The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-04-09
herself quickly. There was something

herself quickly. There WAS something
she wanted to do before her mother
came to her, so when she had put on
her plain white dressing gown she un-
lockeda trumpery rosewood desk and
took out q packet Of letters, a bunch
Of faded violets and photograph.
She slipped the last two into an en-
yelope and went swiftly downstairs;
for, it being June, there was only the
kitchen fire available.
The cook had just gone ont to the
side door for the milk, so there was no
one to witness her holocaust. She
did not feel any pain over it, only a
desire to get it done before her mother
came, and she even laughed q little as
she heard the cook Boosting to the
milkman of the number and value of
the wedding presents.
The morning seemed to pass with
her like q dream, in which her share
was only imaginary. Her mothers
kisses, the crowd in the church, the
service, the wedding breakfast with
its endless speeches, the fussy oficious-
ness of the bridesmaids who helped
to array her in her travelling gown,
the smiling farewells and good wishes,
were all Indifferent to her; but when
at last she and Mr.. Thompson were in
the carriage that was to take them to
the train, and he laid his hand on her
arm, she suddenly awoke to reali-
ties.
cat last I've got my dear little wife
to myself" he said; and passing his
arm around her, turned her face up to
his with one plump hand aud laid his
lips on hers for the first time.
stDon't Doun! You MUSTN'T" cried
Anne. Her words seemed to fall over
each other in her haste; her heart was
beating like some Gagged wild thing.
"Did I brighten you, my darling?
Come, you mustn't be so shy Of your
husband" be- said, smiling at her in
diligently.
"I-I don't like being kissed. l.
am tired" faltered Anne.
She suddenly seemed to have be-
come aware that she belonged to this
man. His short blunt fingers, on one
of which was big signet ring, his
double chin, the big creases on his
cheek when he smiled filed her with
repulsion.
"Are you tired, dearest? Does
your head ache?' he said, kindly so.
licitous at once.
eyes, it does, rather" said she,
catching at the immemorial excuse of
womenkind.
She shut her eyes and leaned back
in the corner while he fused over her
with smelling salts and eau-de.cologne.
They had engaged rooms at the sea-
side resort, but there had been some
mistake about them, and it was while
he was talking to the manager that
Anne went into the writing room to
wait.
"Oh, yes, that will do quite as
well!' said Mr.. Thompson, coming
briskly in and speaking over his shout
der to o waiter. canine, my dear, it
is all right now. We have three
rooms on the first floor; they are tax.
ing up our things. Why, my dear,
what is the matter?"
IT have made q mistake" said
Anne, hardly knowing what she said.
"This this is Charlie Dacre."
Mr., Thompson had heard sketchy
outline Of his wife's previous love af-
fairs from Mrs. Carruthers. "Boy
and girl affair." ''mere fancy
"quite unworthy young man''-the
phrases seemed to ring in his brain
now.
A dull flush rose slowly to his face;
he laid his hand on Anne's arm.
IT have heard Of Mr.. Dacre," he
said coldly; II think you had better
come with me-
ssYou have stolen her from me! You
know best yourself by what means!"
said the younger man savagely.
The situation was insupportable; a
primitive emotion was out Of place in
the commonplace room, with its writ
ing tables Uttered with directories and
hotel stationery.
IT gained my wife by no means Of
which I need be ashamed" said Mr..
Thompson, with q certain dignity.
.'But it was all a mistake. He
wrote, only I never had his letters.
He was coming back to me-" said
Anne, helplessly.
Fl don't understand; perhaps I am
dense. You mean to say you only
married me, believing Mr.. Dacre was
false?" began the elder man, con-
fusedly. The door swung again, a
busy traveller hustled in, bag in hand,
drew a chair noisily up to table, and
began to write.
Mr.. Thompson beckoned impera-
lively to Anne. "Come! I must
speak to you," he said, sharply. He
held the door open for her, and she
obeyed him mechanically, leaving her