The Washington times., 1909-04-13

umbrella-his physical welfare still fills
her thoughts.
August 9TH.
How many women past their first
youth find consolation in the thought
OF certain famous women who were still
attractive, still admired, late in life!
The memory of such women as Madame
de Stael, Madame Recamier and George
Sand has instilled the hope and comfort
in the heart of many a faded woman
that. though time may line the face,
the charm Of personality, intelligence
and wit may still win and hold love.
The looking glass may be undeniable
proof that her face is no longer beau
tifuI, but nothing can prove to even the
most vapid woman that her mentality,
grace and wit have not the greatest
charm.
Sunday. August 6th.
The telephone Just rang. 1 answered
It. but no one spoke. Again and again
said 'fHelloi" But there was no re-
sponse. And yet the silence seemed
charged with a personality-T felt there
was some one there. Could It be
Had she called and, not hearing his
voice. had not answered? OF course II
may have been a mistake; Central may
II.
But somehow I feel that it was not
mistake. I have that strange, weak SEN
sation which always comes with any
thing that relates to her.
August 9Th
This evening we went out to dinner
Until the last year we have always
dined out at some hotel or restaurant
at least once a week. But now so rarely
we ever go anywhere together. Perhaps
II was because I have eaten so little
lately that made him suggest the change
might do me good. I consented eager
ly. We went to the -, a place 1 have
always Fixed.
For the first few moments I was al
most happy-the lights. the music. the
gay, well-dressed people all around, and
my husband, gracious and distinguished,
across from me. Impulsiyely I reached
my hand across the table toward him.
He pressed It slightly and smiled at me
kindly. I could see that he was trying
TO respond, that he sincerely wanted me
TO have happy evening, that ne wanted
TO give me what he could. And 1 re-
solved to keep the ache from my heart
and the choking lump from the throat.
to try to forget everything but that
We were together.
He ordered the dinner with his
usual quiet discrimination. that al
ways wins instantly the best atten-
tion Of the waiter. have never had
the same excellent service in dining
with any one else as with my hus-
band BE always orders soms light
wine, and tonight it was sparkling
Chablis.
But in spite Of both our efforts. for
II lrvr -
strained and silent. One Of the most
pitiful conditions of our life now is
that we have so little to say Oh, IT
is hOrrible-this conscious strained
silence that is always between US. If
only for one evening we could talk
just talk as we used to dot would
help me more than anything in the
world.
Feeling the failure of the dinner.
he asked II I would like 10 go TO the
theater. The thought that there, at
least, we would not feel the need to
/ talk, and that I could be with him,
near him little longer, made me say
/ yes. For / knew II we went home IT
would be to separate; he would go to
him room and TO mine
When we reached the street he
bought an evening paper. handed IT to
me with the list OF the theaters KoId-
! ed out, and asked where I woui6 like
to so. 1 glanced down the list. There
were only three actors playing that
1 knew either of US would care 20 see,
and they were all in plays which from
reviews I knew were built around the
marriage and divorce questionable
unfaithfulness Of either the husband
or the wife. I finally chose a new
] HrtTr Il, wr~usf faN F1.e
litical one.
The first act was well advanced
when we entered; by the end Of the
l second I was rolling and unrolIing my
program with cold. nervous hands.
/ The "political' element YVES only a
/ background for the "problem"-th
! love Of a Senator for woman who
was not his wife. a woman whom he
/ had known and loved before he was
married. and whom I'm his heart ne had
/ loved ever since.
The dramatic crisis was IN the third
act, where the woman, in a moment
of fierce, uncomfortable jealousy
sends his wife one of the Senator's
love letters-chOosing with deliber-
ate cruelty the one that will hurt her
most. a beautiful, impassioned love
message. written several months be-
fore on her birthday. There is no ad-
dress or signature, but his wife will
know his writing-it is unmistakablG.
But she has hardly mailed the let
ter before she is overwhelmed with
/ remorse. with bitterest regret for
what she has done. She must stop its
( delivery-at any sacrifice she must
keep his wife from reading that let
/ ter,
! 1t was almost midnight when she
mailed it-it could not be delivered
| before morning.
3 The next scene, at o'clock the fol
: lowing morning, finds her at the door
( OF the Senator's house. She viii not
give her card or name. but there is
something in the tenseness OF her
voice and manner that makes the
I servant reluctantly admit her. As
she waits I'm the reception room she
asks herself fearfully: eff he should
refuse TO see. her? Should she have
Tisked IL and sent up her card?"
And then he enters. When he sees
( who II is, he starts, closes the door, and
comes toward her with outstretched
/ hands