Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-01-10

W at her feet and kissed the hem
Of her dress. How ridiculous
a demonstration it appeared to him to-
day, and yet he dreaded to meet her
again. She had treated him atrocious-
ly he had considered at the time. For
a time she had amused herself with
him, even to the extent of a grande
passion, and then given him his congo
She was married woman and he had
been a boy.
He recalled every incident Of the
farewell. A youthful passion it may
have been, but-he could not dispute
1T even nOW-it was a passion that left
its mark.
There had been conservatory open
ing out of the rooms she occupied. 1t
was in the conservatory that he had
made himself the most abSurd-there,
and for a moment at the piano, at
which she had seated herself indiffer-
emily, and where he had knelt to her
like a lover in the cheap story papers
She had strolled along, shifting at the
flowers, saying cruel things to him in
her new and careless voice, and he had
followed her wistfully like a whipped
dog, pleading to be readmitted to IA
vOr. A spray Of fern that she had
picked and dropped had been captured
by him passiOnately-she had touched
Ia in their last moments together. She
shrugged her shoulders with a sheer,
and his eyes filed at her cruelty.
What do you suppose there was in
a boy like you to hold a woman like
me?" she had asked.
1t was the harShest thing she could
have said, and he remembered that at
that he had broken down altogether.
Good heavens, how preposterous he
had been-how wrongly he had gone
to work, always being pathetic and re-
proachful! He knew now that was not
the way to manage a woman. Espe-
cially one Of her stamp.
However, it was over. He had not
found balm for his wound in six
MONTHS" as she had prophesied, but in
nine years he had married, and for
gotten her existence entirely until it
was recalled to him by the sight Of her
name in the visitors list.
Now the recollections rushed back at
him, and, while he laughed at his for
mer self as a fool, he was conscious
of strange tremor at the prospect Of
seeing her once more.
He loved his wife sincerely. Twelve
months ago he could have contem-
plated meeting Mrs. Jernyngham with
out misgiving. But he had been mar
ried two months. The. time had not
lessened his love, but it had naturally
dispelled the romance. After all, to
be ''in love" with woman is a great
er safeguard against others than to
"love her." He was bound to acknowl-
edge to himself that he was frightened
at the thought Of seeing Mrs. Jernyng-
ham again. He had, as a matter Of
fact, avoided the Casino since he knew
she was in Dieppe.
He put down his paper, and looked
across at Nellie reading a novel. How
pretty she was, and how trustfu! What
would she say, could she divine his
present mood? Sinless as it was, it
would cut her to the heart Bah, he
was fool-why should that woman
make him afraid to venture out of
doors! He was not fond Of her still
of course he was notl
The novel dropped to Mrs. Max
wells lap.
What are you thinking about, dar-
ling?" she asked.
Il was thinking how charming you
look in that frock, my DEAR" he an
swered. He preserved the habit of
making graceful speeches to his wife
Cynical bachelor friends said he forgot
who she was-that it was the force OF
habit.
She shook her head doubtfully.
There was a nasty black wrinkle
between your eyebrows, Jack, and you
were Juggling your mustache, as you al
ways do when you're put out [ do
look charming in this frock, 1 admit
it-but you weren't thinking So"
He obeyed a sudden impulse
"Ne!lie, come here. Do you remem-
Der, soon after we were married, you
asked me a question? You asked me
If l had ever cared deeply for another
girl than yourself"
81 remember" said Nellie. 'YesY
''I told you what an internal idiot ]
had once made of myself over a mar
ried woman. 1 asked you, too, never tC
use a certain scent, because it remind
ed me Of her You know all that?"
al know, know; go onr'
"Well, she's here, that's all, and
confound it-Tm rather sorry"
"0hv' said Nellie. And then there