The daily tribune., 1906-03-02


ing gave way taking them both with II,
md leaving him on the broken edge,
safe"
sho covered her face with her hands
Gal" she murmured. ! didn't know.
What have ! done?"
He told me once" he went on, that
it had left him with the fesssng that
fire would never touch him. but that
to think Of anyone he cared for betag
in ire made him-wen, what you
saw"
They were silent for an instant
"Hulie!" ne said suddenly, they've
got the curtain down"
The two stood up. Firemen and po-
licemen were everywhere.
mo danger! No danger!"
The words passed from mouth to
mouth. and though they were not strict
ly true, the effect of the lowered cur
tain was magical. The crowd Was pre-
ceptibiy thinner, noticsably calrnsr, but
round each exit we're grussoms proofs
Of tbs violence Of the psnia.
Elizabeth"
They looked at each othss. Its
John" she said faintly.
YES" he said, and his smile was
bitter, "It's John. Goodbye. Forget
it all, Elizabeth. Do you know-he
looked at his wstch-"it's al hap
pened in less than ten minutasf~
"Really!" she said. 'It can't be pos
sibls." But her syes were searching
for her husband.
The Other Man neticad II. ~Dliza
beth!" he said, half shAmsfacsdly.
YES" she answered, hsr eyes search
Ing the crowd.
"You are going to make up to him
somehow for-for saying that to
himf"
Her eyes softened and she held out
her hand. "That was nice Of you," she
said gently. Eyes, am going to make
up to him. pray God. he will never
know what thought"
Elizabeth" He had found ner at
last. The Other Man slipped away.
1--WE found a way" he exclaimed
breathlessly. "Come along"
"Oh." she cried, you've hurt your
hand; it's bleeding"
He held out the other to her. mo,
no; It's nothing. / had rather . bother
with the doors and Windows. That's
why I've been so long"
She followed him silently.
When they were In their carriage and
on their way home there was an ewk.
ward silence. Elizabeth had just
cnished bandaging his hand with the
aid Of both their handkerchiefs.
Dear" he said at last, would you
mind telling me why you-you asked
me to go away?"
She looked at him q reproachful
pout. "Must you inquire into all your
wife's weaknesses?" she asked
II only wondered-
"Of course" she interrupted, 81 knew
YOU would. and l meant to tell you.
But you'll despise me. You've got q
very unheroic wife. John. When
asked you to go I was--she went on
steadily-T was nearly dead with
fright, and I couldn't bear to have you
to see It; SO I said the first thing
thought of to get rid of you while l
got over It; What did I say?-1
didn't know what l was saying, John.
Butt did get over It,"
His face cleared and he bent and
kissed her. His voice was very tender.
Elizabeth, my wife" he said. do
you know"-he laughed light-heart-
edly-"I've been worrying like every
thing about II. fancied you thought
I was In Q funk about myself. IL
thought you meant that"
She stared at him, then burst out
laughing hysterically and threw her
arms round his neck. "Oh. you dear,
darling old stupid" she cried.
Don't you know yet that women
never mean what they seem to mean7"
He made . mock gesture Of despair.
$50 now that you seem to mean you
are-well, rather fond Of me. Eliza
beth, what do you really mean?"
She smiled up at him swiftly. That
I consider you just perfect" she whis-
pered
Upstairs IN their own room, whes
he had gons down 70 give some orders
to the servants. Elizabeth wandered to
the window. Her eyes were troubled.
Suddenly she knelt down and buried
her face In her hands. God grant"
she supplicated, that he will never
know do love him. have al
ways loved him-but that I should
have thought him afraid!" Sketch.