Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-02

frightened. What he saw there he never
clearly knew: but. whatever It was, seemed
TO suddenly change his relations to her, 10
the room. to his wife, to the world with
out. 1t was a glimpse of a world Of which
he knew nothing, He had looked frankly
and admiringly into the eyes OF other pretty
women: he had even gaZcd into her own
before. but never with this feeling. y
sudden sense that what he had seen there
he had himself evoked, that 1t was an an
swcr to some question he had scarcely yet
formulated. and that they were both now
linked by an understanding and conscious
ness that was irretrieVable, came over MN.
lie rose awkwardly and went to the window
She rose also, but more l~eisurely and easily,
moved one of the books on the table,
smoothed out her skirts. and changed her
seat to a little sofa. 1t is the woman who
always comes out of these crucial moments
unruf1ed.
81 suppose you will be glad to sec your
friend. MIR. Demorcst, when you go back
she said. pleasantly. For, of course, he Will
be at Hymcttus awaiting you"
He turned eagerly as he always did at
the name. But even then he felt that De-
morest was no longer Of such Importance to
him. He felt, too, that he was not yet quite
sure OF his voice, or even what to say. AS
he hisitated. she went on, half playfully:
at seems hard that you had to come all
the way here on such a boOtless erranu. loa
haven't even seen your wife yet,
The mention of his wife recalled MIN TO
himself, oddly enough. when Demorests
| name had failed. But very differently. out
of his whirling consciousness came the III
s%tinctive feeling that he could not see her
now. He turned. crossed the room, sat down
on the sofa beside Mrs. Horncastle, aud with
out, however, looking at her, said, with his
eyes on the floor, mo; and I've been think
ing that it's hardly worth while to disturb
her so early tomorrow as | should have TO
go. So l think it's a good deal better to let
IA, Ia,rA "a mod ,frlt'a tsaGf rnnnnin hero
quietly with you tomorrow until the stage
leaves. and that both of you come over to-
gcther. My horse is still saddled and | will
be back at Hymettus before Demorest has
gone to bed"
He was obliged to look up at her as he
rose. Mrs. Horncastle was sitting erect,
beautiful and dazzling as even he had never
seen her before. For his resolution had sud
denly lifted q great weight from her Shout
ders-the dangerous meeting of husband and
wife the next morning and its results, what
ever they might be, had been quietly
averted. She felt too, a half-frtghtened JOY
even in the constrained manner in which he
had impaired his determination, That frank
ness which even she had sometimes found
so crushing was gone.
Il really think you are quite right" she
said, rising also, land, besides, you see, it
will give me a chance to talk to her as you
wished"
"To talk to her as l w~ished,' echoed
Barker abstractedly.
Yes, about Van Loo, you know" said
Mrs. Horncastle, smiling.
80, certainly, about Van Loo, of course" "
he returned, hurriedly.
And then, said Mrs, Horncastle brightly,
III tell her. Stay" she interrupted herself
hurriedly. why need l say anything about
your having been here at ell? 1t might
only annoy her, as you yourself suggest"
She stopped breathlessly with parted lips.
"Why, indeed?" said Barker vaguely. Yet
all this was so unlike his usual truthfuiness
that he slightly hesitated.
Besides continued Mrs. Horncastle, no.
ticing it, you know you can always tell
her later if necessary. And" she added with
a charming mischievousness, "as she didn't
tell you she was coming, l really don't see
why you are bound to tell her that you were
here"
The sophistry pleased Barker, even though
it put him into Il certain retaliating attitude
toward his wife which he was not aware of
feeling. But, as Mrs. Horncastle put it, it
was only a playful attitude.
"Certainly," he said. Don't say anything
about it,
He moved to the door, with his soft, broad
brimmed hat swinging between his fingers.
She noticed for the first time that he looked
taller in his long black serape and riding
boots, and, oddly enough, much more like
the hero of an amorOuS trySt than Van Loo.
II know she said, brightly, you are eager
to get back to your old friend, and 1t would
be selfish for me to try to keep you longer.
You have had a stupid evening, but you have
made it pleasant to me by telling me what
you thought of me. And before you go /
want you to believe that I shall try to keep
that good o%pinion,' She spoke frankly in
contrast to the slight worldly constraint OF
Barker's manner; it seemed as if they had
changed characters. And then she extended
her hand.
With a low bow, and without looking up,
he took it. Again their pulses seemed to
leap together with one accord, and the same
mysterious understanding. He could not
| t~1l 4 h~ bad nnnnrnin,,pJ nrncpnl Inr
hand, or If she had returned the pressure.
But when their hands unclasped it seemed
as If it were the division of one flesh and
spirit.
She remained standing by the open door
until his footsteps passed down the stair
case. Then she suddenly closed and locked
the door with an instinct that Mrs. Barker
might at once return now that he was gone,
and she wished to be a moment alone to re-
cover herself. But she presently opened 1t
again and listened.
There was a noise in the courtyard, but
1t sounded like the rattle of wheels more
than like the clatter of a horseman. Then
she was overcome. a sudden sense of pity
for the unfortunate woman still hiding from
her husband, and felt a momentary chival-
rous exaltation of spirit. Certainly she had
dona good" to that wretched KITTY" per-
haps she had earned he epithet that Barker
had applied to her. Perhaps that was the
meaning of all this happiness to her, and
tho result was to be only the happiness and
reconciliation of the wife and husband. This
was to be her reward. ! grieve to say that
tears had come into her beautiful eyes at
this satisfactory conclusion, but she dashed
them away and ran out into the hall. 1t
was quite dark, but there was a faint glim-
mer on the opposite wall. as II the door of
Mrs. Barker's bedroom were ajar to an eager
listener. She flew toward the Glimmer and
pushed the door open; the room was empty.
Empty of Mrs. Barker, empty of her dressing
box, her reticule and shawl. She WAS gone.
Still Mrs. Horncastle fingered; the woman
might have got frightened and retreated to
some further room at the opening of the door
and the coming out of her husband. She
walked along the passage, calling her name
softly. She even penetrated the dreary half
lit public parlor. expecting to find her crouch
ing there. Then a sudden wild idea took
possession Of her; the miserable wife had
repented of her act and Of her conceal
ment and had crept downstairs to await
her husband in the office. She had told
him some new lie, had begged him to take
her with him, and Barker, of course, had
assented. Yes, she now knew why she had
heard the rafting wheels instead Of the clat-
terirg hoofs she had listened for. They had
gone together, as he first proposed, in the
buggy.
She ran swiftly down the stairs and
entered the office. The over worked clerk
was busy and querulously curt. These women
were always asking such idiotic questions.
Yes. Mr.. Barker had just gone.
with Mrs. Barker in the buggy?" asked