The Van Buren press., 1900-06-23

since the wedding. | have lots and
lots TO tell her.
The idea grew more almring as she
dwelt upon it. In chatting with her
bosom friend, the hours would pass
much more quickly than moping
alone.
"rll go anyway" she decided at
last. 81 can stop at the bank and tell
Gilbert. 1t won't be r'uch out of the
way"
Half an hour later she stood rather
doubtfully before the grim, imposing
building where Gilbert was employed
She had frequently been there dur
ing banking hours, but it was evident
it was not open to the public at night.
She had not thought of that. While
she hesitated Frank Stevens, one of
Gilbert's fellow clerks, came up. Dora
happened to know him well.
"Oh. Mr.. Stevens" she said, ''would
you do me the favor to take a message
to Gilbert. He's working here to-
night, but the door seems to be
locked, and I'm not used to breaking
in banks"
Stevens laughed. 'T'm glad to know
that you are not here to 'burgle; my
little all is contained within these
walls: but you must be mistaken, Mrs.
Latimer, about Gilbert being here
They never have the offices open al
night; besides, ] met him up at the
Keota club few minutes ago. Shall
! run up there and look him up for
your
"Oh. no, indeed" said Dora, family.
ITS of no consequence. I'm much
obliged to YOU
She turned away hurriedly, but all
thought of Eleanor had vanished from
her mind. Gilbert had deceived her.
She conld scarcely realize it, but kept
saving it over and over. He had
grown weary of her companionship
and gone back to his bachelor friends.
She had often heard him speak of the
club. She knew that he had been In
the habit of freYaentirg It, but had
shown no desire to visit it since their
marriage. Had he frankly told her
he wished to spend an evening with
his old chums, she could have let him
go, so she told herself, but he had
deemed it necessary to concoct a
story to excuse his absence, That
she could not forgive. Tears of self
pity sprang to her eyes as she hur-
ried homeward. Only married one
short month, and the dream dispelled
All the childish petulance of an hour
earlier had fed before the misery of
the woman.
Deceived deceived" The words
kept repeating themselves until her
brain reeled.
TO many women the grievance
would have appeared small, incon-
sequent matter, perhaps the occasion
OF Il sharp word or two, and then for
gotten: but to Dora 1t was tragedy
Reaching home she threw herself
spent and weary, upon couch, ana
tried to review the situation She
was luite sure she could never feel
the same towards Gilbert as hereto
fore, and, feeling so, could she go on
day by day as though nothing had
happened, pretending to the world
that he was all he should be, when
he had deliberately lied-yes, that
was the word-lied TO her and de-
ceived her. AT that moment, with
Gilbert's baseness so strongly before
her, she did not feel that she could,
There seemed nothing for her to do
but pick up the broken threads OF her
life as best she could and return to
her fathers house. At the bare
thought she turned her face to the
wall and wept.
II was nearly II o'clock when Gil
bert let himself in with his latchkey.
Everything was so quiet he decided
that Dora had grown sleepy and gone
to bed. He stepped softly to avoid
waking her, but, as he was hanging
up his coat, the sound Of broken
sob arrested his attention, II came
from the little parlor, and, with one
bound, Gilbert was within the room
Dora lay curled up among the
cushions fast asleep, but there were
tears undried upon her cheeks
Poor little kitten, she was lonely
but what in the world had she been
crying about?" He slipped an arm
under her head.
"Dodo, Dodo dearie, here's Berthe.
She stirred uneasily and opened her
eyes. They rested on his face, first
with n glad light, but in an instant
their expression changed to one al
most of fear. She drew herself from
him and sat up stitlly.
"Did you-get your work done?"
she asked, with cold dignity,
"Sure thing, and | think | did
good stroke of business for myself.
John T. expressed himself as very
much pleased with the manner in
which got through with it, and III
bet you a bad nickel, Dodo, that I'll
be the next fellow to get promotion,
| told him about you, too, lie didn't
even know ! was married"
Indeed" said Dora, "you told him
about me, Did you tell him how
good you are to me, how honest and
truthful and open2"
Gilbert stared at her,
"lleayens, Dodo what makes you
look so fierce? | guess It's the way
your hair sticks out, It's all mussed
up"
AT least my conscience is not
mussed up," said Dora, rrlgidly. 81
never deceived you in any way, What.
ever comes, ! can feel that | am
blameless, shall have nothing to re.
proach myself with"
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