Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-08-20

loI niu 10 20 on Ieu me, by all
means" she insisted, as he did not
speak: YOU know that l care about all
,nat-you do" She picked nervously
at the laces of her dress, unable longer
to restrain all physical expression of
the torturing thoughts that possessed
her
1t was fellow had known at college
good many years ago" Allison re-
sumed presently. Somehow, he
earned of my Whereabouts. though l
lad not even thought of, much less seen
him. during all that time He was ia
tally injured in trolley accident day
! or so ago, and expressed a desire to talk
to some One-some one he knew-before
i the end. ! was sent for. For some upex-
planned reason he spoke Of me con
tinually during his Illness"
i Mrs DreXel was Sitting still and
white in the moonlight. her breath COM
/ ing and going in a little jerky way.
''DreXel. poor devil-by the way. he
has the same name as yourself-couldn't
be any connection, could he? Well.
from everything he told me. conclude
| that he must have had a pretty bad time
| of ii in this world. Married young
| too young. l reckon, as lots of us do
| and his pretty young wife Chats wb-,
he called herr led him regular dogs
! life, as the saying goes"
Mrs. Drexel bent forward suddenly,
her interest appearing to expand with
an almost absurd abruptness. 'Well?"
she said. "well?"
| We'll. when he was dying. he got to
| thinking that perhaps. after all, she had
not been entirely to blame; tried to ex-
! tenuate neutrality-suspicious. &C
| tons of hers and all that, but"
| The woman was so close now that the
warm breath coming quickly through
her parted lips famed his cheek Her
| eyes sparlled strangely from their pail
| lid background. But what?" she de-
manded, sharply.
| I'm inclined to think, from what 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
! gether-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 a minute. "You believe
! that?" she asked. slowly, the light dying
1 her eyes curiously. 1T is really re-
| freshing." she went on, in little burst
of bitterness. Ito hear mems opinions
| on the sex. sometimes"
Il happen, | think, to know women
| pretty we'll" returned Allison, with a
| slight uplifting of his brows, land |
know that kind better than any"
| so you don't concede that women are
capable of reformins-even when there
is no actual harm to be undone-"
| "Outwardly. most anyone can reform.
4 People may even go so far as to deceive
| themselves in regard to their own feel
| fngs and actions. but your are familiar
enough with the saying about Loop
|! ards"
/ Mrs. Drexel interrupted him with a
swift gesture of dissent. For Heav-
ems sake. let's not fall into platitudes
TO back up our arguments" she cut in
shortly. After a second she laughed
In half-mocking little fashion that
y ",
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 10 draw
her hands into his. But she shrank away
from him quickly and, rising. walked
\ to the opposite end of the veranda with
I out a word.
Allison watched her with bewildered
| eyes. and after a little, got up and fol-
| lowed her. Dear" he said. gently.
| what is Il? Tell me-surely you can
4 tell me. Is there anything wrong-any
| trouble that you are hiding from me ?
| Are you ill?" He reached forth again.
| and tried TO take her hand. but she flung
off his touch sharply and buried her face
| IN her hands.
After little she looked up. white and
moveless as a statue, but with all fur
ther traces of emotion vanished from her
| face. us he dead-now?" she asked.
| coldly.
Allison stared at her in sudden alarm.
| I'm sorry | ever told you OF that af-
| fair" he broke out. in self-vexation.
| Had / dreamed that you would take il
| go TO heart"
Us he dead?" she reiterated, calmly.
"fie died while was with him"
Mrs. Drexel drew in her breath with a
long, Quivering sigh. After a seconds
| silence, she drew the ring from her fin
Ger and held it out to him. 81 was his
Wife, she said. duly.
| "Millicent,"
| Yes, it is quite too terribly true. |
learned only yesterday that ne was still
slive. Several years ago l had-or
| thought | had-reliable information of
| his death. | sent for you this morning
| that | might be the first to break it &C
' you-to-"
Allison stood as though frozen. his
! eyes fixed in sort of dazed fascination
, on the glittering bauble she had thrust
/ snto his fingers
! But, sweetheart" he said. his voice
little hoarse and trembling. You
: don't understand. The man is dead"
4 The woman lookad ar him With Ill,