Connecticut western news., 1902-03-13
P0!-s-OoEt0e-s-t00.+oet-s-e0+tel
 5 ONE TRIP AND-j
 5 ANOTHER. E f By | MARIE ALICE PHILLIPS 7 f Copyright, 1901, by Marie Alice Phillips

The importunate cabbies and bus ting porters failed to attract the at tention of Frank Ryals except so far as a nervous person would notice mos quitoes or flies. He brushed them away without so much as a look as he passed down the long pier. With bent head and quickening footsteps he walk ed, unheeding and unnoticed, through the sweat and turmoil of the city to his home. AS he rang the bell his hand shook and the muscles of his throat frightened.
 The faithful butler, who had been valet to Frank Ryals before his mar riage, held the door open and inquired solicitously If Ms Ryals" got of safe and sound.
 The reply came after a pause, "Yes, Brown, thank you," but the white, drawn look of his beloved masters face repelled further inquiry, and the butler retired to the kitchen, there to unbosom himself to Cynthia.
 Its my opinion Marse Frank is mighty cut up bout Mis- Bess goin' of to Europe 'ithout no warnin' hardly at all"
 Cynthia sniffed.
 And her bride of jes' three months" continued the indignant Brown. Its my opinion she don't care much about i'm, and i'm the best and jolliest man that ever lived" Brown was growing more aggrieved every minute.
 Gus Brown, would you have a | oman tied to a mans coattails always jes' cause she happens to be married to i'm" And Cynthia set the pan blown sharply on the table. "I don't expect much of women folks at no time," replied Brown stoutly. in- | jecting as much scorn into his tones as he thought safe, but didn't much ex. pect young bride to go off so cheer ful-like and leave her husband for six months on a stretch" Cynthia turned sharply and looked | into the face of the worthy butler Did you say six months, Gus Brown six monthsT'
 | The faithful Brown could only bow his head in assent, and Cynthia, detect | Ing traces of real grief in his usual woodeny countenance, was too shock ed to take much account of the blister made on her hand by the overturned gravy. ,.
 | Presently Brown put his head in the doorway of the drawing room to an nounce dinner, but, seeing his master with bowed head and bent shoulders retired quietly to the kitchen. | Cynthia called Brown "a white liver ed coward" on his return, which em boldened that functionary to go bach and touch his masters elbow.
 "I don't care for dinner, Brown thank you"
 | "'Thout SO much as movin'," Brown confessed to Cynthia as they prepared to do justice to the dinner now almost cold.
 Frank Ryals, full of life and vivacity now brimming over with the joy oi some bright experience, now breathing awe and wonder of the grandeur oi some old cathedral or mystery of na ture, but never once did she say ''l miss you. dear" or 'I wish I were back at home with you," or "'l won:.cl what you are doing" Frank RyIlS searched her letters feverishly foi some such expression, but 1t never came.
 Old friends welcomed him back tc the club, and occasionally he went tC the opera. Dinners at home were scarce and finally ceased altogether Six months had extended Into eight be cause Mrs. Ralne wanted to take hel party into Egypt, but now they were !, coming home.
 The man who stood on the pier wait ing for the North German Lloyt steamer to cast anchor on a bright same Frank Ryals who had stood there eight months before except for a cer tain air of composure and two little patches of gray hair on his temple: that contrasted oddly with his fresl face. He received Bess and her friend. cordially and told the latter he had made all arrangements to have them al his home during their short stay in New York.
 Everybody talked at once at dinner there was so much to say and the joy of being once more on American sol was so keen. The company rose, pro testing vigorously when their hos bade them good evening as he prepared to leave the house.
 "We refuse to stay and turn you ou of house and home this way. It ii atrocious," they said.
 Tt Is my pleasure" was the gray, answer. land you must stay"
 Bess for the first time in her life wa: thoughtful and said little. On the I fourth evening after her arrival, wheI the guests had ali departed and tn, Ryals rose and, taking hat and cane said good night.
 Bess rose also.
 Where are you going, FrankT'
 ''To the club" he calmly answered.
 For a moment she gasped with as tonishment. Then pain, anger anC wounded vanity chased in quick sue Cession over her mobile face.
 "Our first evening together" sh' managed to say, and. as he still held his hat and looked steadily at her "IIas the club grown so dear to you that m can't give 1t up-one even ingf"
 ''One has time to become attached t' I