The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-27
THE SECOND MRS. vANDEvELT
BY ALBERT H. LAIDLAw.

(copyright, 1906. By Daily Story Pub.
 Mrs. Vandervelt will be down in few moments, sir the servant sald' as she ushered the visitor into the draw ing room.
 VanderveIt gazed about the room and his eyes rested on photograpn lying on the table. It was the DOT 1 trait of his divorced wife-the woman who would be down in few mo- ments, .,.. l a UistfuI. but hopeless look in hls eyes. He still loved her--yes, loved i her more than ever before-out ne knew now that his folly had punt a barrier between them that could never | be torn asunder.
 "A nicture of hcr-just as she looked when I 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 soiiloquy' What folly and what cruelty had been his desertion of her-his devoted wife! | And his boy-did Francis know what n cowardly beast his father had been? | And the divorce they had agreed to- yes. that had been still further folly I He had been blind-his infatuatfon for the other woman had been as sand in his eyes He had been unable to see until the sand was removed and then | 1t was too late.
 | "But heaven knows, I've suffered as greatly as she" was tue 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 lbeen strong and brave and reckless dropped into an armchair beside the table and buried his face in his hands l Mrs. Vandervelt entered and looked upon the picture of despair. Shc stepped lightly, and so deeply en- grossed was he in his bitter thoughts that Vandervelt ~ld 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 awak ened from his meditation. and bounded from the chair as he would have leaped from q railway track to escape death beneath the wheels of an approaching train. He turned aUout and looked at her and saw the tremble 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 a voice tremulous with emotion, you I-you-come back to-to-"
 Ask your forgiveness. he supplied.
 "--to stay?" she finished
 ITO ask your forgiveness" he re- peated, unable to raise his eyes and meet her gaze.
 Again her lips quivered in an eff fort to speak, but she could not. She | fnff aha 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 passionately:
 Margaret I 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 my self. l could not listen to any confess sion. 1 forgive you without the con- fession.
 But you don't know-"he went on. but stopped again as she made another gesture, and his gaze dropped once more to the carpet.
 T don't want to know" Her voice was approaching steadiness, but it remained gentle. T know you did not lloVe-that other woman. You did not love her--did you, Allen?" The words were spoken with appealing eagerness
 Vandervelt replied brokenly and re- morsefully:
 No l did not love her. It was merely infatuation-a false infatuation. never loved any woman but you"
 T knew 1t. I knew it." she con tinued T knew you would come back We can begin over again and we can be so happy, for l love you SO love you so--'
 light of happiness had sprung into her eyes as she spoke, and she rushed toward him and put her arms about his neck.
 Allen, forgive you" and she kissed him. He could not respond and he - could not resist. He was powerless and stood motionless. almost limp, wi,h eyes cast toward the floor
 His attitude produced a frightened light in her eyes. and she drew away from him as she released him.
 Oh I had forgotten the divorce. lshe said. T had forgotten the divorce.