Evening star., 1907-11-17

still drumming with his hnger tips on the dusty
window ledge. A divorce is utterly out OF the
question. There are no grounds for it on either
side-thank God! And besides | don't want my
matrimonial linen washed in public; We have made made
it. and realize it, without getting into the papers
Perhaps if the child had lived But what's the
use of talking about that? I'm used to disappolnt-
ments and broken dreams by this time, and have
come down to the dead level of indifference at last
Matrimony is failure anyway you look at it
Skeers smiled. The pessnlism OF twenty-nne IS
usually of very virulent type, he recollected.
Il don't know anything about the hopelessness
of the institution" he said but it has always ap-
peared to that subJugatOn OF self is one OF its
elementary principles
Which self, the womans the man's? struck
in Latimer, with short, derisive laugh That S
the of the matrimonial situation ism 1t! he
subugation of the means the sublevatlon OF the
other. and-there you are. But look here: 1T no
use our wasting time in talk We can alter mat
tiers, Skeers and-wel | doubt if | should care to
if We could lust say that | agree to anything that
suits her. and get the business put through with as
her to have the half of everything Chats only
keeping my word, you know,-'W all my worldly
goods, ct ceerd), and if she will send some one
down to Redlands tomorrow to select what she
wishes retain III give orders for the rest to be
sent to the auction rooms. I'm going back to the
West Thursday
will YOU see Mrs. Latimer before you go? She's
in town at present. Came up from Newport yester-
day If You wish to see her could easily arrange it.
Thanks; but l won't put you to the trouble
There's no use in raking over cold ashes-and that's
about all it would amount to- Better let sleeping
dogs lie. She wouldn't care to see me after two
years of getting without me, and L don't know
that have any particular desire to see her Be-
sides shall not be in town. l m running down to
Redands to-night-Just to sleep there tor the last
time. And-I say, if you get any sort of offer for
the place, sell it. | don't think I'd like to see it
rented 10 anyone don think could stand that
though it's surprising how much man can stand
when he's put to it. That's all, l think Good by
Good by. I'll send some one down in Mrs.
Latimers behalf tomorrow. I'm sorry, my boy: =:
Yes, l know. You always good sort
Skeers, and-I used to be sorry for myself, In the
beginning. But gets over that in time, you
know. There's point where even desire dies, and
all the roads that lead back to it are choked with
the dust of yesterday. You can't nail living thing
to cross and expect it to 60 on suffering and en-
dure forever; you now!
But it was largely your fault you know"
1t was all my fault when you down to the
bottom of it, admitted Latimer frankly. Il was
such an egregious l didn't know when | was
we'll off. | didn't know that rose in your gar
den was worth ten in show window; but-wel
know it now And the rose in the garden is dead
the show window has gained another bloom, and
| paid for it, 1t used to hurt in the beginning but
it doesn't any more. That's where the law OF COM
pensatiOn comes in. Good by.
The two hands Clasped and parted, then Latlmer
took up his hat, nodded, and went out
In the dusk of that evening train hurried him
down to the Long Island coast and the gloom and
loneliness of sea circled Redlands. But if any
haunting memory kept him company on the way,
any regret for the days that were put behind him
hammered at his heart when he walked up the weedy
path and let himself into the house he gave out
ward sign of it. The caretaker, who had been noti-
fed of his coming, had his dinner waiting and his
room aired and ready for him, SO that it was like
stepping back into the old rut, like bridging all the
gaps and chasms and thorny roads and getting
back to the lilac land of yesterday. But it made
no impression on him. stirred no wave of emotion in
him, called forth no comment from him: In place
thick as the caves of Manhuer with the Sapphires
of Memory he walked like man without past
He slept long and breakfasted late; but, as if the