The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-10-26

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quarter Of a mile"
II should prefer to walk II 1t were
ten miles," said Annabelle easily.
Hurry up. please; it's cold on this
platform"
81 beg your pardon" uttered Gail
hopelessly as he turned away.
During the short walk to the low
rooted coy home the Irvings had built
Miss Drage uttered not a word Gail
did not break into the reverie that
seemed to envelop her. She walked
with free. mannish stride that was
very obnoxious to violet's husband.
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 dignifled by the
name Of library and which was his
own especial retreat. During the In
vasion Of relatives 1t was the only
maven OF refuge for both of the young
home makers
Now Gail tossed of his outer gar
ments and looked at the coy little fire
his wife had kindled on the hearth.
BLESS her sweet hearth 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 di6ident 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
f1uency that his little wife was filled
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 Violet's 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 1t was that his smile
was coldly polite, but he had smiled
and she was his wife.
Violet was wretchedly trying to
make up her mind to run away and
thus rid her husband OF such q stupid
little helpmate. Every day she told
herself that If Gail had met Anna
belle first be would have married the
brilliant college girl instead Of her
cousin. If she went away perhaps
Gall 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
a sleepless night and looked miserable.
well. and she had scarcely had word
with him since the previous morning
Annabelle had played to him all the
evening-played the pieces that Violet
usually phyed-while he accompanied
her with the violin. The cousins ate
the meal in silence.
Nora entered with telegram for
Miss Drage. Annabelle tore 1t open
and read it with frown gathering on
her dark forehead.
81 am called home at once. must
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 a chaos OF
packed and corded trunks and bags.
Violet danced delightedly through the
hall and suddenly paused with a
scared smile on her face.
What II Annabelle had gone to Join
GALL Suppose the telegram had been
from him! She few up the stairs
into Annabelle's room and searched
the waste paper basket feverishly.
A 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
ina form she sat and stared at the
words. a growing horror In her eyes:
Miss AnnabeIIe Drage. suburbanville,
N Y:
If 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! Violet'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 thing!' she cried.
"You must go to bed ut once, Gail.
and will send for DR.. Blake. No one
khall nurse you but me. and-why,
what are you laughing att"
my dearest" said Gail solemnly, 81
knew nothing save the smallpox would
scare a selfish person like your cousin
Annabelle. and yet didn't say ! had
1t. you know-just reread the message.
Well. I've come down-after you'll