The Washington times., 1903-02-15


wood upstairs?"
mo. sir. she's dining out
Dining out. Such a night as thls7
where"
Mr.. AmsteTman's. think. sir
Strange, She said nothing to me
about f. All right. serve the dinner at
once; the storm has made me hun
CRY"
There were several letters by his
/ plate. and he finished the soup before
I coming 10 Jessie's note at the bottom OF
the pile. All" he thought. she prob
ably wants me TO come for her Well.
I know where she is. so I won't open
this just yet-Williams, where's jack"
"out in the laundry. sir. II was too
cold for him in the yard"
4 should say IL vas: let h!== I'm.
Well. old boy" as the faithful animal
I put his paws on his masters shoulders
you don't want 30 dine out tlsis bitter
night. do you? Here's a bone for you
Take Il over by the fire. and mind you
don't make a mess with H. or your mis-
tress will scold both OF as. There. never
mind know you're fond OF me. old
chap. but run along with your bOne-I
want my dinner. too. you know"
He had scarcely taken a mOuthful be-
fore the sight OF Jessie's unopened note
stopped him Queer. he thought.
that she should have bothered about
Willingness I'd better read il now.
Why. hello-what on earth
AS the meaning of the words became
clear TO him he shivered. as II with a
chill He looked over at her vacant
! chsir-st her plate and napkin; then he
glanced about the room in a dazed way.
with quivering lips. and mechanically
went on with his dinner
/ His sad meal over. he went silently
up 10 his wife's apartments. Jack trot-
I ting at his heels. Not a trace OF dis
/ turbance showed itself about the room
| All he thought for the sake Of ap-
Fearances-she Will expect me to send
] her little belongings 10 her. later. Well.
so be it: but. oh. Jessie. l didn't think
it of you,''
For two long hours he tried 10 read
over his cigar. in the library. What dif-
ference did IL make now whether he was
| 4 beggar CT mott What bad he to live
or care for? His club Bah. the very
thought was sickening TO him, Travel,
Where? For what? And yet only few
weeks ago. how happy he had been over
the thought OF some day revisiting with
Jessie the London. Paris. Rome. Cairo.
Bombay. he knew so well7 For what7
/ For whom
His cigar went out dozen times-he
paced up and down. up and down. until
Jack howIed from sheer nervousness.
Then he went up TO Jessie's room again.
There was the pretty wrapper she had
I -
he fancied Il yet warm from her grace
ful body. All her silver and crystal
toilet articles lay on the dressing tables:
among them man.' trinket he had given
her He looked for the pretty gold Iocket
| with his picture-his present the week
before upon their hrsr wedding anniver-
sary-but It was not there He remem-
bered she had worn it on a chain about
her neck; perhaps she had cared enough
Nake it with her.
Just then Jack with an affectionate
whine. picked a photograph from the
chair by the davenport and brought it
20 him II was a new and excellens
one of herself, which ne mad never seen.
and on the back was written. To John
from Jessie" There we're several blur
red marks on fl that looked suspiciously
like tears; and so they were. The pic
ture had been taken IN honor OF HIS
birthday. and she had intended giving
it TO him that night As he looked at
ii the tears started in his own eyes
~Perhaps-perhaps-if I were TO go for
, her-Jack. old chap. are lonesome. TOO.
without Jess"
Jack whined and shifted about the
wrapper and shoes.
Want 10 so and bring her back. dog
gie?"
Jack gave several short. delighted
barlSs. and scratched at the door with
his paws.
-An right. old chap. wen go and fetch
her home"
Jessie had gone for the twentieth time.
to the front window. hoping against
hope, when the mufsied whirr OF wheels
coming quickly through the snow made
her strain her eyes out into the storm
A coupe came into the ray OF light from
the door and a tall animated ulster. ac-
companied by a rolling. plunging ball OF
red fur. came up the steps. Before
Brentwood could shake the snow from his
coat Jessie was in his arms. with a pas
, siOnateIy whispered Forgive me. oh. my
husband and Jeek was raising the
echoes with his happy barks. as, stand
ing on his hind legs. he tried 10 lick her
face
Mr. Amsterdam and the rest Of the
family came out from the library with
cordial greetings. Why. John, we al
most feared the storm would prevent
your coming Jessie has been quite
worried Send the carriage back and
spend the night-dO, row.
$ Well. I don't know; it's a beastly
b, night out What do you say, Jess: No
e Williams VIII be sitting up for Us. and I
guess I'll stay AT home and rest tomor-
row The truth IS. I've been Overwork-
ing lately. How are you all2 How do
; I YOU find business. f2ther2'
.'All well. thanks, but business is bad.