Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-06

agents door, Rose saw LndJ tue DuSineSs
hours were from IL to 4. except on Satur-
days. when they were IL to 2. She calcu-
lated that the agent would write TO Miss
Gilmore that AFTERNOON and make an APP
pointment for the next day or the day after.
On one of these two days, between the
hours OF IL and 4, Miss Gilmore would enter
that ONCE and leave again and return to
the place where she was living. She might
WILSON,"
Under any circumstances Rose would be
there. The street was wide and busy
one. She would easily be able to keep the
agents front door in observation without
being noticed herself. With her veil down
and her parasol up "Mr. Wilson" could
hardly recognize her, and Miss Gilmore
The only dificulty was about following
her, but it would be time enough to get
over that when the time came The girl
was probably hard up and wouldn't take a
hanson she would either walk or go by
bus, and In either case Rose could be her
travelling companion without exciting sus-
picion.
If Jack came the case would be differ
ent She should go up straight to him.
confront him. and ask for the pleasure OF
that evening and far into the night Rose
thought over the scene that she might have
to take part in on the morrow She re-
hearsed it to herself and spoke her
speeches aloud as she lay tossing from side
to side, waiting for the dawn. She was
too feverish and excited to sleep. She was
not going to be- violent or make scene.
She had few words Of whitening sarcasm
ready for Miss Gilmore, who would prob
ably stare to see a strange lady accost Mr..
Wilson rather unceremoniously and insist
upon private interview, but with Jack she
was going to be calm. cold and dignifed
But she was going to let him understand
that he would have to answer for his
wicked. heartless conduct. and that Neme-
sis had overtaken him at last.
And, crushing her recreant husband with
words of dignifed scorn. Rose fell asleep
at last, and woke so late that by the time
she had had her breakfast and reached the
side street of the Strand In which the
agents office was situated, it was on the
stroke of eleven.
AS she got out Of the bus she noticed
a gentleman who got down from outside
curiousiy, and she wondered where she had
seen him before. She thought II must be
some one she had been introduced to. and
so she bowed slightly. but the gentleman
deliberately the other way.
Rose knews then that she must have made
mistake and she colored slightly at the
idea OF having bowed to o.. strange man
stance set her thinking Of the man as she
walked up the street, and she gave quite
a little start when q quarter of an hour
later, as she was lettering near the ofdce,
she saw this same man come along on the
opposite side and enter public-house.
She watched for him to come out. but he
didn't do so, and SO she decided he must
be the landlord, and then she fixed her at
tention on the agents doorway, and forgot
all about the stranger to whom she had
bowed in mistake.
For two hours Rose watched the agency
without any result Plenty of ladies and
gentlemen went up and came down the big
stone staircase-actors and actresses most
of them, she could tell by their style-but
photograph of Miss Elmore, and certainly
no one in the slightest degree like Jack
Smedley.
Once she had false alarm. A lady and
gentleman came along from the top of the
street; the man was just Jacks height and
build, but when he came nearer she saw
that he was a man with gray hair, and
Jacks was black as night He was an
actor, she thought, because of his shaver
face, but when they got to the agents door
he left the lady. who went In alone, while
he went over the road to the publc-house.
He was in there about quarter Of an
hour, and when he came out Rose thought
he looked at her rather hard. But she was
a pretty little woman still, and had slim,
graceful figures go about closely yelled there
is nothing in gentlemen looking at them,
as though they would like to see what sort
of face that tantalizing veil is hiding.
Rose was thinking that she should have
to nnd out some place where she could sit
down. for she was getting terribly tired.
when a tall. thin girl. plainly, almost shah
billy dressed, came up the street. looking
up at the number as she walked along
This action it was which first attracted
Roses attention. and then in moment.
instinctively, and before she was near
enough for Rose to recognize her features,
the deserted wife knew that she and her
rival were about to meet
1t was Miss EImore. There was no doubt
OF that Rose soon forgot her caution In
her excitement and stood still and let the
girl pass her so closely that their dresses
touched Miss Gilmore evidently suspected
nothing. She said. II beg your pardon"
as she accidentally touched Rose. but only
gave her passing glance.
The hot blood rushed to Mrs. Smedley's
face, and hard, cruel look came into her
eyes, II was fortunate that her veil was
down and that II was thick. Otherwise she
would undoubtedly have attracted atten-
ton.
The face of her rival was q beautiful
one-so beautiful IL made Rose hate her
all the more. But Il was very PALE and
there was a melancholy look in the large
lustrous eyes which told even Rose, blinded
as she was with jealousy and passion. that
her rival had suffered. and was suffering
still, mentally as well as physically.
The pale face the sorrowful eyes. the
shabby dress, the thin frame, all told a tale
to one who can read life story In the
crowded street.
Such one would have looked after the
tall, beautiful girl and have said. THAT
girl is III and unhappy" Rose only thought