The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-02-12
A Love Story For
the Married.

81 tell you she isn't coming here"
interrupted Vancourt peremptorily. Il
won't have the old cat in the house
50 there! I'm master here, kindly re-
member"
"And I am MISTRESS" retorted Celia.
$50 Aunt Clarissa shall come and"
"What:"
"Ard when she does I-I-shall tell
her that-Low unkind you are-and-
and ask her to take me away" con-
tinued Celia in faltering voice, un-
needing his interruption. "I-I never
want to see you again-I hate you!"
"Oh, very we'll. then" Vancourt rose
with as much dignity as he could as
sumo. GAS such is the case, and since
I am not allowed to be master Of my
own house, we had better separate
amicably. I. for one, shall be very
pleased to be freed from q nagging
womanw
"And I, from a-brute"'
"That is 4 question Of opinion" re-
marked Vancourt easily. Il have been
asked by Carstairs to go for cruise,
and as his yacht leaves Southampton
the day after tomorrow I may rs we'll
go with him urtil have decided what
I will do. OF course, I shall leave you
the house-I will clear out" He
crossed the room to the door, adding,
rs he opened it, "There will be enough
money paid into your account to sat-
isfy your requirements" Then, with
out awaiting a reply, he closed the
door behind him. Celia gazing half dis
consolately, half defiantly, at the va
cant chair on the other side Of the
table.
vancourt had not been gone long be-
fore he returned, dressed in faultless
style, a Raglan. over his arm and a
bowler in his hand.
"Well, I'll say goodby," he said light
II. extending his hand to his wife.
"1've told Job to pack up my duds
and to bring them to me at the Carlton.
1 shall be stopping there till tomorrow
morning, when 1 shall leave for South
ampton." ;$,.:i. ::
II see."
eve shall be cruising about. the
Mediterranean for about two months"
he continued, eyeing his wife covertly
rs he spoke. "After which may go
to South Africa for a few months to
do some big game shooting"
"You will enjoy yourself, I hope"
said Celia, placing her slim hand in
his. "Of course, if we ever meet in
society we need not be dead cuts, need
we. Leonardo"
Her deep blue eyes were raised al
most wistfully to his.
"Of course not" he said, with a
strained laugh, as, pressing her cold
hand to his, he went toward the door.
Addio. little woman; it IS pity that
We should go our several ways, don't
you think so?'
Eyes, it is! Goodby.' Her voice
faded away into q whisper, adding
quaveringly to herself as the door
closed behind her husband, "he might
have kissed me before he went.
don't think that-he minded leaving
me, and I-I-oh, I don't care" she
cried angrily, dashing away the tears
which had gathered on her lashes. IF
he had tried to kiss me, I'd have
slapped his face for him! I hate,
Leonard, and now that I am free l
shall be as happy as"
The harsh clang of the hall door
below caused her TO stop abruptly.
FOR a moment Celia stood silent, then,
sinking onto sofa, she buried her
fluffy head amid a bevy Of cushions.
and cried as If her heart would break.
"Ie's gone" she muttered in a
strangled voice, broken by sobs. "And
Il made-sure that he would come
back"
Meanwhile, outside in the street,
Leonard Vancourt hailed a hanson,
and, stepping into it, was soon bowling
in the direction Of the Carlton. Il am
afraid that have made fool Of my
SELF" he soliloquized. II made sure
that she would have stopped me before
left the house; Of course, it's all most
unearthly rot to think for a moment
that could live without my little
Celia. A day would be bad enough.
but two months-I have half a mind to
turn back and say that I was only
blufing, only I should look such an
ass if 1 did. 1 might have kissed her
before 1 left, though! Poor little
grille, she half raised her face to mine
when I said goodbye and-oh, 1 am
going to chuck this FOOLS game and
shall toddle back, and she can stodge
me with high eggs and salt bacon as
much as she jolly we'll likes If she will
only take me on again. Cabby, T.
His sentence was never finished, for
as he pushed open the trapdoor above
his head the pole of q brewers dray
crashed into the side Of the hanson.
=
When Leonard vancourt came to his
senses it was to find himself swathet
in bandages lying IN bed IN darheHel
and familiar room, while curled up be
side him on the immaculate counter
pane sat Celia, her slim fingers cooling
his fevered brow.
"Hullo, grille" he exclaimed, with
weak attempt at hilarity. II haven
gone after all, you see."
care you sorry, Len, that such is no
the case:' she queried gently, nesting
her tear-stained cheek against his.
"Would you mind, dearest-1 mean
Celia-if I said that I was glad? h
asked, slowly.
mind! Oh. Len, you are the deares
boy in all the world" she cried, i'm
pulsively. II thought that you woul'
have como back, but when I foun'
+Io+ ro,, did not T i1st SAT down ani