Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1903-03-27
q CIrILA TRAGEDY.
Showing How One OF the Great Men of the
Empire Met His Complete Undoing
BY Claude Askew.

self-"success at lastn' He heayed a
deep, long sigh, and stretched himself
MS one does who throws off a burden.
To-day had brought George Gascoigne
good tidings. He was no longer the
man striving-he was the man there.
Promotion? Yes, but something more
than promotion-the ripest, reddest kiss
of Dame Fortune for George Gas
coigne had arrived.
81 must tell Kittyv He smiled a
little as he rustled up his papers. '.She
won't understand bit what it means
to me-" he thought, "but she will like
the title-and, by Jove, won't she play
the great lady splendidly? Dear little
Kittyr
"Kitty's been a brick. real little
brick. She's never bothered round as
other women do and talked chiffons
whilst | was trying to rule men, OF,
anyway, to understand them"
George, l want to speak to you for
moment. Can you spare me few sec
onds?' Kitty stopped her husband as
he was about to leave the drawing
room that evening. Husband and wife
had been dining alone, and even George
Gascoigne noticed vaguely how smart
Kitty looked for their tete-a-tete din
ner. She had vivid spot of color on
each cheek, .and her eyes glistened.
Yes. if you have anything very i'm
portant to tell me, DEAR" he answered,
but am rather busy this evening"
Il wonder when you are not busy"
she retorted bitterly. "Well George,
will be as brief as can. want to so
home to England. May go?'
My dear Kitty" (his astonishment
was obvious), why on earth 60 you
want to go home? You feel well?'
with quick anxiety.
"Oh, dear, yes. l always feel well.
want to so home because-oh, be-
cause she added recklessly, after q
long pause, you would not miss me,
and another man would"
Another man. he looked at her as
one who does not hear Alright.
She stood her ground, though she
would have given worlds to revoke the
lie.
Eyes, George. another man. I know
you are absolutely indifferent to me-
but, well, he loves me-"
'He-who?"
"Ah, that will never tell you" she
cried, playing her part finely and with
a certain amount of artistic skill, Ibis
name must be a dead letter. But we
have both been true to you in word
and deed, George"
Also in thought, suppose?" he in
terrupted, with allow, hooking laugh.
L always remembered was your
wife, George"
How you must have cursed your
good memory" his face had grown
liyid. when did you first begin this
platonic gamer" he added, sternly.
Il will not answer any more of these
questions she said with a rush of
desperate couXge. "That is my secret,
and his. Yo1 have only yourself to
thank for the situation. When we
were first married / adored and almost
worshiped you. 1t is your cold neglect
that has killed my love, and only my
own self-respect that has kept me
straight. Do you think a wife is only
a toy, who can be kissed and petted
when she is new and put to one side as
soon as her novelty has worn off? If
SO, you have made the biggest mistake
in your life. A woman once awakened
to love needs love, and she gets it by
fair means or. foul"
She ended her speech by suddenly
bursting into passion of tears, and
covering her face with trembling hands
| ran out Of the room. ,&..i.4s$s