The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-09
GRISELDA.

How your caresses tire me, Grisel-
dap The Indifferent tone in which the
inconslderate words were spoken was
so different to those with which he had
responded TO her tenderness few
months before.
He did not even look at her as she
arose from his knee, where she had
been sitting, and passed to the other
side Of the room and gazed into the
glowing Goals
She could find no excuse for the In
difference he had shown for her gentle
caresses In the last few months. 1t
could not be he was growing tired or
what he had sought so hard for. When
they were first married, they were so
happy. Each caress Of hers was treas
ured, and he was jealous even Of her
very words and look. She had been
slow In giving to him her maidens
love, and his difficulty In winning 1t
had seemed to make her a hundred
times more dear.
Grlseda sighed as she huddled down
among the pillows Of the sofa and In q
drowsy way began to mediate as she
gazed at the glowing Goals In the open
crate. At last her dreams were dis
PEELED by n half formed idea. Gould It
be done. she wondered, as she sat up
straight and pale among her pillows.
A short time after the tiny silver
clock on Mrs. Latimers mantel had
chlmed 10 the next morning there came
n knock at the door OF her dainty bou-
doir. In answer to her response there
entered n tall, rather dark looking girl.
who. after a questioning look at Mrs.
Latlmer, gayly sank into a large arm
chair by her side.
For half an hour there was much
talking, with a few tears from Mrs.
Iatlmer and a great deal Of laughter
from both. Then the girl arose to go
and after kissing Mrs. Latimer several
times gayly left the room.
II was showing hard as Paul Latimer
sprang from his cab and ran up the
steps Of his house IN time to meet In
the hall his wife in earnest cOnyersa-
ton with a tall, light haired young
man. He was tenderly helping her on
with her snowy furs and wraps.
So this was the fellow his wife had
been seen so much with at the opera
and many other places, he thought, as
he passed them with a nod to his wife
on his way up to his room.
Paul felt the blood beating In his
temples as he entered his room and
closed the door. He tried TO analyZe
the feeling he had when he thought OF
the look Griselda had when she was
smiling so radlantly into that fellows
face. How pretty she looked with her
head on one side and the light falling
on the sheeny masses Of her golden
hair!
AS Paul crossed the room for a glass
OF sherry he could not help thinking
that perhaps she was not quite so
much his own as he had thought. An
other might win her from him even
now. His very thoughts seemed TO
make him furious, for he walked about
the room with long, angry strides and
in n few minutes snatched up his hat
and dashed from the house into the
wind and snow.
He walked for many hours through
the falling snow, and when he at last
returned he was white with the damp
snow and quite numbed with the cold.
Within the doorway Of Mrs. Latimers
boudoIr stood Paul gazing at his wife
within the arms of another man. Her
arm was thrown about his neck, and
with one tiny jeweled hand she was
rufiing up his light curly hair as he
held her exquisite form close to his
own and showered intoxicating caress-
es on her flushed face and snowy neck.
She was radiant with happiness as she
rested In his arms.
A beautiful picture she made In her
clinging gown of white silk and lace.
But all this was lost on the man In the
doorway. His face was white and
drawn, and his hands clinched and I'M
cllnched as he advanced into the room.
"Griselda, what is the meaning OF
thisT
Both man and woman turned about.
Griselda sprang to Paul's side, but he
roughly pushed her aside as he con-
fronted the man.
"Scoundrel, leave this house before
throw you outw he exclaimed as be adj
vanced toward him.
Griselda sprang forward and threw
her arms about Paul, as II to keep him
back. as she said: paul, was only
trying you, to see If you loved me still
or IL you were utterly Indifferent to
me. See, dear, this is your sister Edita
In some of your own clothes"
With one hand still on PauPs arm
she leaned forward and snatched the
wig from the head Of PauPs laughing
sister.
That night Griselda put her arms
around her husbands neck and said,
paul, feel sure now Of your forgive
ness"
Darling, you have taught me not to
be too sure of you, for you may be sto-
len from me should l not love and
guard you more" Paul answered. And
he drew her close TO him and buried his
face In her pretty curls.-St Louis
Star
Fighting Quatls.
Cinnamon train quails to fight each
IL ln mn do NTH NrLinOa