Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-12

did not sing her speaking voice was very musical.
Essngton went to the door with them There had
been change of weather and the night for April was
sharply cool He wrapped his wife in her cloak an
ticipatng the rather eager movement Warren made
to be useful, and careful not to dsarrange her
beautiful hair He didn't of course expect her to
kiss him before that young fool but there had been
something detached almost casual, in the gayety of
the goodnight she threw over her shoulder as she
and Warren passed out into the cool darkness to-
gether.
He heard their voices as they went down the street
floating back in buoyance of spirit to which his
own spirited slam of the hall door seemed the logical
echo 1t didn't wake the baby, though if prudence
had pointed that possibility he couldn't have
Trained He gathered up the law papers he had
brought home to study, and went to the bedroom
where Howard Douglas slept seraphcally.
His wife had made everything comfortable for him
his slippers, the cushioned ease of his favorite
chair and If he should tire of his briefs the latest
magazines.
He did tire of the briefs but instead OF reading lay
back In his chair staring at the fire. 1t seemed to
create visions of various Sorts all of them dominated
by his wife, IL by a sudden ray of light he
developing ong-dormant negatives. In this reverie
he saw her as he had first known herthe shy grace
full incarnation of the Daphne spirit of girhood: later
on nearer and dearer. infinitely precious, and
yet-if because of suretymore lightly priced gift
of the gods! But daily mama, when 1t has lost It's
cloak of miracle. becomes to the unimagnative less
marvellous symbol than a commonplace happening
1t very still In the dainty warmth of the
When he looked across at the dressng-table his
picture in its silver frame met his frowning gaze.
All their married life it had stood there II
guard, salient bit of mascunity among the dainty
toilet things the aces and ribbons all the soft utter
and essence of femininity. If any ought to be
content
Content? He was content; most utterly so. But
the wrath of the question stirred him to It
was ridcuous-all because he had gone out two
three times without But she hadn't given him
this subtle taste of reprisal through jealousy. He
laughed sardonicaly the thought that she could be
jealous of Mrs. willingham. 1t like putting
tea-rose beside daha to compare the two women.
Even as he rendered her every allegiance, every
loyalty, he thought of Warren. Would she compare
him with Warren? And to the advantage of whom?
He felt suddenly bitter against heavy odds. Why
should he hope since he had dropped SO much of the
role of the lover. to to her better than other
men who were as clever, we'll hammered. and far
better looking than he? He had juggled with his
own possession-now in sudden fear he had clutched
at It; would IL he could, shut 1t selfshly to himself
alone He didn't distrust her. but he distrusted him
self-he had opened the way for her to compare him
with any commonplace idiot-to any man more bril-
liant
onA
one of the strongest seemed to be that he couldn't
ever want to hold her through her loyalty alone To
tie ones camel and then commit him to God, seemed
a hidebound philosophy to apply to ones wife, She
must love him not because she his wife, but for
the woman's reason-old as the eternal feminine
The hours went by slowly: the people who leased
their upper floor grew quiet He was alone with his
thoughts in desert of silence. 1t was ridiculous.
dsproportionate-but he couldn't throw 1t on-ths
feeling he was giving what was. after ALL so CASUAL
so slight a thing. Still
At half past eleven the bell rang. and when hs
opened the door, he wondered If they the signs
of his slow analysis his face
Warren at all events, said good night quickly, and
husband and wife alone in the little hail.
She threw off her cloak and to his eager eyes had
never seeHeu hdii so peao'il"i ~ '"o 9A -
her pale grey dress with Its touches OF green sne
seemed to his stirred fancy beautiful moth flown in
from the starlight darkness the scent OF the yolets
he had given her swept delicatey sweet the warm
air of the hail. and the eyes she raised half question
ingly to his changed to depth and sweetness In
which a man could drown for the good of his soul.
Essington made step toward her and held out his
arms.
DEAR" he said.
week later Mrs. Essington was called to the
telephone.
Mrs Massey" she said coming to the door or
the sitting where Essngton, pipe in mouth, sat
at ease with late review. wants to know II she can
count on you for tomorrow night She didn't think
| could leave Howard Douglas for she'd heard he was
teethng but you--"
"Tel her mol" Essngton said explosively
But she wanted" Mrs. Essington continued to ex-
plain "you to bring Mrs. Willingham-her husband
~