The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-02-04
fingers were tearing the braid OF the

fingers were tearing the braid Of the
upholstery.
There was a loud closing of a door,
and the sound of steps in the hall be-
low. Slow. heavy steps-her hus-
bands!
She stood up straight and still. The
steps came nearer. Now they were
on the stairs. Amid the whirl OF
emotions that swept owe her. she was
clearly conscious of bur n thing
a desire to escape. to gain time. The
reaction had been too sudden. she
could not face it now. With a quick
movement she thrust the paper behind
the couch and threw herself down as
though asleep.
The door opened. There was a
moments pause, then the gentle clio
sing of the door and a careful tiptoe-
ing across the room-the pOnderous
tiptoeing of a heavy man. Another
pause. then a moving Of things on the
mantel, a search for cigars and
matches. more tiptoeing and the
creaking Of a chair. And now h
listened with curious expectancy for
the striking of a match. But the ST.
lence was profound.
She looked up through half-closed
lids. He raj patiently holding the
cigar. fearing to light 1t lest he waken
her. The heavy, ford face, the awk-
ward set of the shoulders, the great,
ungainly figure-she closed her eyes
with u cicEouipO conco nf foiptnocc
1t had all come back. That one swift
glance had brought it all back-all the
old Impotence, the old intolerance,
the old disdain. With all her strength
she fought it, struggled fiercely against
it. She tried to think of the things she
had thought of as she knelt by the
chair-his kindness. his patience. his
never-failing tenderness. She tried to
feel again the pity and emorse she
had felt then. She dashed herself with
reproaches and accusations. But ever
as she did it she knew it to be hope
less.
She sat up quickly-an involuntary
movement. a physical protest at the
intolerable pain of her thoughts.
And then her ayes fell on her hus-
band. He was asleep-his head
thrown back against the chair, his
mouth half-open, and an expression
almost Of idiocy upon his face. She
had never see him look like that
not quite SO repulsive at that. No
no-not loathing! She had never
loathed hint had only been dis
dain-not loathing. Oh, no-no-he
must not look like that! She put her
hands before her eyes. John! john"
it. was almost a s1riek.
He started up. why. my dear. what
it isl"
"Oh-I| had such a frightful
thereI was so frightened! thought
you were going to Albany"
Dear, O had better lie down
again, you are trembling 50"
He came ove by her and stroked
her hand awkwardly. She drew it
away, as though to arrange the pillow
at her back.
Don't you want this other pillow
She shook her head.
mo. | didn't go to Albany. we were
very busy at the office. and fortunately
l put it of. The 2:30 train, the one l
would have taken. was wrecked just
40 miles out"
"Wrecked?" she repeated 1t. DULY.
"Yes-a horrible wreck. | was
afraid you would see the extra and be
frightened, so | tried to telephone you
that l hadn't gone, but could get no
answer. You must have been asleep
"Yes--l must have been asleep"
He took a paper from his pocket and
began reading her the headlines. Could
she ever forget them-those head
lines? The corners of her mouth
twitched as she thought how glibly
she could repeat them and how aston
ished he would be il she should.
He laid the paper aside. 1T was a
horrible wreck-the worst that road
has ever had"
"Yes-it was horrible"
Il am glad you were asleep and did
not see the extra. You might have
been worried"
She smiled family, her eyes on the
torn braid of the chair.
Yes. 1 might have been worried"