The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-04-22

than Imprisonment in Hastings. with
that dreadful shadow Of the morrow
hanging over his headl
Il don't care; I'm going out he said
to himself. when the sun had set and
chances Of recognition were slighter.
Pulling his hat well over his head
and turning mp his coat-collar, Matthew
ventured outside. But despite the Sc
renity Of the night he did not enjoy
the walk. One thought inruded-
would he meet his wife? He peered
into the dark corners Of shelters be-
fore he passed them; a dozen times
I'm the dim light other women's hats
assumed the appearance Of hers.
When people streamed out OF church
and the crowd on the esplanade grew
thicker Matthew decided TO return to
the hotel. This weekend at the sea-
side was an entire fasco.
As he passed through the hall the
young woman i'm charge Of the Office
spoke to him.
Some people called for you when
you we're out, sir"
"Oh." replied Matthew, with ill-as-
sumed unconcern. "Who were they?"
"A lady and gentleman. Said they
had seen your name in the visitors
list. They left no cards"
Gould you-er-describe them?'
"I only spoke to the lady sir. The
gentleman kept behind. He looked
rather seedy beside her"
you can't remember at all how she
was dressed?'
ct was too dark to see much, and
we hadn't ut mp. She had on a Won
derful hat. though" Pelgroye started.
'I couldn't help noticing that; it was
so startling. What my young man
would call a kind Of conservatory with
the glass left ont. ! thought it would
hardly go through the door unless she
stepped back sideways, but some wom-
en- know how to carry that style Of
thing" and the young lady shifted by
way Of slight contempt, and returned
to her ledger.
Pelgrove had not moved. The blow
had fallen; his wife was hot on the
scent. But who could her companion
be? seedily dressed, eh? Probably
some private inquiry agent whose sery-
ices she had enlisted.
Did they say-er-they would re-
turn tonight" Matthew stammered.
NO. sir. Said nothing about that
Where shall find you if they do?'
I'm going to bed. have-er-a
bad headache. Have my bill ready
early I'm the morning, please?'
Twenty minutes later Matthew was
snuely between the sheets. Yet, even
there. was a man safe from his wife?
He listened nervously to every noise
on the stairs. fancying her step in the
tread of every chambermaid, and ii
was fully a couple Of hours before he
sank into Inconsistencies.
How Matthew pelgrOve transacted
his business next day he does not per-
fectly remember. Even in the days OF
his apprenticeship he never glanced so
many times at the clock But with
how different a motive. Then it was
with the longing that some invisible
agency would push on the slowly-mov-
ing hands and bring release from the
irksome bondage of the ofice-stool;
now that time might stand still, and
that dreaded outbreak with his wife
fade into unreality. All his self-pos-
session fed as he thought Of the even
ing hour
If only he could frame some plausi-
bic excuse for his appearance at
Hasfingsi Matthew, however. was not
sn imaginative man, and, rub his wits
as he might, he could find no reason
calculated to bear the faintest inspec-
tlon. II would be too transparently
thin to suggest that another man Of the
name of Matthew Pelgove had beer
stopping at that hotel Hastings was
not A business center, and IL was quite
inconceivable that he should have ar
ranged 10 meet a client there. No
the wlsest plan seemed to be to brave Il
cut. He must explain that, feeling
bit run down. he had changed his min'
and. instead Of going to Bradford, ha,
proceeded to the sea-which statement
of course. had the essence Of truth.
A little after the usual time Matthew
left the Office for home. More from
force OF habit than anything else he
bought an evening paper. but he found
himself unable to make sense Of a line
Of It. His eyes wandered to his fel-
low-travelers in the railway carriage
Did any Of them anticipate domestic
storms? Had any Of them wandered
in similar fashion from the path o
rectitude and purchased a few hours
Of enjoyment at the price he was pay
ing?
The train drew up at Hornsey and
Matthew found himself one Of GROVE
! fitering out of the station. II only a
! that moment he might be lost to sigh
| for evermore! When a married mai
did disappear in that way, was not hi
wife usually the cause?
He reached his garden-gate an'
glanced furtively at the house. Mar.
was invisible. He screwed up courag
and mounted the steps. The house
maid opened the door to him.
rs your mistress in?'
Upstairs in her room, sir. Shell
be down directly"
He placed hat and papers on the hat
stand. Never had he entered his hous
with such a peculiar feeling before. l
was as though he had no right there