St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-12-08
pretense at a laugh which would h.v,

deceived no living soul but a husband
'Get ready, I'm going to put on my
hat-and if you're very good you shall
come and watch me lose all our money
in the Casino" - -
| She had never been more bewitch'
ing or coquettish in their courtshiE
than she was during that evening
Far more plainly than the man him
self she realized that she had rival
though it might be only memory
and she put forth all her forces tt
annihilate her. Beautiful, doubtlessi
Jack would never have been captured
by woman who was not good look.
ing. And a woman of the world also
Jack hated schoolgirls! 'Neverths'
less" unused Mrs. Maxwell, contem'
| plating her reflection complacently in
one of the mirrors of the gaming
rooms, Il think ought to be capable
of holding my own against the lady
I really do"
The wrong horse came in again, and
again, undeterred by i'll fortune, she
drew a ticket from the bowl.
As she lifted her head she felt hel
husband beside her give a galvanie
start. The next instant, following
the direction of his gaze, she knew
| the woman.
"Plain." she meditated; evidently
fallen off. Now, I wonder if she has
charm of manner enough to make him
lose sight of that. or If dare venture
on a heroic course?' stA III
My darling, don't you think we've
played this idiotic game long
enough?" said Jack in a strained
voice. LET us go into the terrace"
So he could not even trust himself
in the same room with her, couldn't
he? 1t was too bad; really, it waa
humiliating.
"You go, dearest" replied Mrs
Maxwell, sweetly. II know you hate
| to be here, and I am much too in.
fatuated to leave off vet myself. &c
and smoke your cigar in peace and the
fresh air, and come back for me when
you've finished it. / shall be perfect
| ~ safe. and l mean to break the
bank!'"
Jack departed obediently. and out
of the tail of her eye his wife watched
the other woman take note of it.
snow, will she follow him or not .
she asked herself. Not just yet,
suppose-it would be too marked,
Patienza!"
1t was ten minutes later when Mrs
Jernygham sauntered carelessly from
her place at the table out through
the glass door, and Mrs. Maxwell.
ciasped her hands in her lap with sud.
den nervousness. After ell it was G
heroic course. Had she been rash and
foolhardy? There was moonlight out.
side, and the.lapping of waves. Fatal
adjuncts to such matter! In the
moonlight. too, the creatures appear
ance would be softened and refined.
She had made mistake, perhaps
she had placed him in temptation she
would have avoided. Should she join
him-rescue him, while there was still
time? No! She would not, she would
stand her chance. Moonlight or no
moonlight, she would risk it.
Two francs more-and the devil take
the hindmost! -
! They came face to face-shc had
planned it so-and her slight gesture
Of surprise was perfect. "Mr. Maxwell
you? Is it possiple?"
slow do you do, Mrs. Jernyngham'
L" He was going to say he was
pleased to meet her, but decided
not to.
Il did not know you were in Dieppa
Have you been here long?"
"I have been here, with my wife,
about n month";" he answered.
"With your wife? Realty" She
gave a faint smile-a smile he remem.
bered very well. $50 you are married
am l to congratulate you"
Thank you," he said; you are very
kind. Your husband is"
"He's dead; so don't inquire about
his health. You were always making
b,unders of that sort She laughed.
Il used to correct you In that fashion
long ago, didn't I? You see, haven't
changed. Well, well, well, and 50
you're married7 l told you you'd
marry-you didn't believe me then!"
"Ah. but you were right"
"Of course l was right. Shan't We
sit down?-or won't your wife let
you? / say, are you henpecked? You
used to be the sort of boy who'd be
henpecked. Perhaps you've improved
since those days"
perhaps / have. There are two
chairs"
Thanks. Do you know this is very
funny to me, to meet you in the capac-
ity of married man? Do you re
member how you used to vow that
never, never, never" She broke OF
and burst into laughter again. "And
shall own something? After you
were gone-sometimes when was in
clined to be sentimentaEI used to
half believe you."
She leaned forward. and fixed her
eyes on him in just the manner he
used to find so irresistible. Somehow
it seemed less distracting now. The
eyes had not altered perhaps, but her
face was older, and that expression
looked out OF place on it. There was
even a sadness to him in beholding
the change that time had wrought in
her. The woman whose memory had
thrilled him SO was gone. He had
thought about her so much, and now
she did not exist. 1t was pathetic.
and-what was more painful still
this wreck of Nora Jernynham could
not Join with him in mourning for
her. He wept alone.
"You are not glad to see me!" sho
said.
He was not; he was sorry. His very
soul was full of regret, of sympathy.
But he could not tell her SO, and he
listened for ten minutes courteously
to her distressing provocations, her
disheartening pleasantries. Then he
rose.
She would not make . conquest Of
him again, she knew it perfectly; he
had escaped from her chariot wheels
for all time.
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