The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-05
The Difference.
BIZ ANNA LEACH.

He was driving home in his weII-ap-
pointed bTougham. his finely shaped,
cIcan-cut head stiff on his shoulders, and
his arms folded close
Away back in years 50 far gone that
they seemed like another mans life, he
had feared to enter upon a public ca
reer on account OF the shadow OF that old
folly; but even its memory had been
dead for a decade The thought of it had
been Ioathsome to him, and he had bur
led it. How could others remember when
ne had forgotten?
They had not remembered accurately.
His ears had been split for hours by the
cries OF newsboys whose wares told the
miserable story TO the world. 1t had
bean autographed all over the country.
and it might at this critical time change
the politics OF a nation But the story
had been taken by the wrong end. He
could show that some OF it was false,
and the bare skeleton left would not seri-
ousIy injure him in the last instance
But there was Edith. As he thought
Of mis- wife his marrow seemed to freeze.
His beautiful, stately wife, who had ex-
changed her proud old name for his.
which he had dragged from obscurity by
mere personal foTce- It was with a grain
Of comfort that he remembered that all
the truth had not been published. and
he could attack part as false. \ IoophoIe
remained to him She might consider
him a victim. After all. she was VIC
man, aud women listen TO explanations
Why should his correct middle age suffer
for the folly of a boy2 It was horrible
injustice.
She sat at home and waited Her sis
ter, her mother, and her dearest friend
had come and gone Her family had
wearied her with their indignation and
anger Her friend had been cool. phiIo-
sophicaI as her close friends must be
This one was famous as a woman who de-
spised sentiment She had advised a
calm, chilly, dignifed demand for peni-
tence, with a prospect of forgiveness.
Incidentally. she mentioned cynicaIly
that she herself had tried this plan OF
treating an erring husband, and had
found il efficient She advised against
divorce It was vulgar; and besides. one
did not want to live eternaIIy alone. and
in the long run one man was much like
another ne would pay for his folly; he
was paving Tor it now, in the publicity
Then the friend had lifted her perfumed
fUTs and gone away. her carriage making
way Tor the husbands as Il drove under
tbs porte cochere-
And as she, up in her dressing-room,
heard the roll of the brougham- she
smiled. She had been trying TO keep
from smiling all day. and had hidden her
face that they might not see The bare
twiss in the park were putting out swell
ing buds, that filed the damp evening air
with fragrance. She drew it in gladly.
Spring was in the air. She still wore the
white silk negIgee she had put on in the
morning. The gas was uGIighted. but the
electric light in the park filed the room
with moonIike radiance
Her husband opened the door and came
in walking with confidence. She did not
move, and he stopped as il 10 kiss her.
She rose to her feet, away from his ca
ress-beautifuI. tall, and white. wrath
like against the frost OF the curtains
Henry. she said-and he thought he
had never heard her voice so full and
rich. the contTaIto note so thrilling
there is something I ought TO have told
you long ago, It was only today that I
could. You are just man, too just. l
have thought sometimes" The simple
words too just could not express The
pent up feelings OF those years when she
had never seen one deviation from the
path of rectitude. when she had feared
to let an impulse show itself to this cold
and perfect man
Her husband still remained silent. and
folded his arms.
DO not think 1 mean to say one word
to add to your-worry.' Her voice al
most broke, and then went on rapidly i
am not sorry know-nobody can IN
derstand so well as What temptation
may have come to your youth Tit
she let her proud head fa1I-'I can for
give you I have nothing to forgive It
also came to mine. I was child
loved another man before I knew you;
and then, when I came to know you-he
was dead I loved you, and I could not
tell you. you were so good. It has been
q Ia 1N-eeA u al THESE years All
she held out her arms, and the tears were
on her cheeks and in her voice-'swe can
say to each other, Forgive me, as I for
give you. We were both human chill
dren-
The man sprang toward her and grasp
ed her arms in vice.
Edith he said. and his voice was full
of anger, unbelief, and horror. Are you
mad? What are you saying? Those lies
have turned your braini"
And then. as he realized ali Of her
meaning he flung her from him as he
had flung that degraded sin of his youth
and with a curse in his throat turned and
left her thcre-