Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-04-30

ditlOn, OF marriage, and clamor for
freedom-even if it be the brlefest Of
rcspites. Sometimes when they least
expect it the desire to fly grows strong
upon them and they are ready to throw
down all that is at hand and strike out
boldly in the direction of the Turing
voice. Who can blame them? DO you
blame the captive brutes in the arena
for beating their breasts sore against
the cruel bars that cut them off from
the delights of liberty? Woman has
the same instinct. 1t flares out at
times when least expected, and the
woman goes forth heart hungry and
longing, too, for that blessed boon that
men call-and polze--frecdom.
John threw the clipping down,
absolute rot" he snarled Then he
quickly said, "And she must have been
reading it Just before she started out"
His voice sank on the last words, then
ne briskly added: Don't be fool.
John. Everything will come out all
right. You know it will. Here you
are worrying over what is probobly a
trivial incident. Be a man."
Nevertheless his hand trembled when
he picked up the obnoxious clipping
and tossed it into the wastebaskct.
He leaned back in his chair and. tax
ing out cigar, lighted and smoked it.
He thought of the first time he saw
Nellie, Of how little he imagined she
would become so dear to him. of the
gradual growth Of love. Of the day he
asked her to be his wife. Queer that he
had never gone over the romance be-
fore. How WILDLY it all came back to
him. And this was the first time he had
recalled it. He had been too busy to
think of such trities. Triiles. Too
busy to think of aught save his own
plans and hopes and ambitions. Had
his wife no hopes and plans-no ambi.
tioEs? Was hcr life so indissolubly
linked with his that she was individu-
ally effaced? lie had never asked him.
self this question before. 1t was time
it was asked. How suprcmely selfish
he had been. He had never recognized
the fact until now He passed his hand
woarily over his forehead He wasn't
well. He had the blues. He needed a
strong bracer. He went to the side
board and poured out half tumbler'
full of whisky in the little glass. He
picked it up. Then he pushed it back.
1t seemed cowardly. Why should he
be afraid of his thoughts? He rcmcm-
bered, too, how reproachfully she al
ways looked at him when he drank.
He knew it was temptation that he
ought to avoid. And yet her rcproach'
full glances never stopped him. lie
would laugh at her and drink in spir
it of bravado.
He went back to the big chair in the
library. What COMPOUNDED disagree
ihle companions mans thoughts
were! They came unlimited and they
didn't have the grace to leave when
they found they were not welcome.
Did Nellie ever sit and think? She had
plenty of time FOR it, Much more time
than he had. Did she look back as he
had been looking back? Did-dld she
regret?
a great many people had admired
Nellie. All the men who knew of his
domestic affairs considered him u very
lucky man. He took their compliments
as a matter of course. He felt COM
placently that this was complimentary
to his good taste and his admirable
home discipline. Fool.
There was one man in particular, his
friend. whom he had reason to believe
had loved Nellie and would have made
her his wife. He was fine fellow, a
popular man, and he was worth good
deal of money. He would have made
life easier, perhaps happier, for her.
He contrasted himself with this man.
Was there any possible balance in his
favor? And yet Nellie had preferred
him. Was it love or was it piquc?
Did the occasional sight of this old adj
mirer ever arouse regret?
He got up slowly and looked at the
clock. He had been doing and dream
ing for he knew not how long. 1t was
past midnight. He would go to bed.
She certainly wasn't coming home. Be
sides, she had her key.
He turned off the gas and went up
the stairs slowly and YEARLY. He
felt old. When he reached their room,
he did not light the gas. He knew
that almost every object in the apart
ment would remind him of her.