The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-25

waiting for him to notice her-and she
couldn't stand it above all things at
Christmas time. This was the ami
versary of Their wedding. too. He had
even forgotten that.
She signed and sealed it. Then,
with her furs over her arm, she car
ried the note to his room. He would
probably go there first.
AS she stepped to the door, the light
was turned up suddenly and she paus-
ed. Her husband stood before his
mirror. And he had sent word for
her to go with the Farralrs. He
could have gone With them-and he
didn't want to. Something very like
a sob, hard, dry sob burst from her
lips and the man swung around from
the glass. His hand dropped into his
coat pocket-he had not yet removed
his top coat.
LUCILLE thought you had gone"
Il am sorry to have disappointed
YOU" she began, then suddenly her
voice failed her. Was that her hus-
band, that old-lookng, haggard.
gaunt man, leaning heavily against his
shaving stand?
Billy, what's the matter? Tell me,
Billy, are you ill?"
The note had slipped from her hand
to the floor. The furs followed. She
sprang forward and flung both arms
around his neck.
BILLY, there's something wrong
something has happened"
Almost roughly he flung off her
arms and staggered over to a couch.
why didn't you go?" he said thick
ly. Il didn't-want to tell you"
Tell me what" cried the girl. Pos
sessed by nameless fear she followed
him to the couch. Tell me every
thing, dear. I'm your wife. have
the right to know-and you've kept
me out of your life so long
Kept you out" he said staring at
her curiously. why, you've been
with me every moment of the day
Who do you think I've been working
for-just for money? Good God,
Lucille! Couldn't you understand it
was you-you! I've said I'd make the
women who once snubbed you bow
before you-the women who have
patronized you because they were
jealous of your beauty"
BILLY, Billy. whatever are you talk
ing about? What women"
ooh, 1 know where you've gone and
who has received you, and I've said
I'd make you queen over them all,
when 1 got money enough-and now
its a damn nice Christmas present
to offer you, Lucille. an empty purse.
a ruined business"
Billy"
1.-The wrong side of the C. & NJ. cor
ner-that's all And to-morrow-the
day before Christmas-Im to meet my
creditors and close things up at 40
cents on the dollar. It'll all go, do
you understand Lucille? This house,
the Long Island place, the horses
Wen be strapped-just where we start
ed, no worse than that-four years
ago-four years ago tonight. Oh,
God"
He buried his face in his hands and
his whole frame shook. Lucille knelt
down beside him.
I'm so glad. Billy"
His hands fell away from his face
and he stared at her in dull amaze.
"Glad?" he asked thickly.
"Glad we're going to start overland
this time Wen start right. Oh, Billy,
it was all wrong the last time. was
dazzled at first by city life, and while
1 played you worked. Then when l
got tired of playing and wanted you,
there wasn't any Billy in my life.
Business had won him from me. But
we know better now. Billy, won't
you kiss me, just to seal the fresh
start? Its our wedding anniversary,
Bulyi"
He nodded his head. then he bent
over and kissed her in a lifeless fash
AOh' A9iiO ACoS S00N@AAJ oAAN iANAA5 90
her cloak.
"Give me that heavy coat, dear.
What you need is a dressing gown and
slippers"
You'd better ring for James," he
said mechanically, though he handed
her the coat. She threw 1t across the
nearest chair, and her hand touched
something heavy and hard in the pock-
ct. She felt again, and her lips turn
ed white. That was why he had been
standing before the mirror. A min
ute later
She ran to his dressing room and
brought out his quilted robe. She had
ordered it herself for his last birth
day. Then back for his slippers. She
waited on him as a mother on her
child And when she had made him
comfortable on the great couch, she
knelt down beside him.
He did not speak, but trembling
hand was stretched forth and rested
on her hair.
-morrow-after the-the meet
ing of those"
"The creditors"
1.-The creditors, yes; we will start
for home. Mother and father will be
so glad to see us. They've never
quite given up hopes Of our coming
Oh, Billy, can't you see the woods.
the tree heavy with snow, and the