The Grit-advocate., 1906-02-16
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Copyright, 1906 by
Mrs. Vandervelt will be down in
few moments, sir the servant said,
as she ushered the visitor into the
drawing room.
Vandervelt gazed about the room
and his eyes rested on photograph
lying on the table. 1t was the por-
trait of his divorced wife-the woman
who would be down in few mo-
mentS'
"A picture Of her. he ,cuttered,
with wistful. hut hopeless look in
his eyes. He still loved her yes.
loved her more than ever before but
he knew now that this folly had built
a barrier between them that could
never be torn asunder.
"a picture Of her-just as she look
ed when last saw her; at least. just
as she would have looked had she
been happy. How she must hate me
NOW. God knows, I deserve the hate
Cursing himself for being a fool
Vandervelt continued his soliloquy
What folly and what cruelty had been
his dcsertion OF her-his devoted
wife! And his boy-did Francis
know what a cowardly beast his faith
er had been? And the divorce they
had agreed to--yes. that had been still
further folly. He had been blind
his iniatuaton for the other woman
had been as sand in his eyes. He had
been unable to see until the sand was
removed and then it WAS too late
But heaven knows, I've suffered as
greatly as She" was the consolation
he tried to give himself, but it was
poor consolation, for he realized that
she had not deserved the suffering
AS he continued the mental battle
against his feelings which he could
not control, the man who had once
been strong and brave and reckless
dropped into an armchair beside the
table and buried his face in his hands
Mrs. Nandervelt entered and looked
upon the picture of despair. She step
ped lightly. and so deeply engrossed
was he in his bitter thoughts that
Vandervelt cid not hear her as she
approached.
Allen" she said, softly. her voice
quivering, as she put her hand on his
head and strOked his hair
Vandervelt started violently He
was frightened so suddenly was he
awakened from his meditation, and
bounded from the chair as he would
have leaped from railway track to
escape death beneath the wheels of
approaching train. He turned about
and looked at her and saw the trem-
BILE of her lips as she tried to speak.
Then the gaze from his eyes fell to
the carpet on the floor.
Allen she finally said again in
voice tremuluus with emotion, you
-yOu-come back TOTO"
ASK your forgiveness" he supplied.
TO stay?" she finished.
"To ask your forgiveness he re-
Eeated, unable tc raise his eyes and
meet her gaze.
Again her lips quivcred in an effort
to speak. but she could not. She tot
tered little as though she were dizzy
and might fall, and her hand swept
nervously across her face as if she
were brushing away cobwebs. He
TOOK a step forward, looked up at her
and burst forth passionatcly:
Margaret, want you to listen to
my confession. God, how wrong I've
been. l.
She put up her hand and shook her
head and he stopped.
Don't she said. please don't tell
me. Let me spare you that-and
myself. | could not listen TO any con
fession. forgive you without the
confession
But you don't know" he went
on, but stopped again as she made
another gesture and his Saze dropped
once more to the carpet.
Il don't want to know" Her voice
was approaching steadiness, bat it
remained gentle. Il know YOU did
not love-that other woman. You