Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-04-06
An Anniversary

nj near window in n fashionable
restaurant. waiting.
De Narville,. standing at the door,
saw her. He FASTENED to her, holding
out his hand.
"Are you here alone?" he questioned,
surprised.
For the moment" she answered. II
am expecting friend. He was to
meet me here at 81
CHANGING up at giant gilt clock.
whose hands moved with annoying
slowness: ut is not quite that yet"
she reflected. impatiently.
De Narville smiled down upon her
May I sit here opposite your" he
asked, drawing out the chair, until he
comes?"
Certainly she replied. and he took
the chair.
He observed her admiringly.
You are looking beautiful tonight,
Jessica." he began. How dainty your
white is, and that touch of rose in your
hat. Old-fashiened roses they are,
aren't they? On n new-fashioned wom-
an. And your little fingers glittering
with just enough diamonds, not too
many. just enough. There are some
who make the mistake of wearing dla-
monds to the knuckles. but you, never!
Dear me! The last time saw you,
Jesslca, you were in tears"
Yes" encouragingly.
"Yoh and he had just separated. 1t
was very sad. was not surprised at
your tears. One must weep little for
any husband, worthy or unworthy. 1t
Is In the nature of woman. But said
to myself, then, In a couple of weeks
or three she will be over 1t. She will
have entirely recovered And must
say that my prophecy has been full
filled even sooner than expected, Jes.
sica. How long has it been? Three
weeks?" After moment employed
In rapid mental calculation. "Three
weeks! And here you are, beaming
more beautiful than have ever seen
you. and waiting for friend"
Half closing his eyes quizzically, he
bent toward her.
ut is safe to say he whispered
that this is not woman friend for
whom you are SO impatiently watching
the hands of the clock with whom you
are to dine"
A laugh commenced at Jessica's eyes
and finished at her lips.
Hardly" she replied.
II thought not" declared De Mar
vile. And why should it be? why
not go out at once with your friends?
Must you make n recluse of yourself,
while he has all the enjoyment posi-
BILE? He goes where he pleases am
certain of that In fact, have seen
people who saw hun dining here, there
and svsrsWhers, WITH MS acqnaInf,
ances, man or woman. as 1t suits him.
Hero he paused for an interval, III
order to observe the effect. 1t was
rather disappointing than otherwise
Jessica sitting under fire, composed as
monument and quite as calm. He by
and by continued:
"As matter of fact, Jcssica. you
and he were never suited, you We're
never intended for one another. Some
unkind fate"
State. you call IT, repeated Jessica.
Then, delicately defining the differ
ence: when 1t is unkind, 1t is fate
When it is kind, it is Providence. And
you call 1t fate:"
"Some unkind fate" went on De
Narvllle stolldly. threw you together.
You We're too much alike In the first
place. Both Of intensely nervous tenn.
pernments. excltable, high strung, 1t
was not in the nature of things that
you could live together longer than a
year. Indeed, many predicted Il sep
aration at the end OF six months or, at
the very least. seven. But it has been
ycar, hasn't it?'
Tonight" said Jessica, softly, "is
the anniversary of our wedding.
De Narville laughed.
"And here you are" presently, "cele.
brating it by dining out with friend!
You are nothing, Jesslca, if not IN TO
date. You are more. You are unique.
unusual All your friends say that.
They say you are quite right In making
the thing final. You are SO superior to
him in every way. You have wasted a
year of your life on him."
Jessica shrugged her shoulders ever
30 slightly.
'And what do they say of him?" she
question. This. That he has wasted
year of his life ON me!
De Naryille frowned.
II don't know, am sure, what they
say to him." he affirmed, "but really he
was brute, Jessica. And why live
with brute MS his Wife"
'When there are so many other
brutes with whom one might simply
dine" finished Jesslca.
''Of course. With whom one NAV
pass a pleasant evening, then say
'ta-ta.' That is best; freedom. 1t is
these chains that gall. 1t is sad, but
true. can't reason it out Nobody
can. But the fact remains. Once a
woman becomes the property of n man
she loses her charm. The sense of
ownership appears to dcaden his inter-
est. He is not so with any other thing
which he appears to own. His horse,
his dog, their value is only enhanced
by the fact of possession. But the
woman! Once his wife, in many cases
she is no better than a slave"
Jessica, toying with her fork, marked
heiroglyphics here and there on the
tablecloth.
"For centuries" she ruminated, re.
! signedly, 1--WE were practically slaves
and sold us such. Perhaps, after oil.
that is what we were born to be-"
Again De Narvllle laughed
'Now that YOU are out of bondage"
said he, you can look back over the
situation and laugh. 1t has some hu-
NOR for you. That is better than tears.
And sorrow is. to certain extent,
beneficial 1t sharpens the wits. Not
that you have not always been quick
witted. On the contrary. So much
more SO than he, it was a pity, your
friends said, to see you with him"
Eyes, they said that to me-" inter-