The Saint Paul globe., 1899-12-31

|~~~~-~~o-~J~~1o~-~I~O~O~
Janet, the maid, had been granted a
holiday; witf heIs-h had gone, with leave
of absence. fhe second latchkey. Mar
garet F'rayne and her husband were left
to manage With 9charwomen, breakfasts
sent in. dinners gvne out for, and all the
crafty devices by which fiat dwellers con-
| ceal the absence Of the most important
member of Tie family. The couple might
have maintaAned rSuccessful pretense to
enjoyment Of this enforced Bohemianism
had it not been for the strain involved
IN adjusting the right of temporary pos
session of the, only latchkey. Each morn
ing they worked out the puzzle of their
separate goihgs and comings When the
timetable wSs eos1plete each spent the
Gay IN laboHPus attempts to live up to
H. and, SO far. neither had been locked
out II Hsgqa
Love of solitude is developed by life in
a fat-you get 1t SO seldom. Reginald
strobe up and down the tiny hall.
quaffed freedoms air, talked to himself
In a loud tone and coughed with aban-
don. Then he drew from his pocket a
letter 1t was from George, the delight
tul friend of his wife. 1t accepted the in
vltatlon, named the Berkeley as the place
and o'clock as the hour.
month before he met George by ac-
c1dent in Old Bond street, and had taken
ner to luncheon at the Princes restau-
rant. Margaret would be rather pleased
than otherwise at this attention to her
friend; but Reginald was tempter who
a mn
small weaknesses. He wondered If he
hlnted with sufficient deftness, whether
Georgia would keep silence If so, there
would be a. tinge of romance; and she
might accept second invitation.
This has been jolly he said, sadly;
"but my memory Is so bad"
George looked up questioning.
II would be so pleasant to remember"
he murmured theatricalIy; 'alas! 1 shall
forget it before 1 get home"
Georgte laughed. 1t was ridiculous that
reginald should have the temerity to sug-
gest that she and he should share secret
from which Margaret was to be excluded.
Was Reginald really trying to f1irt with
her? Silence was the easy compromise;
and this OF course, gave Reginald encour-
agement to a second invitation.
The second luncheon had been pleas
anter than the first. The faint perfume
OF forbidden fruit was IN the air, and
the entrees were daintily spiced with dan
ger. -
George drew long breath Of delight
as she went home. She had found a new
way of relieving monotony.
She grew fonder than ever of Margaret.
When they met she had an inward sense
of triumph. Margaret was charming, vet
Reginald took her to lunch. 1t was a
compliment.
Then, Reginald and she were engaged
to dine together that night He thought
out graceful compliment with which to
welcome George.
He had three important engagements
that afternoon; then he was going to the
club to dress for dinner. Margaret did
not know of the existence Of that second
dress suit at the club. It's presence there
saved Reginald the labor OF manufactu1-
ing tarradiddles for Margaret's consump-
ton.
Reginald, writing busily, forgot time
When he looked at his watch the hand
was close to g. His first appointment
was at that hour He made hasty prep
arations, and ran. out No sooner had
the door closed behind him than a vivid
picture flashed to his brain. The whole
foreground was occupied by Georgie's let
ter, Which appeared of enormous size az
it lay. open on; his study table .,
The letter was nothing; but a bare ac-
ceptance;s but even that was fatal. How
ever ingenious might be his explanation
to Margaret the bald fact would be
clear that cher friend was dining clan
destinely with her husband. 20
There was nothing for 1t but to recover
that letter, and the only way to do that
was to await the return Of Margaret,
With sigh he surrendered the first
engagement. He knew that he should
morta1ly offend publisher; but he was
more afraid Of Margaret than Of the pub
Usher.
He laughed philosophicaIy at the COM
plication, and recognized with a thrill
that he was having, in sort OF way, a
renewal Of old sensations. He had not
looked forward FOR long time with such
keen anticipation to the return home of
his wife.
He was NOT one to waste minutes.
Therefore henthough out about three
guineas' worth of plot. He would write
it up the next morning and sell It,
Ee looked sat his watch. It was S
o'clock. His second appointment gone.
1t was chilly afternoon. The stone steps
were cold, and they shed soft white