The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-09-23

ID He had abandoned his
IA home-had left his wife in
TX J wrath and ignation, and
had vowed that he would
nevermore see her. True, he had made
provision for ner future, and believed
that he had behaved generously. Still,
he was oppressed with "A haunting
sense that his conduct had really been
marked by reconsideration, was mis-
taken, was petulent and Overbearlng.
Grace had only married him for the
sake of her child. This was the height
Of her offense. But had he not known
this at the time? She had accepted
him gravely, kindly, grltefully-tlat
was all.
Grace! As her name rose TO his lips
memories of his wife presented them
selves to his mind memories Of a
matronhood-that wrung him now to
a tenser emotion.
How wistful she looked IN those days
OF her glrl-widowhood-how Childishly
sedate in the garb Of woel What a
wealth of affection she had bestowed
upon the child Of Harry Sylvester, his
one heritage to her! How sympathetic
to him she had been In the few months
OF their mCrriage-how CHEEKY In his
joys, how sollcitous in his troubles!
A groan escaped the man as he wan
dered aimlessly up and down the long
lane. He had vowed to leave the coun-
try; and here, after but "A weeks mis-
cry in the metropolis. he was In the
very neighborhood Of her fathers
quantity gabled old house, whence he
had taken her.
He ought to have gone elsewhere, the
man assured himself. His visit had
but served to revive and deepen his
wretchedness.
What had been the cause of this
quarrel?
Richard Tregonnlng had always
loved Grace Arthur-lovcd her even
when Harry Sylvester led her to the
altar. He had not thcn told her so,
but when poor Harry had been in his
grave a year he had told her of his
love.
He knew she Lad given Harry Syl-
vester a great love, and that now he
held a holy place in her memory. lie
did not in those days, dream that she
would give him the same wealth Of
affection, but Of lat. he had hungered
for ii, and believed that she had yield
cd IL to him. He had been Chlyalrous
In his eXactiOn. He had not envled
her sweet, matronly pride in her boy
in Harry's boy. Nay he had sought
TO perform Harry's part toward the
little fellow.
And now he was strding TO and fro,
inpetuous, half distraught. half hug.
ging 10 himself the belief that he had
been cozened and deceived, and yet
half rejecting it,
Who had played the traitors part
10 him and to her? Even Is the mem
ories crowded in upon him this thought
would intrude itself. only to remain
unanswered.
1t had been well and insiduously
done. Upon returning from his honey
moon he had received the first warn
ing Of what he now bitterly described
as bIdce uedCneIy
At first those anonymous epistles ad-
dressed to him at his office had con-
tanned little more than gibes and
sneers-had dubbed him little more
than an infatuated fool But each
gibe and each sneer had also warned
him that the day of dsillusion was
near.
He had at first disre glrded these ma.
lignant letters-he had kept them care
fully from Grace. Why should he
trouble her? Besides, he did not be-
lieve them. He had even laughed at
the futility of her enemies.
But at last their very persistence had
made an impression upon him. They
had become more definite in their char.
acter. They spoke of Grace Sylvester
having had other suitors. They hinted
at passages between her and Malcolm
Barrett. They suggested that he was
accepted because he possessed money
and thus could give her boy n better
home and more expensive training
than Malcolm Barrett
Unconsciously the man became
brusque in his manner at home. III,
sometimes sat silently glowering at til,
fire for hours. At times he would
avoid seeing Lls stepson for days. ono,
he would prattle with him for an en-
tire evening. Then. when he surprise,
Grace in tears, he. would never onc
a word OF sympathy.
The end came Just about fortnigh
before this night when Richard Ire
coming was strlding along in restles
anxiety and bitterness. His anony
nous correspondent lad explicitly as
serted that Grace Sylvester had boast
ed of her conquest. and had boldl
declared that she should accept bir
because he was a good catch" al
because 1t would be "a good thing 10
her boy" Nay, she had even sal
that she did rot care for him. Let hir
fax her with her crime if he doubte
ttl