The Lambertville record., 1911-10-06


He liked little, soft, feminine women
with bronze brown hair and dark blue
eyes Annabelle Drage was tall and
thin, with an almost too erect carriage.
Violet welcomed her with nervous
pleasure, while Gail escaped to the lit
tie room they had dignifed by the
name of library and which .was his
own especial retreat During the In
vasion of relatives 1t was the only
haven of refuge for both of the young
home makers.
Now Gail tossed of his outer gar
ments and looked at the cozy little fire
his wife had kindled on the hearth.
BLESS her sweet heartr' he murmured.
somewhat Modified. IF it's any pleas
ure to her to have that walking owl
here I'll try to be decent to her."
At the noon dinner Violet presided,
rosily beautiful, timidly diffident in
the presence of the guest Miss Drage
greeted her host with an distracted
smile.
Before the end of the meal he was
discussing the Persian poets with such
tiuency that his little wife was filed
to bursting with pride.
That was the beginning of Violet's
unhappiness. for every night after
dinner found Annabelle accompanying
Gail to the library, where they dis
cussed art and literature and the sci
ences until poor little Violet, sitting
mutely by with her embroidery frame.
grew vaguely Jealous of the cousin
who was monopoliZing her husbands
attention. The whole order of the
little home was changed to accord
with the leisurely habits of Miss Drage,
who regarded her cousin with tolerant
contempt. Once or twice she had
openly laughed at Violets confessed
ignorance of some well known fact.
Gail had WINGED. but what had al
most broken the heart of his bride was
the fact that he made no effort to take
her part. True it was that his smile
was coldly polite, but he had smiled
and she was his wife.
Violet was wretchedly trying TO
Ahdht UP utl " AWAY anu
thus rid her husband Of such q stupid
little helpmate. Every day she told
herself that IL Gail had met Anna
belle first he would have married the
brilliant college girl instead Of her
cousin. If she went away perhaps
Gail could get divorce
One morning after Gail had caught
his train for town Violet and her
cousin were lingering over the late
breakfast necessitated by Miss Drage's
luxurious habits. Violet had passed
sleepless night and looked miserable.
Gail had kissed her carelessly In fare
WELL and she had scarcely had word
with him since the previous morning.
Annabelle had played to him all the
evening-playe1 the pieces that Violet
usually played while he accompanied
her with the violin. The cousins ate
the meal in silence.
Nora entered with a telegram for
Miss Drage. Annabelle tore 1t open
and read 1t with frown gathering on
her dark forehead
pack my things, and you may send
them after me-" she said abruptly, ris-
ing from the table.
A half hour later she had left the
house, and her room was chaos of
packed and corded trunks and bags.
Violet danced delightedly through the
hall and suddenly paused with
scared smile on her face
What if Annabele had gone to join
Gail! Suppose the telegram had been
from him. She flew up the stairs
into Annabelle's room and searched
the waste paper basket feverishly.
handful Of yellow scraps was her
reward. and she carried them down to
the library and spent an hour in piec-
ing them together. When she had
pasted the torn message into its orig
inal form she sat and stared at the
words, growing horror in her eyes:
Miss Annabelle Drage. Suburbanville,
N. Y:
II you have never had smallpox leave
the house at once. Am coming down.
GAIL IRVING.
Her husband coming down with
smallpox and she would not have
known save for this telegram to her
cousin! yiolet's face dropped on her
arms, but was lifted eagerly as her
husbands step sounded In the hall,
and instantly he was in the room and
her head was on his shoulder.
"Oh, you poor, poor thingw she cried.
"You must go to bed at once, Gail,
and | will send for DR. Blake. No one
shall nurse you but me, and-why,
what are you laughing atf"
my dearest" said Gail solemnly, Il
knew nothing save the smallpox would
scare selfish person like your cousin
Annabelle, and yet | didn't say / had
It, you know-just reread the message.
Well. I've come down-after you!
Pack your trunk and let us run down
to Atlantic City for few days and
recover from Annabelle's visitation"
'T was sure you were attracted by
her cleverness." lamented Violet. "and
I believed you were ashamed Of me
because I am so simple and domestic
and
That's why married you," re-
marked Gall loftily. II admire that
sort Of women. Had enough of An
nabelle, or shall we send for her to
come backY'
"Oh, forgot-I must telephone for
the man to come after her trunksw
said Violet, and so Gail had his an