The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-08-19

lid background. But what?" she de-
manded, sharply. So - v & 81
I'm inclined to think, from Whist went
beforehand after-that she really
couldn't have been much"
"She may have acted unwisely-even
foolishly," Mrs. Drexel suggested, with
a sudden revelation of feeling, land re-
pented. She may not have been alto
gethsr-hopeless."
Allison shook his head. Women Of
her stripe don't change" he observed,
with conviction.
Mrs. :Drexel stared at him mutely for
the half of minute. "You believe
that?" she asked, slowly, the light dying
her eyes curiously. 1T is really re-
'treshing," she went on, in little burst
of bitterness, Ito hear mems opinions
on the sex, sometimes.
II happen, I think, to know women
pretty WELL" returned Allison, with a
slight uplifting Of his brows, "and l
know that kind better than any"
$50 you don't concede that women are
capable of reforming-even when there
is no actual harm to be undone-
"Outwardly, most anyone can reform.
People may even 60 so far as to deceive
themselves In regard to their ownfeel-
ings and actions, but your are familiar
enough with the saying about Loop
ards" N 4sSssS;s
Mrs. Drexel interrupted him With !
swift gesture of dissent. For Heav-
ems sake, let's not fall into .platitudes
to back up our arguments" she cut In,
shortly. After q second she laughed
in a half-mocking little fashion that
struck oddly on Allison's ears. Now,
for the first time, he noticed her emotion,
and an unnamable pang shot through
him. He bent toward her impulsively,
in the old familiar way, and tried to draw
her hands into his. But she shrank away
from him quickly and, rising, walked
to the opposite end of the veranda with
out a word.
Allison watched her with bewildered
eyes, and after little, got up and fol-
lowed her. Dear" he said, gently,
what Is it? Tell me-surely you can
tell me. Is there anything wrong-any
trouble that you are hiding from me?
Are you ill?" He reached forth again,
and tried totake her hand, but she flung
of his touch sharply and buried her face
in her hands.
After a little she looked up, white and
moveless as statue, but with all fur
Their traces of emotion vanished from her
face els he dead-now?" she asked,
coldly.
Allison stared at her in sudden alarm.
"I'm sorry 1 ever told you of that af-
fair" he broke out, in self-vexation.
HAD I dreamed that you would take 1t
so to heart"
"1s he dead?" she reiterated, calmly.
"He died while was with him."
Mrs. Drexel drew in her breath with a
long, quivering sigh. After seconds
silence, she drew the ring from her I'm
ger and held it out to him. Il was his
wife," she said. DULY.
"Millicent!"
Eyes, it is quite too terribly true. I
learned only yesterday that he was still
alives Several years, ago I had-or
thought I Marketable information of
his death. I sent for you this morning
that might be thesfirst to break It to
you-to-" f.. ,.-t}t. " Z
Allison stood as though frozen, his
eyes fixed in a sort Of dazed fascination
on the glittering baubls she had thrust
into his fingers. ll. sri s. !
But, sweetheart" he said, his voice
a little hoarse and trembling, "I-you
don't understand.& The man is dead" .
The woman looked ct him with dun
eyes. II know she said. Z ,.,,.-.~,,@r
This thing has unnerved, unsettled
you. After awhile you will be better,
Try to remember. dear, that saw him.
dead with my own eyes. Every barrier
to our happiness IL removed now. There
is no barrier, Millicent-" 49,
Mrs. Drexel stood motionless for IN
instant; the next, she shook from head
to foot. half staggering as she put out
one hand to the banister rail to steady
herself.
mo barrier!" she cried. Dick! Oh,
my God, you yourself have erected a bar.
rier between US thatismore insurmount.
able than hundred living husbands!"