The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-09
I'm
end

When they parted he had fallen at her
feet and kissed the hem of her dress.
How ridiculous demonstration IL ap-
peared to him today. and yet he dread
ed 10 meet her again. She had treated
him atrociously he had considered at
the time. Engished. she had amused
herself with him, and then given him his
congo. She was a married woman and
he had been a boy.
He recalled every incident OF the fare
well. A youthful passion IL may have
been, but-he could not dispute it even
now-it was "A passion that left its mark.
There had been controversy opening
out OF the rooms she occupied 1t was
In the conservatory that he had made
himself the most absurd-there, and for
monment at the piano, at which she
had seated herself indifferently. and
where he had knelt 20 her like lover in
The London Journals" She had stroll
ed along. shifting at the flowers. saying
cruel things to him in her low careless
voice.. and he had followed her wistful-
ly like whipped dog, pleading TO be re-
admitted TO favor. A spray OF fern that
she had dropped and was captured by him
lassionately-she had touched 1t in their
last moments. together. She shrugged
her shoulders with a sneer. and his eyes
filled at her cruelty
What do you suppose there is in a
boy like you to hold woman like me?"
she had asked.
1t was the harshest thing she could
have said. and ne remembered that at
that he had broken down altogether.
Good heavens, how preposterous he had
been-how wrongly he had gone to work,
always being pathetic and reproachful
81 la jeunesse savait. 81 la vieillesse pou-
vait.
However. IL was all over. He had not
found balm for his wound In six
months as she had prophesied. but in
nine years he had married. and forgotten
her existence entirely until II was recall
ed to him by the sight Of her name in
the visitors list
Now the recollections rushed back at
him, and while he laughed at his former
self as a fool, he was conscious of a
strange tremor at the prospect OF seeing
her once more.
He loved his wife sincerely. Twelve
months ago he could have contemplated
meeting Mrs. Jernyngham without mis-
giving. But he had been married twelve
months. The time had not lessened his
love, but IL had naturally dispelled the
romance. After all, 10 be "in love- with
a woman is a greater safeguard against
others than TO ''love her" He was bound
10 acknowledge to himself that he was
frightened at the thought Of seeing Mrs.
Jernynghsm again. He had. as a matter
of fact, avoided the Casino since he knew
she was in Dieppe.
He put down his paper and looked
across at Nellie reading a Tauchntz
novel How pretty she was. and how
trustful What would she say could
she divine his present mood? Sinless as
1t was. IL would cut her TO the heart.
Bah, he was a fool-why should that
make him afraid to venture out OF doors!
lie was not fond OF her still-of course
he was not.
The Tauchnitz novel dropped to Mrs.
Maxwelrs lap
What are you thinking about dan
ing?" she asked.
II was thinking how charming you look
in that frock, my dear" he answe ed.
lie preserved the habit of making grace
ful speeches 10 his wife. Cynical bach
elor friends said he forgot who she was
that IT was the force of habit.
She shook her head douotfIlly.
There was "A nasty black Wrinkle be-
tween your eyebrows, Jack, and you were
tuggirg your mustache. as you ala tys do
when you're put out | do look ch.r M
ing in this ncck, / admit i,--Udt you
we 'en't thinking So"
He obeyed a sudden innp Ilse.
Nellie, come here. Do yoI remember,
soon afler we were mnrried you asked
me ii Grestion? You asked nc If had
ever cared deeply for another girl than
you:scIf."
II remember" said Nellie. "Yes?"
IL told you what an internal idiot 1
had once made OF myself over a married
woman. I asked you. too. never to use
a certain scent because IL reminded me of
her. You know all that?"
81 know: know; go on!'
well, she's here, that's all, and-con-
found tim rather sorry"
on said Nellie. And then there
was a pause between them. She was the
one TO break IL.
Tits quite all over, Jack? She
couldn't she daren't, attempt to?
You're mArried-you would simply have
10 bow and pass on. Besides. oy your
own account she was-well, she didn't
care for you any more. Why should you
mind seeing her?'
81 don't know" he muttered. irresolute-
ly: I'D rather not, that's all. Anyhow.
let's talk Of some thing else, We are leav-
ing Dieppe the end OF the week: as a
matter of fact, | dare say | shall never
come across hort
Mrs. Maxwell. ..owever. was not salts
fed. For one thing. she wanted 20 re-
main longer in Dieppe than they had az
first proposed, and for another. she OBJ
jected on principle TO her husband being
nervous OF rencontre with any woman
In the wide. wide world
Come for a walk she Gsid. "and don
be such a stupid boy. one would think
you were I'm love with her now. to hear
you talk You'll make me Jsalous!" And
she made a mirthless pretence at laugh
which would have deceived no living soul
but a husband. Get ready. I'm going
10 put on my hat-and II you're very good
you shall come and watch me lose all our
money IN the Casino"
She had never been more bewitching
-. ,,,,,.4.gsh fu fhafr ponrfebip than che