Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-09
STRETCHED FROM LIFE

like cat. slide up 10 you and mike
=, beiievc they love you dearly She
would nestle III the depths OF large
armchair. assuming most bewitching
pose. and listen 10 Il man making DIES.
| perate love to her, smiling swcetly al
the while and only putting In II word
now and then TO keep him going. Her
heart never throbbed during such pro
| ceedlngs, she WAS so accustomed 10
| them. but gently. as IL always did,
like the pendulum of Il clock.
Miss DAILY was the belle OF an Irish
garrison town. aud the officers OF tho
infantry regiments quartered there
| were generally poor. II she had cured
for poor man she never would have
married him. for she loved ease and
luxury better than anything else.
by and by there came to the town n
regiment that had Il moderately rich.
unmarried major In II. He was not
young or handsome or fascinating.
but just n plain. honest, good natnrcd
fellow OF the ordinary British type.
| lie followed in the footsteps of his
| predecessors and fell n victim TO the
wlles OF the lily OF the garrison town,
and rs he was IN eligible man her par.
ents persuaded her TO marry him. She
WAS nothing loath. rs she thought OF
che dresses that would hencefortb set
or her white loneliness.
| After her marriage she alrted as
much as before: her drawing room,
was filed with men every afternoon.
ana there was always gallant in Mt.
tendance OF an evening. Major Dcnl-
son. much annoyed ut such proceed
lngs, endured them for several months
and then spoke out In remonstrance.
but his beautiful wife shrugged her
lovely shoulders and paid no. heed.
Then hc ordered her TO deslst.
| "Rut how am to nmuse myself"
pleaded she. not the least RULED In
temper ami raising her great blue
eyes, suffuscd with tears. In pathetic
| questioning TO his face
| AS other wives do" he answered.
strldlng M and down the room in
great agitation; with your household
duties. visits to your friends nnd with
sewing"
The situation was becoming tense
when the regiment was ordered 10 n
cathedral town in England. The ma.
Jor hoped that the beautiful plnce and
Its Inhabitants and life would interest
Ills wife and the attentions OF the
ladies' belonging to the good old fash.
Toned county families fiatter her and
divert her attention from herself. He
was mistaken.
Every one said. "now eccentric that
beautiful Mrs. Denlson ls!' and In.
mcntcd that she seemed to be fading
away Hike u passing flower.
AT length the surgeon of the rcgl.
ment took II upon himself to enllghtcn
The major upon the state of his wlfe's
health and urge him to allow her to
visit her native place In the hope that
old scenes and friends would revive
her.
Il can ilnd nothing the matter with
her constittlonnlly and believe she IL
merely suffering from nostalgia" said
the doctor. When Major Denlsnn told
hls wife the doctors opinion. she rails
ell her eyes In meek appeal for leave
TO 60 and he had not the heart to re-
fuse her.
"lmt remember, Edith there must
be no flirting nor must you 30 to balls
or parties
1 Very we'll. dear" she said sweetly.
II promise"
After two months. hearing that his
wife had recovered her health the ma.
tor thought he would look her up and
procured leave of absence for the pur
pose. He arrived ut the garrison town
late one evening ana went straight 10
his fnthcr-in-law's house. lie found
the squire and his wife tlozlug In big
armchalrs on either side of the dining
room fireplace.
They seemed disturbed Mt his sudden
appearance and told him the rest of
the family were ut military bah,
wlercupon he announced his intention
OF Joining them there
Hastily donnlng an evening suit. he
went to the barracks. introduced him
self to the presiding colonel and mt
once gained admission to the ballroom
lie found crowd of men In an ri.
cove of the long room. heard the repar.
tee that woman's voice flung among
them Just rs he entered and. look ing
over their shoulders. met his wifcs
glance The smile that was dImpllng
her face changed TO IL look of horror rs
she recognized him. and. uttcring a
piercing Shrek. she fell. or pretended
10 fall. into swoon
When she was sufficiently recovered.
the major took her home. .but she con.
linued To fall into Mysteries mt inter
walls during the rest of the night.
Two years nfterward Major Denlson
shot himself through jealousy of his
wife, leaving her II comfortable fortune.
The garrison lily still lives. She reg.