The progress., 1904-03-12

of his wife. He could not evUn lit
the window and Be famed BY Il
breeze, lest she should pass below AZ
catch : glimpse Of him. The scene b
tween them must come, but better-fs
better-that It should be reserved Il
tomorrow evening. when their mex
door neighbors at Hornsey (the Pe
groves occupied q semi-detached res
dence) should alone be edited.
Towards nightfall Matthew becam
exceedingly restless. As an additions
cause Of grievance not speck Of cloll
had showed itself in the sky, an
everybody abroad looked more tina
usually happy. Over whisky an
soda-the despairing effort of an alb
stemious man to revive his spirits
Matthew groaned. His impromptl
holiday was not doing him the least bi
of good. Better pickering at Hornse,
than imprisonment in Hastings, witt
that dreadful shadow of the morrow
hanging over his head!
Il don't care; I'm going out" he salt
to himself, when the sun had set an
chances of recognition were slighter.
Pulling his hat well over his 1leat
and turning up his coat-collar, Matthew
ventured outside. But despite the Sc
renity Of the night he did not enjoy
the walk. One thought intruded-
would he meet his wife? He peeret
into the dark corners of shelters be.
fore he passed them; dozen times
in 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 in charge of the office
spoke to him.
Some people called for you when
you were out, sir"
rs'Oh!" replied Matthew, with ill-as-
sVped unconcern. who were they?"
IA lady and gentleman. Said they
had seen your name In the visitors
list They left no cards."
"Could you-er-describe them?'
II 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?"
at was too dark to see much, and
we hadn't lit up. She had on Won
derful hat, though" Pelgrove started.
Il couldn't help noticing that; it was
so startling. What my young man
would call kind of conservatory with
he glass left out. thought it would
hardly go through the door unless she
stepped back sideways, but some wom-
IN know how to carry that style of
hing" and the young lady shifted by
way of slight contempt, and returned
o her ledger.
Pelgrove had not moved. The blow
lad fallen; his wife was hot on the
cent. But who could her companion
,e? Seedily dressed, eh? Probably
ONE private inquiry agent whose serv-
ces she had enlisted.
did they say-er-they would re-
urn to-night?" Matthew stammered.
mo, sir. Said nothing about that.
Where shall find YOU if they do?'
I'm going to bed. l have-er-a
ad headache. Have my bill ready
arly in the morning, please?"
Twenty minutes later Matthew was !
nugly between the sheets. Yet, even |
here. was man safe from his wife? |
lie listened nervously to every noise
n the stairs. fancying her step in the
read of every chambermaid, and it
as fully couple of hours before he
ank into unconsciousness.
y
How Matthew Pelgrove transacted
is business ,iext day he does not per-
.ctly remember. Even in the days of
is apprenticesh he never glanced so
iany times at the clock. But with
ow different motive! Then it was
ith the longing that some invisible
yency would push on the slowly-mov-
lg hands and bring release from the
ksome bondage of the Office-stool;
ow that time might stand still, and
lat dreaded outbreak with his wife
de into unreality. All his self-pos-
'ssion fed as he thought of the even
g hour.
If only he could frame some plausi-
e excuse for his appearance at
astings! Matthew, however, was not
! imaginative man, and, rub his wits
he might, he could find no reason
.lculated to bear the faintest inspec-
on. 1t would be too transparently
in to suggest that another man of the
lme of Matthew Pelgrove had been
opping at that hotel. Hastings was
1t business center, and it was quite
that he should have ar
nged to meet cliept there. No:
e wisest plan seemed to be to brave it
It. He must explain that, feeling
t run down, he had changed his mind
ID, instead of going to Bradford, had
OCCcuCu " Tic oCd ot1tSuiChty |
course, had the essence of truth.
little after the usual time Matthew !,
t the Office for home. More from
rce of habit than anything else he
ught an evening paper, but he found
mself unable to make sense of line
1t. His eyes wandered to his fell
in the railway carriage.
d any of them anticipate domestic ,
,rms? Had any of them wandered :
similar fashion from the path of ,
ctitude and purchased a few hours !
enjoyment at the price he was pay
g?
The train drew up at Hornsey and
,tthew found himself one of a crowd
tering out of the station. If only at
at moment he might be lost to sight
r evermore! When a married man
l disappear in that way, was not his
fe usually the cause?
He reached his garden-gate and
anced furtively at the house. Mary
IS invisible. He screwed up courage
d mounted the steps. The house
I'D opop od tho dpor IN him