The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-09-19


voice trembling little, although her
eyes We're brave.
Billy got up and stretched himself.
"That settles It," he said. "Name the
day, right of SO l can go order we'd
ding cards"
Edith did name the day. but not until
she had stood out against him Il week
She might not have given IN even then
but for the ordeal at eh%eh. Not only
was she cut right and left-the minister
preached mt her-not by name, of
course. but IN fashion more than un.
mistakahlr.
Billy was there, across the aisle,
elum and furious. After service he
half led her out. and walked away
with her his head high. But even that
did not hurt like the furtlve yet sWag-
gering airs OF the three men Who
called in the evening. There was fur
Their something of patronage about
them.
Altogether they made Edith hate
thcm, but net rs she hated herself. She
was full of quick kindness and had
not meant hurt or affront to anybody
at least not In the beginning. DULY
she wondered why her townsfOlk would
not understand she had come back to
them because her interest lay among
them and had been eager to help IN all
good works il only she had been per
mittcd.
But she held up her head and laughed
and TESTED till the latest of her callers
took himself away. Then silently she
held out her hand to Billy. lie under
stood and announced an early we'd.
ding day
1t was Il church wedding, with the
house damned to the last Inch. After it
the newly married settled back into
their Old ways, going a pace that kept
them the talk of the town.
They were very gay and desperately
unhappy. Edith could not get away
from Il SENSE that Billy had married
her wholly out of chiyalry. Billy? BILLY
was old enough TO know better, but he
was proving the adage that love. which
wise make wise man fool. lie tor.
mcntcd himself With the thought that
lie had taken advantage of Edith's ex-
tremity She must know he had loved
her from their very first meeting, but
she was shy and proud and high with
him. Notwithstanding she was his duti-
full wife.
lie left her much To herself aud took
pains To make her know that she was
as free as ever. Edith resented the
freedom. BILLY ought to understand
that she wanted To obey him-muke
him at least that poor recompense for
his sacrifice.
Thus they ate out their hearts in
cross purposes, cross miscompfehen.
sions, until Ashbel Clare came TO visit
them. Ashhel was reputcd II danger
Gus person tall and slight and hand
some, with deep seeing eyes. \ glamour
| of romance hung about him. After the
first day BILLY wondered, with catching
breath. If lie had been quite wise to
ai,,a ltL.. Asi,i,.sI .'s.''.s.ss.is.lifl'
path
She was clearly fascinated by him
They were forever walking about the
big, scrubhy garden or along the strip
of lawn in full sight of passershy and
all the while absorbed in talk. Edith
was brighter, too-quite her old, win
some self. Ashbel seemed equally cap.
| tiyatcd lie reused himself as Billy
had not seen him since they were lads
! together.
SO the days went by, mounting into
weeks, at last into a month, and Billy
was In torment. He had made Il grim
and mannerly third for the most part
OF the time Stll he was sure the two
had some secret understanding. lie
had made up his mind 10 endure to the
end. There was no danger of dishOnor.
| Dlshonor and Edith could not come to.
| gethcr in his mind. But when he was
quite sure If he We're quite sufe-he
would find way out of 1t. Ills fla.
! Their had died of heart disease. There
were ways of ending yourself without
making scandal He would Nuke an
end of himself gladly If only that way
lay Edlth's happiness.
The first thing was TO make his Will.
Ashbel Clare surprised him at It. Billy
| was glad. lie wanted Ashbel TO know.
| TO understand how entirely he had
! trusted his wife and his friend So he
thrust the paper into ClHre's hand, say.
ing gruliiy:
Read that You see I've some de
cent Instincts If am half IL savage
II see. Everything. great or small,
to your wife," Ashbel said, then. with
Il whimsical. half dreamy smile. do
YOU know that she's the most fasclnat-
ing creature alivcp
Just what she says Of your. Billy
growled, signing his name with a
! blurred flourish.
Ashbcl bent over him. laughing
softly.
'1he perception does credit 10 hel
mind" he said. "As for her heart
Billy, you brute, that knows no better
than to belong to you wholly and yot
won't see It, you blind. blind bait"
A soft stned sob, the patter of swift
light feet, sounded at the door. Billy
followed them, caught his wife in lii
arms and said, with his lips on hel
forehead; Darling! Darling! II vol
really do love me-
"Hushm Edith said, with her hant
over his lips. "You were Il blind bat
Even Jealousy could not make you
see"
grzssap~~sS-sss~~~-szzss