Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-04-30


restaurant. waiting.
De Narville, standing at the door
saw her He FASTENED TO her, holding
out his hand
Are you here alone?' he questioned
surprised.
For the moment" she answered. ~
am expecting n friend. lie was to
meet me here at g."
CHANGING up at n giant gilt clock,
whose hands moved with annoying
slowness: ut Is not quite that yet, "
she reflected, impatlently.
De Narville smiled down upon her.
MAY sit here opposite your he
asked, drawing out the chair, until he
comes"
Certainly" she replied, and he took
the chair.
He observed her admiringly.
you are looking beautiful tonight,
Jessica," he began. "How dainty your
white Is, and that touch Of rose in your
hat Old-fashiened roses they are,
aren't they? On a new-fashioned wom-
an. And your little fingers glittering
with just enough diamonds, not too
many. Just enough. There are some
who make the mistake OF wearing dla-
monds to the knuckles, but you, never!
Dear me! The last time l saw you,
Jessica, you were In tears"
yes" encouragingly.
you and he had just separated. It
was very sad. 1 was not surprised at
your tears. One must weep little for
any husband, worthy or unworthy. 1t
is In the nature of woman. But | said
to myself then, In couple of weeks
or three she will be over it. She will
have entirely recovered And | must
say that my prophecy has been full
filled even sooner than expected, Jes-
sica. How long has 1t been? Three
weeks?' After a moment employed
in rapid mental calculation, "Three
weeks! And here you are, beaming
more beautiful than l have ever seen
you and waiting for a friend"
Half closing his eyes quizzically, he
bent toward her
ut is safe to say" he whispered
that this Is not woman friend for
whom you are so impatiently watching
the hands of the clock with whom you
are to dine"
A laugh commenced at Jessicas eyes
and finished at her lips.
Hardly" she replied.
II thought not" declared De Mar
Vile. And why should 1t be? Why
not go out at once with your friends?
Must you make recluse of yourself,
while he has all the enjoyment posi-
BILE? He goes where he pleases. / am
certain of that. In fact, have seen
people who saw him dining here, there
and everywhere, with his acquaint-
ances, man or woman, as 1t suits him"
Here he paused for an interval, In
order TO observe the effect. 1t was
rather disappointing than otherwise,
Jessica sitting under fire, composed as
monument and quite as calm. He by
and by continued:
AS matter of fact. Jessica, you
and he We're never suited, you were
never intended for one another. Some
unkind fate"
Fate, you call it," repeated Jessica.
Then, delicately defining the differ
ence; when it is uniind, it Is fate
When it is kind, it is Providence. And
You call it fate?"
Some unklnd fate" went on De
Narville stolidly, threw you together.
You were too much alike in the first
place. Both of intensely nervous tenn
peraments, eXcitable, high-strung, It
was not in the nature of things that
you could live together longer than a
year. Indeed, many predicted a sep
aration at the end of six months. or nj
the very least, seven. But it has been
year, hasn't ity'
Tonight" said Jesslca. softly "is
the anniversary of our wedding.
De Narville laughed.
And here you are" presently. "ceIa
brating 1t by dining out with n fr,end
You are nothing, Jessica, IL not nm r.
date. You are more. You are unioue
unusual All your friends saw thar
They say you are quite right In making
the thing final. You are so superior r.
him in every way. You have wasted ,
year of your life on him."
Jessica shrugged her shoulders eve
30 slightly.
"And what do they say of himY' sh
question. This. That he has wastes
a year Of his life on mey'
De Narville frowned.
81 don't know, am sure. what the