The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-13
Our Daily Short Stories
PETRUCHIO UP TO DATE.
BY WILLIAM MLEoD RA1NE
Copyright. 1901. by Authors syndicate) j..

cemoer when they we'd" lurking
dread clutched at her heart, the fear
tnat she had lost her power over him
just When she cared most to possess
II. The memory of his devotion
through the long years rose before her
to terrify Rachel with his present I'M
concern. She was conscious of a little
heartache growing daily more pro-
nounced.
1t was about this time that Jennings
was nominated for Congress by the
progressive element of his party which
happened to be in control. One even
ing his wife met him at the door with
bright, shining eyes, from which the
tears were not far distant. She held
daily paper in her hand
rs it true, Frank?" she demanded.
Il don't know" he answered, laugh
ing. IF you saw it in the paper it
probably isn't
you know what 1 mean. Is it true
that you were nominated for Congress
day before yesterday" she cried.
oh, yes. That's true enough" He
stifled a yawn behind his hand.
And you never told me. Why not p
oh, l don't know. l suppose l for
got. Didn't think you would be in
terested. I ought to have mentioned
1T, but you see I've been so busy"
She went raging to her bedroom in
| a tempest of tears. 1t was quite clear
he did not love her any more, or he
could not treat her so. She was the
most miserable woman alive, and she
hated Frank jennings with the good
| hate that is a prelude to love.
A week before Jennings would have
followed her with abject apologies, but
now he quietly strolled down to the
club smoking a cigar. The impulse
was strong in him to comfort her and
be done with it. but his good sense
rallied in time to prevent him from
surrendering. His heart cried out for
a reconciliation, but the strong will
held him to the course he had mapped
out.
On the very next day Rachel met
her husband downtown in company
with pretty, well-dressed girl. They
were having a merry time together,
exchanging gay banter and repartee
with much spirit. They turned into a
restaurant without seeing Rachel, and
that young woman went home with
much bitterness of spirit to indulge in
another weeping time. 1t was all glar-
ing clear to her now. Doubtless this
other girl, with the big, brown, lus-
trous eyes and the waving hair had
won her husbands love from her. She
and comfort. as she had done when a
girl.
And so ii happened that when Jen-
nings reached home he found the floor
Uttered with various articles of femi-
nine dress, and his wife buried in the
trunk she was packing. He picked his
way across to her and stood by her
side. -
Spring housekeeping in the win
ter?" he asked.
She turned on him with a face swol-
len with weeping.
I'm going home to mother Frank"
Indeed! May 1 ask why you have
decided to go so hurriedly?"
Because You don't love me any more,
and - saw you down town with that
other woman at luncheon"
"She is the sister Of my partner
Roberts. and had just come in on the
train. He had to appear in court and
court not meet her till afterward. OF
course 1 volunteered to bring her up.
Any more counts in the Indictment
he asked colby.
She rose and flung herself sobbing
on his breast, burying her face in his
coat "You do don't love me any more. "
Don't To-
mo. You never ki-kiss me-"
"I hadn't noticed. You told me it was
silly, So l. SOL Out VI liC way VI II 4
suppose"
Jennings heart was singing love
songs. in a rapture, but his face was
wooden.
And you never spend an evening at
home now--at least scarcely ever"
I'm pretty busy about this congress
sional nomination. Besides, we're old
married people now. as you once said,
very sensibly, and not lovers to spend
our time in such idiocy as billing and
cooling"
"But / don't want to be old married
folks I want to be lovers just like you
used to be-" said the small voice out
of the coat, getting its grammatical
persons very much mixed
"But it's so foolish. Don't you re-
member you said that"
She stamped her foot. mo, / don t
remember What does it matter If ]
said some crazy thing. That doesn't
make il gospel truth, does it?" Then
in a pathetic whisper, that just reach
ed him: Don't you love me at all,
Frank, any n1ore?"
The things that Frank said and the
things that Frank did are too foolish
70 he mentioned in detail.