The wageworker., 1909-12-18

oOmc, UIcSSeO VIII d UedullIuI anu
charming wife, whose most extrava-
CANT whims. as well as his own. he
was amply able to gratify-nothing
seemed lacking to complete his happi-
ness.
Nothing, indeed, was lacking, but
something was present which he
might well have spared-suspicion!
The first year of his married life
had been one long dream of bliss.
ly matched than he and Countess
Vera. But suddenly there came
change. Without imaginable cause,
Vera's merriment ceased abruptly.
She became grave, pensive, almost
morose, and hard, cold expression
replaced the sunny smile that had
hitherto played about her beautiful
lips. Mishko was in despair.
What is the matter, sweetheart.
he asked. "Have l offended you in
any way?"
you? Oh, you men! In your van
fty you imagine yourselves the cause
of everything"
"But this sudden change"
"Mishko, wish you wouldn't notice
every little trifle. It grows tiresome
in time"
She turned away sullen1y, but he
caught her and drew her to his knee.
Then ensued the first unpleasant
scene of their love drama. It was
ended by Vera rushing wildly to her
bedroom and locking and barricading
the door against the enemy. Mishko
went to the Jockey club and sought
consolation in the companionship of
old friends and old Amontillado. At
two o'clock in the morning, when he
came home, whistling and thoroughly
consoled, a servant handed him a
note and said that the countess had
gone away.
do not be alarmed" she had writ
ten, Il am not running away, though
you deserve it. But my nerves are
worn out and / must find rest-where,
l do not yet know; some quiet place
in the mountains, probably. I shall
be all right in week. Please do not
try to find me. You will not succeed
and will only make me angry. Pos
sess your soul in patience, Mishko.
mine. In a week, dearest wild man.
I shall be in your arms again. Mean
while send you my forgiveness and
a thousand Kisses"
This note instantly dispelled Mish-
kos slight exhilaration. In the morn
ing he telegraphed to every one whom
Vera would be likely to visit and, re-
ceiving only negative replies, re-
signed himself to his punishment. On
the third day he happened to meet
that good-looking but vapid fellow,
Sokoloff, of the Russian embassy, who
asked:
"Any news from St. Petersburg?"
"Eh?" said Mishko.
From the most charming of count
esses, l mean. She should be there
by this time"
my wife! She is no more In St.
Petersburg than we are"
STRANGE! She was in such haste. /"
when? Where? About what?"
"About her passport"
"She applied for a passport? ?
When?"
Friday morning."
Mishko wiped his brow. Though
not exactly a sage, he was by no
means a fool. He could put two and
two together.
When Vera had played her great
scene she had been in possession of
her passport several hours. She had
provoked the scene deliberately to
afford pretext for her sudden fight.
He waited, but not patiently, and in
irh <c ho
to pay her back in her own coin if
her explanation should be unsatisfac-
tory or suspicious. If she could act
a part, so could he.
On the seventh day after her de-
parture Vera returned, radiant as the
dawn.
Here l am, Mishko!" she cried, ex-
tending her arms.
1t was less an embrace than a
wrestling match. All he said was:
"Where have you been?"
do not ask, Mishko! If you love
me, dear boy, do not remind me of
that which I wish to forget. 1t is
past and gone and this moment is
the commencement Of q new life for
u.s."
breath, but he made no audible reply
and never again referred to his wife's
eccentric fight.
1t did seem like new life, for
Vera apparently sought to atone for
her action by redoubled effusiveness
and docility.
Vera's deceitfulness, her well-acted
comedy, still ranked, but he had
nearly arrived at the point of forgiv-
ing even these, when one morning at
breakfast. he was startled by seeing
in his wife's face the same cold, hard
ominous expression that it had worn
| Just before the scene of 18 months
before.
He tried to drive it away by jests
and affectionate words-both very ar
tificial and equally fruitless. Vera's
face seemed hardened to stone, and
/ thA