Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-10-03

would have been hers but for the acct
dent of having arrived late upon the
scene of his life. She smiled, and
wanted to scream.
"You are most kind, but have lit
tie time rarely cali on anyone"
she protested lamely. Mrs. Kynaston
came to the rescue, in quick recogni-
ton of her embarrassment.
at quite understand. OF course /
ought not to have asked you. Your
time is so valuable and you must have
SO many intellectual and interesting
friends who allwant you badly. Besides,
know what constant labor art of any
kind, demands. My husband never
has a minute to spare. 1t was the
thought Of him that made me venture
20 invite you; for though 1 am hum
lrum, he is not, as you are doubtless
aware, and believe you would enjoy
chat with him. Especially as he adj
mires you so much"
c"My Godl How can 1 get away
from her?" thought Alison in despair.
She felt her face must blurt the truth
to the eyes that watched it with such
absorbed interest.)
"Really-you are-it is very kind of
him to say So" she stammered.
80, he has never said so in words.
/ know from his voice when he men,
tons you, and from his face when
anyone else speaks of you" was the
prompt reply. And then there was
moments pause. For all the world,
Alison could not have spoken; Mrs.
Kvnaston leaned forward and took
ner hand. They were sitting in the
deep bow of window, behind half
drawn curtains.
"May make a confession to your"
she pleaded softly, land beg your for
yiveness? l feel that must now, and
,lear my conscience. Years ago
about IS years now-that makes us
both seem old, doesn't it? But you
will always be young. Well, 1 had not
been married long, and 1 was a silly
goose, dreadfully in love with my hus-
band, and continually tormenting my
self about him. The fact is, l took it
into my head to be jealous-fright-
fully iealous-of you, Miss Cole. 1
thought"-she stopped. Alison had
drawn her hand away instinctively.
"Now you are vexed, and no won
der! But you will forgive me. Your
| kind eyes tell me you could not be
hard on anyone. And 1 was only
very young wife. You know how
blindly girls adore, how full of ro-
nance they are, and-rubbish. Then
some one came to me and said that
James-Mr. Kynaston-had Been seen
with you at certain place when he
had told me he was going somewhere
else. 1 lost my head, like the poor
fool was, and taxed him with de-
eeiving me. He seemed confused,
grew angry and clustered, as ne had
never done before, and so-we had
our first quarrel. Don't you think
there was some excuse for ne-just
a fraction? For though you were not
famous then, I had heard how lovely
and attractive you were, and could see
that he admired you. II only needed
that horrid bit of scandal to fan the
spark into a flame. 1 know 1 ought
not to have believed it, but I was
foolish, credulous girl, and--anyhow,
was very soon ashamed of my jeal-
ousy and suspicion. Can you ever for
give me for wronging you SOP"
Alison tried to speak, but her lips
trembled fatuously. She could only
murmur:
"Please, please don't talk like that.
There is nothing to forgive-I mean
-you-you did not wrong-you did
not know me-"
"That was just the reason" de-
clared the other woman, earnestly;
''if 1 had known you it would all
have been different-O quite differ
ent. It is the thought of your noble
life, devoted to art and to works OF
charity, that shames me now. L won
der how could have been so idiotic,
so wicked, as to doubt your goodness.
I've long wanted to tell you this. I've
written letters to you and torn them
up over and over again. For, though
l wished to confess and apologize, it
seemed an insult even to mention
such a suspicion of you, to own thai
I ever could have thought you the
kind of woman To- If your face
were not so sweet should never have
dared to speak of this at all; but its
very purity shames one into confess
sion, and"
81 must CO." Alison rose abruptly.
Her lips were dry, her voice sounded
harsh. 81 must go. You make me"
she sought an impressive word, and
could find only the tame one, ~"un-
comfortable" It's inaptitude made her
laugh, nervously.
zone moment 1 must tell you
| that, at least, l have been punished
for my sin against you-punished
enough, 1 think-much as ] deserved.
For such jealousy as mine was--an
illness, an agony, fire that threat
ened to burn my very life away. What
suffered! 1 cannot speak of it, even
now, without feeling sick and faint"
There was a long and painful 81
lence. The atmosphere seemed too
heavy to breathe; each could hear the
other painting softly. At last Alison
said, with a jerk:
"You feel things strongly"
eyes, and so do you. That is why
I know you can understand and for
give me. Sometimes l wonder what
I should have done if''-her voice fell
to a whisper-"if had found out that
that my suspicious were true, and
beloved someone-else. 1.-THE mere
thought of it almost kills me-"
A violent shudder passed through
her frame, and the happy, comely
face was convulsed into age and plain
ness for moment. Her next words
came with gasp that was like a
sob.
GLOW weak and silly you must