, 1903-01-16


tunate a thing it was hat election
night came only once a year. No cleo
trio cars. No dinner.
The car passed through fireworks,
and shouts which diminished fortu-
nately as it rounded the curve and
swung up Columbus avenue.
Janet had fallen into a sort of wa
king trance. thinking of nothing in
particular. watching the back of a
mans newspaper, the feather in a
woman's hat, a little solitary at going
home alone, sorry she had mutinied
SO that Will thought it necessary to
stay out while he was out, for fear If
he once came home he would never
get out again.
At any rate she was glad he was
down town with the boys. She had
never objected to that, except that 1t
left her alone; she who had been so
gay with her many beaux before her
marriage; who never in the world had
leen alone then.
Presently the voice of the conductor
broke in upon her reverie. She sprang
up with a start. One Hundred and
Fourth street and three stations past
her own!
She hurried out, down the steps and
across the street to board the down.
town train back home.
With her foot on the step the num-
Der of the station bore in upon her.
One Hundred and Fourth street, and
at 1920 was the fiat of the widow who
had declared she would win back her
husband in less than six months of
time after his marriage.
Deliberately she retraced her steps.
Then stopped.
No. This was beneath her. 1t was
the work of her maid. No, she would
not watch him. 1t was beneath her.
But If he were there she had a right
to know.
How particular he had beer to a
he was at 44th street!
The old thought cankered. If he
said he was there, then OF course he
was somewhere else:
She walked slowly past some scat
tered fireworks and a red light or two,
thinking.
II he were there, would she want to
know? Wouldn't she rather be blind?
II he were there, her pride must sep
arate them. Then, wouldn't she rath-
er be blind?
No, no, mo-! No second hand kisses!
No leftover caresses! She must be
first with him or nothing.
She found herself sobbing as she
walked along; but walking neverthe.
less, apparently in spite OF herself, led
on and on by the irresistible impulse
to solve the problem for once and all
If it wrecked her life, to know; hating
herself for this act of spying and yet
all her nature %throbbing in the one
impulse to know.
A man passed her. He turned and
gazed after her, amazed to see a
woman 30 beautifully gowned, SO evil
IDENTIFY respectable, alone on the street
at that time of night; for by now 1t
vas nearing eleven.
She stood by and by across from
the building Of flats and looked up.
On the fourth floor, her fiat, the row
of windows blazed alight and q shadow
rested on the white of the down-drawn
blind, a head the shape OF his. with
the forefinger of his delicate hand
against his cheek.
Soon he rose and ran across the
room to the corner where she could
see only his elbow.
There was a divan in that corner
then. She sat there. He had run
across to her.
She clasped her hand to her mouth
to restrain a cry. He had run across
the room to another woman. Her hus-
band! And his arm was around herl
She sank On the doorstep opposite.
white rs paper, her heart seeming to
stop its beating.
The man who had stopped to look
at her passed by. He leaned over her.
whats the matter?" he asked.
Nothing" she faltered.
Can / do anything for you?" he in
sisted.
mo, no." she said, ana he went on
by.
She never knew how long she ~
there looking up at the window, the
soul In her aching, cold to the heart;
but after = time a woman came to the
middle window Of the three and threw
up the sash.
She leaned out and rocked up and
down the street, this way and that.
Janet drew further into the door
way.
The woman turned into the room.
The shadows revealed her giving him
hat. The two shadows swung to-
gether for . space. her head On hts
shoulder. his bending forward In he
of farewell. Janet's breath aAms
hard. Her mouth was dry. Hsf
heart she thought. would hrsak.