The Virginia enterprise., 1900-01-05
The REcQkQUE&I QE REGGIE,

Janet. the maid, had been granted a
holiday; with her had gone, without leave
OF absence. the second latchkey. Mar
Sarct F'rayne and her husband were left
to manage with charwomen, breakfasts
sent Ill, dinners gone out for. and all the
crafty devices by which fat-dwellers con-
ccal the absence of the most important
member of the family. The couple might
have maintained successful pretense to
enjoyment of this enforced Bohemianism
had it not been for the strain involved in
adjusting the right of temporary posses
sion of the only latchkey Each morning
the; worked out the puzzle of their sep
ara' >"olngs and comings. When the
tlme-1 ae was complete each spent the
day IN laborious attempts to live up to it j;
and, so far. neither had been locked out.
Love of solitude is developed by life in
Hat-you get it so seldom. Reginald
strobe up and down the tiny hall. Quaffed
freedoms air, talked to himself in loud
tone. and coughed with abandon. Then
he drew from his pocket Il letter. 1t
was from Georgie, the delightful friend
of his wife. 1t accepted his invitation,
named the Berkeley us the place and s
. clock as the hour.
\ month before he had met George by
accident in Old Bond street, and had
taken her to luncheon at the Princes
restaurant. Margaret would be rather
pleased than otherwise at this attention
to her friend: but Reginald was tempt
er who found amusement in experiment
if he limited with sufficient deftness,
whether Georgie would keep silence. If
so, there would be tinge OF romance;
ana she might accept second invita-
ton.
This has been jolly he said. sadly,
but my memory is so bad"
Gcorgie looked up. questioning.
ber... be murmured theatrically; "alas! l
shall forget it before get home"
Georsle laughed. 1t was ridiculous
that Reginald should have the temerity
to suggest that she and he should share
Il secret from which Margaret was to be
excluded. Was Reginald really trying
to tiirt with her? Silence was the easy
!omprcmise. and this, of course. gave
Reginald encouragement to a second inyi-
tatiOu.
The second luncheon had been pleas
anter than the first. The faint perfume
OF forbldden fruit was in the air and
the entrees were daintily spiced with
danger
Gecrgie drew long breath of delight
as she went home. She had found ii
new way of relieving monotOny.
She grew fonder than ever of Marga-
ret. When they met she had an inward
sense of triumph: Margaret was charm
lhS' yet Reginald took her to lunch. 1t
was IL compliment
Then. Reginald and she were engaged
to dine together that night. He thought
out graceful compliment with which
to welcome Georgie
lie had three important engascments
that afternoons: then he was going to the
club to dress for dinner. Margaret did
end dress sui' at the club. It's presence
ther saved Reginald the labor Of manu-
Featuring. tarradiddles for Margaret's
consumption.
Reginald, writing buSily, forgot time.
When he looked at his watch the hand
was close to ;. His first appointment
WAS at that hour. He made hasty prep
the door closed behind him than a vivid
picture flashed to his brain. The whole
foreground was occupied by Georgie's
letter. which appeared of enormous size
as it lay on the study table.
The letter was nothing but bare ac-
ceptance: but even that was fatal. How
ever ingenious might be his explanation
to Margaret the bald fact would be clear
that her friend was dining clandestinely
with her husband.
There was nothing for it but to recover
the 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
mortally offend a publisher; but he was
more afraid of Margaret than of the pub
Usher.
He laughed philosophically at the COM
plication, and recognized with thrill
that he was having, in Il sort of way. Il
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, he thought out about ) guin-
cas- worth of plot. He would write it
up the next morning and sell it.
He looked at his watch. 1t was
O'clock. His second appointment was
gone 1t was Il chilly afternoon. The
stone steps were cold. and they shed
soft whiteneSs that pipeclayed his trous-
crs. He stood up, brushed them as we'll
as he could, and paced the microscopic
landing, turning with each three steps.
Fer Il WUmanS honor, he murmured,
striking il burlesque attitude.
After Il while he heard Biz Ben, the
hellN Of st. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. thonc. Of
IT pauTe, Covent garden. and Of other
unknown churches, mingling in chaotic
clang, that told nothing Though he
knew it was 6 O'Clock. his information
did not come from tho confused notes of
the intermingling chimes: "A dweller
''hears the hours struck so often that
life seems longer"
And still Margaret came not.
The deadly minutes crept on, and the
calm of the lonely sentinel grew into the
apathy Of despair. His head was dizzy