The evening Republican., 1902-09-09

luey uau UatEleu, ~ was ucI WiS0
and bis delight. She saw through
him then, plumbed him; knew that
he was poor as his world went, knew
how blindly and utterly he loved her
But that was all he had. She spied
him ont.-Their poverty was not real
She had never been SO prosperous, so
aldermanla as now; but lie had led
her to a peak, and from there she
saw other peaks. Hers was not the
topmost; indeed, an Insignificant.
The others lowered up high, higher
and higher. and she wanted those.
Other wcmen with half her beauty
clothed now with more justice than
it had ever known, stood on those
higher peaks, on the most radiant.
Each day he went about his work
and he knew that behind him, In
the dark behind, there was no rest.
Som=tmey he fell to wondering what
happened in his absence, but that
madness he choked. 1t was unworthy
aud his courage, his wanted courage
| gave out at that. He could not face
that. But he was glad when he
could bring her money.
She on her watch-tower. was ever
the same. AT night, when he came
in, sine was there, and. of a morn.
ing, he saw her waiting for him TO
70. Sometimes he found himself
wondering at her patience. At
times he wondered why she did net
break out into some furious dance
| there, throw off her chains, aud
fling herself wids-armed 10 that un-
seen company of evil. But she
waited on. Again he marvelled at
her patience, at the strength OF
mind that could resist. She bore
with him. nobly, sercnely, sure OF
herself. At the appointed hour he
would 60, ut the appointed hour she
would be free Of him-and then?
Then slowly, one BY one, crept
out what she had 80 far withheld;
now a ring. a piece OF rare lace, a
fan. snecklet, turs, and embroid-
eries--,hc whole added splendor of
her armory. The lid had been re.
moved on all those serpents. They
Kissed about her. played their fork
ed tongues around her, flashed
their cruel ewes. lie saw her ser
peutue, nake.wreathed aud veno-
nous, but opulent with new
beauty. She walked with swish
of slker skirts, carried with her an
aura. an atmosphere subtle aud en-.
circling. like Venus IN her cloud.
Into this forlorn Office had come
the desire of her; the SAVIOR Of those
scented sheets was in his blood. Her
gowns grew in perfection, were
drawn smooth over foam OF jug
glery that beloved a snowy aud ex
quisite wilderness. Her flesh lay I'M
der this, burdeniug his senses. She
was royal. She had declared her
rank
At this Office or in the muddy by
, ways where ne fought his vain
fight wearing himself lean, he work
ed with darkling eyes Did they
know his shane! Did fhey pity
him; did they laugh! But his secret
was well kept At least she was
discreet his mistress. For she was
his mistress. He found satisfac-
ton in the word. He could not
have her as wife, he said, and SO he
must take what she gave hi i'm. He
knew her now Il word, a scene, and
she would sweep her triumphant
way openly. She was still waiting
waiting for him to give her the last
excuses some justification for her
social mind For she must be pure
IL her scanlalous way.
At last and it was winter nine
months ago and eleven, no twelve
days she had taken him for what
he was The season wss raw, aud
she was for the South of France.
He counted hi, earnings; he was
not even his own master, h9 was a
subordinate, Il supernume"ary scrib-
bier. ''The South of France!' he
said. 1t was q land Of myth for
such as he, fairyland to dream on
But you knew he stammered.
And the meansl" She would find
mcaIs. 1t was pity he WIS TO
busy,
Henever saw her again. He nev-
er would. But she had come back
and brought with her these papers,
this typewriter, scontal statement
OF his past; She was pearl beyond
price, she wrote, aul he had want
ed to wear her, Such pearls are
for princes and the lavish great
He had had his good fortune and
might die with his term as an &C.
hievement. lie had loved with the
best, she said. He had taken
her opportunity and she had taken
! | it.
The suh-editor put the manuscript
aside Here was the end Of his pre-
tence of all his tragic foolery. 1t
had fallen at last lis he had Away
known it must--the end to his 81.
lence, of all that burel dareness in
his heart. When they came again
in the morning, what could he say,
now that this, this thing, had es-
capped, was no more in his hands
He paced unsteadily down the
room then chung to the window
frame and looked out. Nothing had
changed. The world stood by I'M
moved. But he, could he bear it!
All! no they were sleeping. In four
or five hours they would be awake,
and then, would it not be better to
rob them of this now, now at
oncei Would it not be better to
fling himself headlong into the void
below better to he swallowed up in
the dark that waited outside2
His secret was broad, filing the
sleeping world with shame. Four,