Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-07-19
His Wife

1 4
'Dutyw he repeated fretfully
shrinking strangely from her touch
GLOW you harp on that word be-
cause your silly conscience drove
you to marry mel"
sPaulw
ooh, l have attained the highest
WISDOM" he continued bitterly. q
know myself "a gaunt, hollow
chested, bloodless wretch, looking
fifty at thirty-fve, chained to his
chair by an injured hip"
81 wish you would not say such
things. You know
"a charming husband for a beau
tiful woman. But if l bought you
as I bought that Titan over the
mantelpiece l have at least treated
you with the same respect shown the
picture. Not even a kiss have ]
claimed from those red lips Of
yours"
She knelt beside him, looking
wistfully into his eyes, which were
still handsome, though dimmed by
years of pain.
paul, 1 can't leave you in this
bitter humor."
NO." said Vandermore mock
ingly; mot even for an i'll sister
had a twin brother once-a wild
fellow. How would he have man.
aged you, 1 wOnder?"
"a brother, Paul? A twin?
thought you were an only son. Has
he been dead long?"
81 don't know" returned the Grip
pie sullenly. Sometimes / think
he is not dead at all. Enough OF
this fooling. ! said you must go to
your sister, Give me my drops and
90. The carriage has been waiting
an hour"
Six months later Elizabeth stood
alone in her luxurious suit of rooms
rereading the letter which had
brought her home. The half year
she had spent with her sister, Paul
having suddenly determined on go
ing abroad. He had sent her his
commands very briefly a week after
she reached her sisters side, not
even giving her his foreign address,
merely informing her that his valet,
Hilaire, went with him.
"As | told YOU" ran the letter,
81 am not yet ready to return. But
I have asked you to precede me, that
you might receive my twin brother,
the fellow of whom l spoke at our
last parting. He has turned up,
greatly to my surprise, and will be
with you tomorrow. Treat him
kindly for my sake"
Next evening when she heard the
newcomers step in the hall she
came out, calmly gracious, to meet
him. His resemblance to Paul she
found less marked than she had an
ticipated. This man was broad OF
shoulder, deep of chest, with a well
poised head and frank, happy
eyes. Then she perceived that in
features, height and general color
ing the similarity was exceedingly
striking. He might well have been
taken for Paul, though the voice
was fuller than her husbands and
far more resonant.
'It's good of you, Elizabeth" said
the stranger joyously, 'to welcome
the prodigal. l may call you Eliza
beth, may l notE I'm Beverly van
dermore, you know"
His warm, strong fingers drew her
quickly to him, and he pressed on
her lips an eager kiss. 1t was only
the JOY of returned wanderer, she
told herself, not seeing the passion
ate look of admiration which Bever-
ly fastened on her 1.-THE, rounded
figure as she preceded him to the
library. And indeed Elizabeth's
beauty was Of the Juno type, COM
manding instant attention.
She soon found there was no
chance to be formal with Beverly.
He brought his dogs into the house
and romped all over the library with
them, drawing Elizabeth into the
game, teasing her and jesting with
her.
Daily they rode together, and
Elizabeth, putting both past and fu,
ture resolutely behind her, entered
with all the delight of a perfect
hOrsewoman into the joys of the ex-
.hilarating motion.
Beyerly's mount seemed often
half horse, half tiger, frequently
starting capriciously at a leaf and
writhing angrily on the bit.
Once as Elizabeth watched her es-
cort's cool mastery over his terrified
and angered horse voice whispered
in her ear;
''Here is a mantle other is a
fretful shadow"
Beverly, who had now quieted the
black, glanced at her as though
80 1svc. har fbou0hto