Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-12

with lazy welcome in it's outstretched
paws, but Pearl slept on, and he entered
the house. He heard a movement, and
rustic of skirts overhead
rs it you? / will be down presently.
He did not answer. The day was warm
even for May, and he was tired from the
long, dusty ride the suburban trolley
from the city to Buena Vista. 1t was cool
and dainty in the parlor, but something
today, in the aspect of the very furniture,
in its ecru linen covers, seemed to forbid
familiarity. Even the piano was swathed,
and the shades half drawn He heSitated
at the door, and then changed his mind
and went in. After all, he was merely
paying a compulsory call. The atmos-
phere in the linen-shrouded parlor corrC-
sponded with the purpose Of his visit. He
took a seat near the window, where he
could catch a glimpse of the hammock,
and the tumbled dolls and over the We
randa rail, the masses of lilac blossoms,
and soft, pale green's of new foliage that
lay in delicate outlines against the clear
blue sky.
1t was peculiar the dread he had at
possible parting from Pearl. With Vera it
was different. Their marriage was mis-
take. He knew she would be happier alone.
With persons less sensitive, perhaps, to the
highest ideals of marriage, the trouble
would have passed over, and been forgot
ten. With them there had been little said,
only the deep consciousness of confidence
broken and love dulled to silent bitterness.
He had not dreamt that she would take
the destroying of the letter from such
point of view. 1t was a foolish letter of
self-betrayal, written, he knew. on the i'm
pulse of the moment, and he had believed
his own action the only thing to do at the
time, for Vera's sake. well the
writer's. The instant he had seen it lying
beside his place at the dinner table he had
guessed its import
You have not read your letter." Vera
had said. after Pearl had kissed them both
goodnight and gone upstairs with Kitty.
do you know whom 1t is from?'
I LTc 10 bad NOT he pIa
of her clear eyes.
Then why don't you read it?
He had opened the letter before her and
read its contents. Hasty. repentant and
desperate. with the teII-tale Signature He
twisted the sheet of paper in spiral shape
and deliberately lit his cigar with it.
Vera had sat in silence, watching the
paper curl into brown. scorched ruin
and the color had left her face.
Il shall not forget the lesson" she had
said. There is a portion of your life in
which l have no concern You should be
more careful with your private mail in
order to avoid annoyance"
He had not answered her. There was
nothing TO say unless he told all.
From that night the rift had widened.
She had never reproached him, but even
the courtesy that by tacit consent took
the place of the old, happy ways seemed
constrained. Finally the only question had
been when and how a separation could be
best effected
There must be no open scandal. He had
arranged everything from legal stand
point with the utmost privacy and eX-
pediency. 1t to be simply separation
by mutual consent and he had made her
income large as lay in his power. She
would retain the home, of course. He had
decided to travel for a time.
There was only the question OF Pearl.
Was she not his child as well as Veras?
He was watching the hammock when
Vera came downstairs. He heard her pause
at the screen door, and spoke from force of
habit to reassure her.
She's asleep"
The sun is shining In her eyes" said
Vera. She spoke softly. and he waited
while She went out ON the yeranda ard let
down the japanese screens in the hammock
corner. II was all 50, natural and homelike,
all save the look in her eyes when she en-
tered the room and greeted him.
Il did not expect you until evening""
She did not sit down, but crossed the
room to where cut glass bowl of wild
vio!ets stood on a stand. and began to re-
arrange them. with careful fingers He
could not see her face, only the slender
form In the gray linen gown that was one
OF his favorites, and the softly pulled
masses of fair hair that he loved
Il merely came out to tell you everything
Is fixed, and to see about my books and
other things. and-Pear.'
She knew that it must come, that In all
events. 1t was the purpose OF his visit, and
yet, when he spoke the child's name she
turned quickly, her hands clenched. every