Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-06-13

AwkSwarcness was perhaps the one
word that best described the whole
man Long. loosely put together. his
nttenuate6 height serving only 10
accentuate the first impression OF
uEliness- he was not rendered more
attractive by the clumsiness that
emphasized every movement.
The woman was the first 10 break
the silence. II have asked Jack
Wetheren 20 spend the week v~ish
us-you don't nind2 He leaves for
The front next week and I thought
She broke Of. toying hesitatinrlv
with her coffee-spOou.
A sudden hardness came into Dis
b-owe's face. He rose sharply and
pushed back his chair. His wife
glanced mp quickly. a strange IN
eas'ness stealing over her tecause
OF his unusual manner.
4ou have no objection. dear9~ she
urged impatiently. q half contempfu-
ous note On the last word. She looked
narrowly al him. but his face WA
quite unmoved. he had lighted a
cigar and was smoking mechanically
BY all means. Violet. entertain any
one you wish in your own home"
lie stood in an embarrassed fashion
BY her chair for a second. then quiet
u left the room.
Ills wife looked after the rece6inC
form with an expression q slow won
der For ghe first time In their mar
ned life he had not offered 20 kiss her
goodbye at psrtingi For a moment
thi8 show q Indifference stunr her
anto swift resentment But II was
merely transient. All thought OF tne
ttresoIne husband vanished before the
image q the man who threatened 10
bring O. shadow into the hitherto
blamelcss home
That evening with Jack Wetheren
seemed strangely short. in CONTRAST 70
the long. dull hours she wa sometiu
forced 20 spend in her husbands
clefy- With what force and cleverneE,
he touched upon the subjects OF the
day the latest triumph in the world
81 ART q hterature-the one book es-
pecially, about which two worlds were
10 rave After the great originator,
me great interpreter; and such was
NethereL His every word was teen-
ing WIKI interest; 60 different from the
Faplc discussions with which Disbrosye
was won't 10 regaie himself
By the side Of this mans converse
ton that OF her husbands became
mere insipid twadcle The thought
that she Wah the wife q such an one
grew more and more intolerable with
every hour
Al through the night she tossed few
erishly on her pillow. weakly strug-
Cling against the lnvidious shadows
that hovsrec about her. II was near
midnight when DisbrovFe returned
from the Office. but she was keenlv
alive 20 the sound Of his footstep. A
r-@rneiess apprehension that vas al
most appalling swept over her. What
would the future bring forth?
The week went BY On golden wings
and Netheren stiH fingered The
book q sentimentality. long closed BE-
tween them, WA now fully open 20
both. Outwarciy tie time had passed
uneventfully. but the frat subtle at
traction that had drawn the two to
gether was now sprung into fierce life.
There WA only q wild, insatiate desire
70 escape from the desperate ucnot-
o1y q her everyday lie To one Of
her temperament, abe argued, q great
oeTotion was necessary; not the slav-
ian devotion q bungiing husband,
but the consuming love Of q nature ia
affaity with her owni
When DisbTowe came home the fol-
loving night the house WA IN total
darkness. de entered with q Gull fore
bocing pressing Ike physical burden
against his heart. he sat down wear
lly 20 rest, al capacity for thought
seeming 70 have gone from his over
charged brain Presently he termed
absently 10 take Up the evening paper.
"A be did 20 His keen eye singled out
. folded sheet q note paper on ssse
reading table. There was 10 address:
he raised IL slowly with hands that
shook beyoad bis cobtroi and read:
NY Darling: am compelled 10 be
away froEn home this evening. nruck 20
my regret Forgive what nuNt have
seemed IKE neglect for the past few
days and believe me, always.
Your loving 'yfolef.'~
When he had finished readlng the
nots DisbrOwe glanced hastily about
hin; then vita sudden impulse q Az
s2eekssis toy hs lifted ne precious