The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-05-07
HIS -
MAGNANIMITY
Copyright, 1901, by Duly Story Pub. co.,
BY NELLIE CRAvEY GILMORE

Copyright, 1901, by Duly Story Pub. Coz
1T CERTAINLY seemed very long
j distance to the branch, and the
night was very blacl-a veritable ink
blot over the face of the earth.
Several different times Constantine
paused, hesitated, started to go back;
then finally pursued her way in trepi-
dalton, The excitement which had
buoyed her up since morning threat
ened to ooze suddenly in burst Of
nervous tears. Still, she persevered
When but few yards from the tryst,
she sat down weakly on the edge of a
stump and fumbled fretfully among
the laces at her bosom for the hidden
paper. She drew it out with unsteady
fingers, and as best she could, by the
pale headlight in the distance,
glimpsed for the hundredth time the
words written inside:
"Tf possible, meet me at the branch
tonight at nine. Must see you.
&C."
The writing was scrawling disguise,
but to Constantine a solution was not
the most difficult thing in the world.
Her husbands open admiration of Cary
Fleming; their habitual absence from
the house together; lastly, the palpable
nnease that had marked the actions Of
both through the whole of the past day
well, that much was sufficient, per
Sc.
She consulted her watch and found
that there still remained ten minutes
before nine o'clock. The time dragged
horribly; thousand curious noises
made her start and tremble, while in
Vulnerable grotesque shadows danced
eerie-like in and about the thick
shrubbed woods.
Finally, she Strengthened herself,
tucked the slip of paper hastily in her
belt and rose, picking her way eau
tiously through the bushes to the shell
ter of dense clump of trees that stood
q little back from the branch.
She had not long to walt A moment
only, and she recognized the quick,
swinging stride that could not belong
to anyone in the world but her hus-
band. She shranll back involutarily
overcome by wild sense of terror lest
he should discover her there in the
role of eavesdropper; lest-but no
She strained her eyes tensely through
the dark, but no Cary Fleming was
there Surely She shifted her posi-
ton tritle, her foot faltered uncer-
tainly, then came down with an omi-
of A
silence of fearful constraint followed
Constantine grew rigid. She turned
with sudden mad desire to escape
however, wherever. But a strong arm
Intercepted her.
SO it is you'll"
ayes, l." She faced him coldly.
81 thought as much; saw you leave
the house. and-I followed you here
Constantine flushed furiously unde!
cover of the darkness. Her hand Wen
TO her belt in a gesture of swift indig
nation. The paper was gone.
This, then, is the meaning of it all. ,
He thrust the folded bit of paper to
ward her.
Il lost it," she said dazedly.
And LUCKILY no one else-fount
it, down there" He pointed sternl,
toward the stump on which she ha(
sat.
but tit isn't mine." she insisted
trying to eXtricate herself from hi
grasp.
Don't" he commanded harshly
"you are to come home-now, and witt
me. Whatever is to be said can be sal,
afterwards" He looked down at he
with wrath black eyes. His face Dor
a white set look.
Constantine was shaking like a Leaf
oh, what fool she had been; what
consummate, unthinlling fool! Eve
supposing he were guilty, and perhaps
;afterall hewas not but even supposin
he were, she might have known tina
the woman-the wife-must inevitabl
suffer the brunt in the case of dete'
ton
Perhaps, after all, he was not guilty
The words required again and agai
10 her bewildered brain as they trudge
in silence through the black dark an
Drambles.
'Dck." she ventured presently
-'.you must give me back that paper
then, I have confession to make"
81 should rather think So" h
ssneered. diving into his pocket wit
considerable i'll grace. But frst,' Il
held the paper away from her extend
ed fingers for a second, "you mus