Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-07-05

*
locked. and I'm not used to breaking
in banks"
Stevens laughed. "I'm glad to know
that you are not here to 'burgle; my
little all is contained within these
walls; but you must be mistaken, Mrs.
Latimer, about Gilbert being here
They never have the Offices open at
night; besides, L met him up at the
Keota club few minutes ago. Shall
I run up there and look him up for
your"
ooh, no, indeed" said Dora, family
"It's of no consequence. I'm much
obliged to you"
She turned away hurriedly, but all
thought of Eleanor had vanished from
her mind. Gilbert had deceived her.
She could scarcely realize it, but kept
saying it over and over. He had
grown weary of her companionship
and gone back to his bachelor friends.
She had often heard him speak of the
club. She knew that he had been in
the habit of frequenting it, but had
shown no desire to visit it since their
marriage. Had he frankly told her
he wished TO spend an evening with
his old chums, she could have let him
90. so she told herself, but he had
deemed it necessary to concoct
story to excuse his absence. That
she could not forgive. Tears OF self
pity sprang to her eyes as she hur-
ried homeward. Only married one
short month, and the dream dispelled.
All the childish petulance of an hour
earlier had fed before the misery OF
the woman.
Deceived, deceived" The words
kept repeating themselves until hel
brain reeled.
To many women the grievance
would have appeared small, incon-
sequent matter, perhaps the occasion
of a sharp word or two, and then for
gotten; but to Dora it was tragedy.
Reaching home she threw herself,
spent and weary, upon a couch, and
tried to review the situation. She
was quite sure she could never feel
the same towards Gilbert as hereto
fore, and, feeling so, could she go on
day by day as though nothing had
happened, pretending to the world
that he was all he should be, when
he had deliberately lied-yes, that
was the word-lied to her and de-
ceived her. At that moment, with
Gilbert's baseness so strongly before
her. she did not feel that she could.
There seemed nothing for her to do
but pick up the broken threads OF her
life as best she could and return to
her fathers house. At the bare
thought she turned her face to the
wall and wept.
1t was nearly II o'clock when Gil
bert let himself in with his latchkey.
Everything was so quiet he decided
that Dora had grown sleepy and gone
to bed. He stepped softly to avoid
waking her, but, as he was hanging
.up his coat, the sound of a broken
sob arrested his attention. 1t came
from the little parlor, and, with one
bound, Gilbert was within the room.
Dora lay curled up among the
cushions fast asleep, but there were
tears undried upon her cheeks.
"Poor little kitten, she was lonely.
but what in the world had she been
crying about?" He Slipped an arm
under her head.
"Dodo, Dodo dearie, here's BERTHE"
She stirred uneasily and opened her
eyes. They rested on his face, first
with a glad light, but in an instant
their expression changed to one al
most of fear. She drew herself from
him and sat up stif1y.
"Did you-get your work done"'
she asked, with cold dignity.
"Sure thing, and I think I did a
good stroke of business for myself.
John T. expressed himself as very
much pleased with the manner in
which 1 got through with it, and I'll
bet you bad nickel Dodo, that III
be the next fellow to get promotion.
told him about you, too. He didn't
even know / was married"
Indeed" said Dora, "you told him
about me. Did you tell him how
good you are to me, how honest and
truthful and open?"
Gilbert stared at her.
Heavens, Dodo! what makes you
look so fierce? 1 guess it's the way
your hair sticks out. It's all mussed
up"
AT least my conscience is not
mussed up" said Dora, frigidly. u
never deceived you in any way. What
ever comes, l can feel that l am
blameless. / shall have nothing to re-
proach myself with"
Gilbert stuck his hands in his peck
cts and gave vent to low whistle.
"Really. Dodo. I don't like to confess
myself Optuse, but L haven't an ldea
what you are talking about. Per
haps"-with sudden inspiration-"you
have had bad dream"
81 would it were dream" said
Dora, dramatically. NO." she went
on mournfully, lit is but too true,
Ny life has been wrecked, and Loved
you so, Gilbert" Her voice died away
in a weak little culver.
Gilbert began to lose patience. =,
"You are acting like a spoiled baby
he said; I'D like to take you over my
knee and spank you"
She drew herself up with dignity
81 am not baby. am an injured
, woman. OF course, if you choose to
, Law violent hands on me, cannot de-
fend myself"
Gilbert drew chair before her and
sat down.
"Now look here, Dora," he said
; gravely, 81 want to know what this If
all about. 1t is not fair that you
; should sit there like little fury hurl
-, ing innuendos at me, which, MOI
, knowing to what they refer, canno'
refute. II have offended you, please
be kind enough to tell me in wha'
way"
4 Certainly" said Dora, unmoved
? "You have grown tired OF my society
l1-sooI 10 oaf hack IN VOu1