Arizona republican., 1911-09-10


 and the two had turned. What ranked was that the stenographer per son hadn't seemed i'll at ease or apolo- getic. She had put up her head tri1e, bravely disdained concealing her tear wet eyes, had spoken civilly and made her exit almost with dignity. Actually she had Manner! And Sue Bond had seen, in that jealous sharpening of vision, that the girls tailoring and grooming was not merely in good taste it was smart" Her immaculate white waist was of fine linen, her skirt of the latest approved "trOttotr" line and material; her severely-wound sherry-brown braids were shining and exquisitely tended, and the strained abundance thereof was, beyond guess, all her own. Her brown eyes were too interesting, her complexion natural and fresh. Shrinking in her inner most fiber from the sickening usual conclusion that had leaped at her in the first shock, young Mrs. Bond was nevertheless acutely aware that a peri lously attractive woman had been working day after day, intimately with Pen; and the consciousness was not pleasant. She had known, o. course, how valuable Miss Parkman was to him-had seen Miss Parkman more than once; but unseeingly. And all at once Miss Parkman was become ossibility-intensely an individual who cried in Pens office lover some thing or other, and let him hold her hand while he entreated her-some- thing or other!
 Deeper and deeper gnawed the hurt of it, while Sue held her smile fiXedly, made herself talk endlessly, and Billy Trudell listened with eyes as eXpres- sionless as the aquamarine in his tie. She wondered, hungrily, what was in his mind-how much he knew, or guessed, that she didn't Perhaps, even, he was pitying her, At the spur of the thought she turned quickly, smiling, to her husband.
 "I can stay till you go out, Pen can you give me the afternoon? I'll put of the calls, and we'll-'
 Sorry, dear" Pen shook his head. The one lock of his blond hair that toould drop over his forehead slipped down with the motion, and Sue remembered, inconsequently, that she used to 'fasten" it back with a kiss, in their ages-ago counting days. How young he looked-how clean and handsome, Why had she let the multiplying of everyday things crowd out their precious fooleries? Perhaps you've noticed" he went on, carefully sprinkling paprika over his crab meat, that I'm not quite my sun shiny self? Well-Miss Parkman leaves to-day, and I've got to hunt 9 etenographer." After the first smother i,g hope of the announcement, Sue tl.Sught he had made it too casually. it might not mean Despite herself she looked at Billy Trudell; and for the first time in her knowl- edge of him she found his impassive facc crimson from collar to hair.
 So he had known of the girl this happening did mean something ,o l,g-. bo ,.oe o,,, ho orroccad Chn caf back, str ggling with faintness. Home seemed q worlds journey away, but she waAtei to get there-wanted her son | aby in l ,r arms, to feel the sweet ness . Id ipaocence of him close tc her. It Sould help her to think more wholesomely and sensibly. She had known when she married Per that there would be need, many times of all her common sense; and time had proved it so. But nothing-noth ing like this in her calculations or ex perience, If she could have patience patience and faith-the horror would pass without disaster. She meant to believe that it iodS ended; and Billy Trudell liked her-was concerned, be- yond doubt-and he would say to Pen all the sane, sharp. shaming things that only friend might say.
 You don't mind, really, do you, dear?" Pens eyes were on her, fond and solicitous as ever. You under stand, don't you?"
 T-understand," she managed, brave ly; but again her eyes went to Billy Trudell; and he, with an almost i'm perceptible frown, looked away.
 In a cab, at last, she let her smile end with a gasp of relief. Another 'quarter-hour and she felt she couldn't have kept up the pretense. And she wanted to keep it up! With a man of Pens sort it would be fatal 10 any livable future, openly to admit a breach: and it was the future with him as ne had been-for which she was ready to sacrifice everything, herself included. The righteous in- dignation" she expected momentarily 10 feel did not come to her. She felt but yearning love for him, and leaden ls.oorognt,oapt and ctinpinp hurt