El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-21
THE HAUNTED GARDEN;
OTHER WOMEN's HUSBANDS
BY Ada Patterson.
ekNoU WILL admit you were
mistaken"


crowned with masses Of black hair
flung a laughing glance from velvet!
black eyes, smiled with full red lip;
that had the habit of smiling at life
The other woman, tall, too, but of scam
| person, bore to her the ghostlike Ian
| lily resemblance that exists between
persons radically unlike and that van
| ished before the person who has seer
1t can fix it in memory resemblance
as vague as that between a landscape
in the full flood of midday sunshine
and the same landscape at twilight
The older woman was conscious of II
now as she looked at the fearless gaze
of the dark eyes.
You remind me of myself, Rose-ot
myself many years ago." she added as
she saw the dark eyes widen in sur
prise.
Silence fell, betw cen the women, the
silence of Renaissance on one side, of
the effort of the woman Of the world
to act as though she had not heard
something unwelcome, on the other.
Then she smiled and pressed her ques-
ton:
Won't you admit you were mistaken,
Aunt Margaret?"
The older woman avoided the
younger ones eyes. Mistaken? 1
think you are quite right in remain
ing in town later than usual One
tires of the inevitable trip to Europe"
You know what L mean. Aunt You
haven't visited us since my wedding,
the wedding you wouldn't attend"
Why refer to bygones?"
Only TO convince you, my dear, seri-
Gus relative on my mothers side, that
| Hartley Phillips and I are perfectly
happy, notwithstanding your prophe-
cies"
4 shall be glad to find am mis-
taken
Haven't you?"
i've only been with you two days.
You certainly look happy"
And Hartley?"
Mr.. Phillips seems to have the same
genius for the enjoyment OF lne.
Quite, 1t is a triumph to make you
see that some terrible punishment
your exact words. dear aunt-hasn't
overtaken u.s.
do you think we ought to talk of
it, Rose?"
only this once. Then we win cease
to remember It The glow of victory is
in my veins You must forgive me for
exulting"
Yes, deer, certainly, am glad you
are happy" The woman in gray rose
and walked nervously about the room.
Her niece resting in the big eEsy chair
smiled at her from eyes narrowing
with amusement.
What is the matter, aren't you
welI?"
Quite. Yes, 1 think So But--this
room makes me restless"
Aunt Margaret"
..I am sorry, Rose. but l have the
same sense off oppression had that
night when we were visiting the first
Mrs. Phillips and this was her room
How could you occupy it. Margaret?'
How can any woman who marries |
q widower occupy the house where he !
desirable house IN desirable locality. !
I did not want to live further uptown.
And this room is the pleasantest in the /
house It overlooks the garden''-
THAT gardenr The woman in gray |
glanced at the low, open windows.
through which the perfume of early |
roses was pouring in a fragrant stream,
and shivered-
Rose Phillips grasped her arm Tell
me what you mean"
Her aunt made an effort, steadied
herself. ct was on such night as
this six years ago.. 1 believe this is
the very date TIE other woman
nodded. ner lips frightened. Her white
fingers buried themselves in the older
woman's arm.
Go on she whispered
81 went to my room soon after din
ner to write letters Our hostess COM |
plsined of headache and came to-this
room Mine was the next on the right
Yours the one next to mine. 1 raped
upon your door You were not there"
Yes, W. else?"
'T had scarcely written a page of
the first letter when 1 heard Mary
Phillips moving restlessIy about the
room thought 1 card her sobbins
stood listening. wondering whether I
should go to her and ask if she Was
III, # I could help her Rose-I stood
1t the window"
The fingers loosened their grip. They
ell away from her arm. They grouped
'or the back of the nearest chair for
Il stood at the window looking upon |
he garden. You were walking there
With Hartley Phillips. He was smoking.
You were laughing. He threw away
lis cigar and you looked UP into his
ace, still laughing. He took you in his
rms. That instant it happened.
There was scream. A long " hite fig
ire fell from that open window and lay
n the stone pavement beneath. Mary
Philips was killed
TT was an accident" breathed Hart
ey Phillips second wife, sinking into {
Ter chair. :
Perhaps" :
TT is no harm for a man TO marry
econd time'
No. But, Rose, when Hartley I
'hillips took you in his arms that even
ng six years ago you did not resist.
.ou went willingly to him You al
avs were not a husband hunter, but
unter of other women's husbands. ! t
here are such women. No man in s
erests them unless there is the flavor 7
the forbidden about him. They like s
, skirt the land of intrigue. They are a
ne thieves in the land Of matrimony. y
hey are proud Of their secret con- 7
uests And / say now as 1 said then: 3
Beware of punishment
Aunt Margaret, you really make me \
Hartley Phillips and 1 were made
or each other. We may have had a
light Irritation while his wife was e
live, but that is common in society | r
h0dV does :