The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-08-19

toyial goodnight to the group of choice
spirits there congregated and turned
homeward. II was midnight when he
reached his house and as he carefully
inserted the key in the lock he
Sreathed hopeful prayer that this
time his wife of year had not wait
ed up for him OF late he had formed
an unregenerate habit of spending
two or three evenings a week away
from home. though Ina never re-
preached him. and invariably met him
with the cheerful smile.
AS he entered the darkened hallway
he heaved a sigh of thankfulness. All
was still. For the first time in their
year together there was no soft little
. rush from the den upstairs, no dim
pied face thrust over the banister to
greet him. Yet such is the incon-
sistency of man that once an oddly
neglected feeling seized him. The
knowledge that Ina could have at last
grown 80 Indifferent as to go peace
fully to bed and to sleep while he was
still straying happily in the outer
darkness of the night came to him
with something of shock.
He opened the bedroom door softly.
The bed had not been disturbed. He
passed into the dressing room. On
the bureau lay a note. He seized 1t
in something of panic.
Il have gone out" he read. Il may
be late. Don't wait up"
The deuce!" he muttered, even as
he breathed a gusty sigh of relief At
any rate it wasn't a tragedy-or
scandal. But what the dickens
Gone where?
At that moment the hall door
closed sharply. Light footsteps
mounted the stairs. A moment later
Ina swept into the room. neck and
shoulders cleaning In her prettiest
gown. eyes sparkling. cheeks flushed
like q rose
Where have you been?" demand
ed Ina's lord
Out amusing myself" returned Ina
fiippantly. She came over and kissed
him Poor boy" she cooed, have
you been waiting long? told you
to go to bed"
Il want to know where you've
been." persisted Jimmy doggedly.
DO / ever ask where you've been?"
mo. but that's different"
Yes. that's different" mimicked
Ina
Jimmy sat still. morosely regarding
her.
Il haven't done anything to bring
discredit to the sacred name of Lam
ming" she informed him, IF that's
what you're afraid of. But I'm not
going to SIT around here like a silly
dummy while you go OF and have fun.
I'm going to have some myself"
In the days that followed curiosity
and suspicion tortured Jimmy. The
thing happened twice again in the
next week, but never could he force
from Ina the latest inkling of where
she had been.
The third time he found the explain
atory note on his dressing table he
turned and went swiftly downstairs
again. determined to watch for her
return and discover what he could
but just az he he turned the corner Of
the stairway Ina closed the hall door
He thought that she looked distinctly
startled and somewhat confused. He
strobe to the door and threw II open
No one was In sight
Where have you been?" he de-
manded. angrily. and with whom? I
insist on knowing"
Really? Well, If you must know
where ! am in the evenings. Jimmy
dear. you'd better stay at home and
| find out"
Stay at home and find out. That
gave him an idea. To tell the truth
his convfvial evenings abroad were
beginning to lose their zest now that
his subconsciousness was robbed of
the peaceful picture of his wife sitting
at home in dreamy alteration. eagerly
waiting his return. He was ami to
grow morose and depart early. For
Jimmy loved his wife sincerely in his
mans way. Relations began to grow
strained between him and Ina
A few nights later he announced
that some Of his old classmates were
having reunion and that he would
pc late getting back, kissed Ina.
tramped down the stairs and banged
the hall door. A moment later he
slipped into the darkened reception
room on the right, drew chair to the
window facing the street and sat down.
Low down trick to spy on her." he
muttered, but. by Jove! I've got to
know where she goes"
The minutes passed. Nine O'Clock
came-ten-ten-thirty. No sound came
from upstairs.
"Confound it," muttered Jimmy. Got
fooled that time. Well, she won't go
out this late. Might as well go to
sleep till midnight and then let on l
just got back"
He threw himself on a couch and
promptly slept
In the meantime Ina, lounging COM