after he has written all kinds
Of nice things about it l will tell him
hat l am the author" or-and her
heart turned cold and sick-what if he
should say it was trash? For, of course.
like other good critics. John was sell
dom pleased. If things were all excel
lent, what would be the need of critics?
| So he had cultivated the art OF discover
ing flaws in what seemed TO ordinary
readers pure gems. He had developed
rather 4 talent for pillorying people in
a single tcrse phrase, and was much
valued for his skill in beating down
with the editorial club tender young
aspirants who were trying to make
themselves heard. This sounds brutal.
But he was only professionally brutal.
Il his personal characteristics none
could be more tender sympathetic.
Mildred knew of this caustic vein and
believed it too-as she did also all of
Johns attributes and gifts-"but," she
thought. IF he should say any of those
dreadful things about me, what SHOULD
l do? should never-never-tell him.
And so during the entire day she
thought and planned, new intricacies
of plot suggesting themselves-vivld
and interesting scene coming before
her stimulated Imagination.
Her mother urged her remaining and
sending for her husband to dine with
them. Her secret desire was to return,
but she looked at her mothers wistful
face and had not the hear to refuse.
| She would stay and send for John.
That gentleman arrived at home at
the usual hour. AS he put his latch
KEY into the door he smiled. thinking
of the quick ear which was listening for
it, and OF the pretty apparition which
would meet him in the hall. by Jove,"
he thought, what a lucky fellow l am"
But the expected figure did not come
To meet him. He was conscious OF a
little chill of disappointment. and still
more as he wandered through the rooms
and found all silent and deserted.
lie rang for the maid.
where is your Mistress"
she is out, sir. There's a note, sir,
somewhere" and she looked a~nXiously
about. "Oh. it is on her desk" said she
with returning memory, starting TO go
FOR it.
NO matter, [ will get it." and John
turned his impatient steps toward his
wife's room. There was no note on the
desk, and quite naturally he opened the
lid. His eyes were rivetcd upon the
words before him:
Dear Frank return herewith the
letters which l have no longer any right
to keep. l need not tell you what it
costs me"
He felt as if his blood were turned
into ice.
Il have reflected much upon what
you said yesterday"
"Yesterday!"-John felt as if he were
going mad. "Yesterday!'-and he had
so trusted her! The had grown
black, and a great sledge hammer was
beating at his brain, but he read on
upon what you said yesterday, but l
am at last resolved. l will not see you
again. Any attempt to make me break
this resolve will be fruitless. God
knows you have only yourself to blame
that this marriage has"
John stood for n few moments a if
turned into stone. his face blanched.
his muscles tense. Then 4 ray of hope
seemed t come TO him. There is no
signature; it is not hers" He looked
again. How could he doubt it. He
He was alternately livid with rage and
chokingwith grief. His dream of happi-
ness vanished. Something like a curse
came from between his closed teeth.
"She loves this man, and she meets
him and tells him so, and only yester-
day. Oh, it is too horrible! too hor-
rible!" He buried his face in his hands
and groaned. Il shall go away; shall
never" At hat moment the tele-
phone bell rang. He took no notice Of
it. AZ shall never" Again it rang long
and loud. What should he do? There
was no one else to answer it; he must
go. So he said huskily: Hello"
Mildred's silvery voice replied:
John, is that you?"
The situation was shocking. How
could he reply?-but-there was no
time for reflection. He knew that the
central office would share all his. conf
dences through hat Internal piece Of
black walnut and ebony. So he said:
Yes"
"Why do you not come? Dinner is
waiting for you"
How well he knew the pretty :nfiec-
tons of that voice!
Il wish no dinrer-I am going away
-~good-by."
1t might have been the conventional
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