The Ordway new era., 1906-12-07

your
Maynard pushed open the drawing
room door and came Into the room
Just as his wife laid down her pen.
I'm so glad you're going to be at
home this evening. dear" she said.
coming up to him.
He glanced at her In a half.startled
fashion and took his seat a trifie un-
| easily.
You've been working entirely too
hard. And l mean to put stop to all
such nonsense. don't II" she ratified
on. ficking q speck OF dust from his
lapel.
The other laughed and shook his
head.
I'm afraid
| But her fingers stopped the words
on his lips and she handed him the
letter she had written. 1t was to de-
cline long-coveted invitation. But
the affair was for that evening. and
nothing could have induced her to ac-
cept 1t now.
1T wouldn't be exactly fair, It
would be rather selfish OF me to let
you do this. Juliet. You mustn't" he
insisted, lifting her chin In his palm
as he looked into her dancing eyes.
But she only shook her head most
positively and went back to her desk
to seal and stamp the note.
| After little, Maynard rose lazily
and pulled out his watch.
1
| Il must go back to work now," he
said. I've already overstayed my
luncheon hour. Au revoir-till eve
ming"
The hours passed quickly. Toward
dusk Juliet went to her room to dress.
expending more care over her per-
sonal adornment than she had done
for many n week. But Just us she had
finished, there came rap at her door
and the maid brought in letter from
her husband.
My dearest" he wrote, you can
not possibly imagine what disap-
pointment this is to me. but unfor-
seen complications at the office will
detain me here until almost midnight.
Another evening. many evenings. we
will make up for this. Lovingly. Eu-
gene"
Mrs. Maynard dropped the letter.
her eyes swimming with tears But
suddenly her face lightened and
flushed. II believe / will do it!' she
cried. When we were first married.
how pleased he used to be tc have
me come and sit with him while he
worked"
She started up abruptly. wrapped
herself in long silk coat. donned her
most becoming hat and drew on her
gloves with excited fingers. Fifteen
minutes later she was spinning down
the avenue In a coupe and the high
Office building. from which Cleaned
innumerable lights, loomed familiarly
in the distance.
Mrs. Maynard stepped lightly to
the pavement and shook out iler
skirts. Her heart was beating tu-
multuously and bright color vivified
her cheeks.
At the entrance to the building she
paused a moment and her hand went
TO her throat. as though to hold back
her quick. excited breathing. After
all, would he be pleased? Recollec-
tions of the past two years, With all
the constraint. coolness and unhappi-
ness came tumbling into her brain,
and her face clouded. But almost i'm
mediately she laughed away her ap-
prehensions and went in.
The sleepy elevator boy stared at
Mrs. Maynard stupidity. then curious
ly, as he opened his eyes wide enough
to permit full glance into the pretty
flushed face and sparkling eyes.
Third floor" she said. as she step
ned into the elevator. Il want to go
to Mr.. Maynard's Office" 5E
"His Office has been closed On hour.
Miss. He never stays down :ater'n
seven."
IAN hour! Are you sure?" She
gaxed at him blankly, every vest,ge Of
color gone from her cheeks.
Sure enough. The lady-his wife.
I suess--was here and they went
away together. She comes for him
most every day."
A shudder crept slowly over the
slender figure Her breath came heav-
i ily and her eyes looked piteously
i down the joyless vista Of years before
her.
] scopyrisht. 100. by Daily story Pub. ~