Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-09-10


| Halifax, was looking idly out of the
smoker window, when suddenly there
/ passed across his range of vision cer-
| tain we'll cut profile which he knew
could belong to only one woman in the
world. Without an instant's hesitation
he picked up his hat and left the car,
clearing the steps just as the train
started heavily forward.
The small station was crowded with
people, and Chatterton looked some
time for the lady of the profile before
he espied her sitting quietly in one cor
ner of the dingy waiting room.
She had thrown open her coat and
was leaning back against the wall with
closed eyes, evidently prepared to wait
some time. Chatterton seated himself
| in the opposite corner of the room and,
| drawing out paper, pretended to read
the while he watched her furtively.
People passed and repassed between
| them. The noise and confusion ebbed
| and flowed as train after train came in
and departed.
Then all at once hull came. Silence
lC1B1iC0 O1 ll1S anu OudllCI-
ton suddenly realized that he and the
lady were alone in the waiting room.
He rose and went out abruptly, and as
he passed through the door he stopped
| for moment before time table that
| hung beside it, one name having
| caught his eye.
"Aylwin,' he muttered. "Of course
-
anniversary dinner. How could have
forgotten it? l don't believe she ever
Travelled alone before, and it's a whole
hour to wait in this hole. Don't | know
the long, interminable dragging on of
the minutes, don't / know-ah, but it
did not seem long last year when we
waited here together"
He passed out on to the deserted
platform and, lighting a cigar, smoked
furiously while he paced up and down,
revolving many things in his mind.
At last, throwing back his head with
sudden resolution, he tossed aside his
cigar and re-entered the waiting room.
AS the door closed behind him the
girl in the corner opened her eyes, and
sudden wave of color touched her
cheeks. Her cool, gray eyes regarded
his steadily for moment, then she
turned her face slowly from him. But
the man, lifting his hat, advanced
quickly.
Margaret" he cried as he stood be-
fore her, 81 want to talk to you" Her
battling gray eyes met his with no
trace Of embarrassment.
II know Of nothing you can have to
say to me. You were very explicit.
Nothing of Importance was omitted.
but If something else has occurred to
you you have my lawyers address and
can communicate with him.
He made no answer for a moment,
then he said abruptly:
''You are going home for the ami
versary dinner tomorrow. l can just
see the table blazing with lights and
flowers, the dear old pater beaming
with pride and the little mother all
soft smiles and tender happiness. To
morrow will be the first time there has
ever been an empty place at the ami
versary dinner. l am afraid the little
mother will not like that. She has al
ways had perfect faith In her sons-in-
law"
1T Is easy to deceive old people," she
interrupted, particularly such dear,
guileless, trustful old people as they.
VIII you kindly leave me? Under ex-
isting circumstances no gentleman
should have to be reminded that he has
renounced his right to infiict his com
pany upon his-the woman
His wife" he finished gently. "Whv
hesitate7 Is the word SO hateful to
you? A separation is not a divorce,
you know. don't want to force my
self upon you, Margaret But cannot
get the little mother out of my mind.
DO they know at home of our trouble? p
The girl was silent for moment
then she faced him suddenly, her eyes
blazing.
NO" she cried; they don't. You
are not the only one who loves them!
You have been the cause of my doing
much that l regret, and now you are
making me do the one thing l have al
HoJo AOAtAAC0 w LII Ull lllJ SOul. 1Ou
have forced me to lie to them for the
first time in my life! 1 have told them
nothing yet of the truth. In my letters
l have always added your love and
such messages as you used to send
They expect you tonight 1 shall tell
them that just as we were starting an
urgent telegram came from the Hall
fax branch demanding your immediate
presence. oh, shall get through /,
have had my schooling" The last
words were rather faint, but she threw
back her head and added almost fierce
ly, "And it will not be acting to show
them how happy amr'
He did not tell her that her face, her
voice, her very attitude, belied her
words, for something was teaching him
wisdom. Instead he answered gently:
1T viii be impossible to deceive the
little mother. When those clear blue
eyes look into yours and her soft voice
asks, Why, NADIA, where's our Ted
dyT all lies will shrivel up and die.
You Will have to tell her everything,
and that will mean that all Joy will go
not only out of the anniversary dinner,
but out of her life. You know how she
regards such things. Margaret, don't
you think that for her sake and the pa
ter's I had better go down with you
just for the dinner? / can make my
excuses and leave on the midnight
train tomorrow. I shall not trouble
you. believe me. They must not be al
lowed to suspect anything, but when
we are alone we shall be as strangers.
I shall not even talk to you If you do
not wish 1t. There is plenty of time
for you to decide. am asking nothing
for myself know that that is fruit
less-but am pleading for the little
mother and the pater."
He turned as he finished speaking
! and left her alone.
! It seemed scarcely five minutes be-
fore she heard his voice again. THE
Aylwin train is coming" he said.
sShall get tcketT'
EYES, she answered simply.
The cars were crowded, but he found
seat, and, putting her in 1t with the
old air of proprietorship that had al
ways been so sweet to her, he seated
| himself beside her In silence.
The train ratified on, and as they sat