New-York tribune., 1910-11-27


her heart was Darched and dead in her breast.
She wondered WHY she was so supIne. du-nO-y
content TO sit and stare into the nre- when
every atom of her should be up II rebellion
It was Natures safetv device, a nice ad-
iustrnent of mind and BODY, which saved the
weaker at the expense OF the strong. But
she knew that she must be suffering agOnleS
OF mortified pride and the bitterness OF
fallen idols She tried not 70 believe; but
the facts were stubborn. She put her head
in her hands and pressed her fingers against
her temples What should she dO2 What
should a woman do when all her gods are
| tunbled into the DUST
She remembered clearly now the lrst IN
preston that had been formed II ner mind
when she had been first apprIsed OF her nus
bands relations with ABBY after the scene
IN the pavilion at the Gerry Schuylers
dance. The aTdOT OF his kisses ana ADDy
breathless acqu1esCenCe had tlleC her with
shame for herself and for the woman who
had profted by her husband weakness and
his relations with herself And Vet she had
at some pains condoned their cransgresslon
| as the harmless frOlIc of q gala night. ABBY
letter hal thrown her of her guard too and
since then she had tired TO think that most
OF his fault had lis origin III her own t-nper1-
| Gus pride. She remembered now what Rene
had said OF those kisses and the reasons ne
| had given for ABBY refusal 20 accept le-
| invitation 10 come with them IOr the cruise
! Abby had stayed within reaching distance
| OF New York 50 that she could be near Brooke
GarriOtt. She saw II all now The leather
apron OF EulCanI' What was that SentI-
| mental nOnsense2 A Quiver Tor Cupid
| This affair had been going on while she had
| been cruising on the coast. perhaps longer.
| Their understanding was so complete that II
seemed now as though Abby had possessed
him from the first, But thIs-they had n
deed sunk low 20 come beneath her very
root in her absence, What q sIrnpletOn she
had been. what q credulOuS fool.
She got 70 her feet and strobe back and
forth. her blood surging horlv IN angry
shame. She did not hear the sound OF an
arriving motor IN the drive nor LeOntInes
| first knock upon her door. But when the
maid knocked again she composed her fea-
| lures and turned calmly.
Gone in. she said.
Leontine carefully closed the door behind
her. 1t IS Mrs. kemptOn. Madame. Are
YOU at hOTne2'
NATALIE turned 10 her toilet table TO
~ hide the sudden scOrn that fitted her
features. What could Abby want here
| Was her visit one OF anxiety. or merely the
| bravado OF the guilty. NataIie's first inn
pulse had been 10 denv herself 10 her visitor.
but after a moment hesitation she SAID
! quietly, Tell her l Will be down n a mo-
| nent.
With great deliberation Natalie went 10
her dressing table and looked at herself in
the glass. It was a blessing she had not
wept. If she had wept. she could not have
| gone down. She SPRAYED q handkerchief
with an atonIzer and brushed It "a few times
across her face, then pInched her pale cheeks
until the color came, and when she LETT the
| room she was smiling.
Abby was sitting near the window rather
| formally IN 4 straight backed chair: but she
| rose when Natalie entered. and the TWO met
in the middle OF the rug with one Of those
| feminine outbursts that have So impaired
the value OF adIectIves, which mean nothing
or much: usually much-but not what the
adiectIves mean. Each had something 70
learn. something to conceal. NataIies kiss
hid scorn. Abbys uncharitv: but Abby's
was the more honest.
Abby darling. so glad, How did YOU
know | was hOme3"