The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-08
BY BELLE MANDATES.
Copyright. 1912. by the Associated
Literary Press.)

yiyian's keen sense told her that
the first signs of lost illusions were
visible in her liege lord. He had be-
come used to her beauty and his pride
in posses sion. He was naturally cold
and cynical. and her girlish. affection-
ate nature had made the first impress
sion On his impassivity. In the usual
course of affairs his coldness. she con-
cluded, vows naturally Increase. Her
keen insight showed her where the
trouble lay. She had been too easily
won---too anxious to please. him. she
should make him Jealous Then she
realized with sigh that she could not.
even TO rekindle his love, bring her
self To t1irt with any one.
Finally she decided to have an i'm
aginery absent lover. Then she would
not harm any one else--or herself.
Her husband coming into her sitting
room one afternoon found her looking
terderly at an object she held in her
hand.
He made no comment. and she
quickly slirped it back into a drawer
in her desk.
Il have been looking" che said,
with a flush for her deception, at
some OF my sirlhood keepsakes.
His indifference was stirred.
"Ob. then that WAS picture OF an
old sweetheart you were gazing
upcr?"
well. 7 suppose you might call him
that" she replied. with reminiscent
smile and deprecating manner. He
lived across The street from us when
we were children, and we grew up
together. He was two years older than
me-
Well" he asked sarcastically. as
she raused. what became of him.
I'VE went 10 school together Then
he went TO COLLEGE. I Went abroad,
ard--well you know how people come
and go in your life
And you told me-" he blurted,
"thnt l Was the first
How foolish | was" she thought.
10 have told him anything like that.
But there are n'anv things a woman
can't learn until she has been mar
RED
"Oh," she said aloud. "A boy and
eirl affair. Valentines and all that
Stiffness, YOU know--hardly counts as
a Ie.-n aFaIr" D.
whats his Nance" he demanded.
s1fer Guonaam sweetheart was rap
idly assuming tangible proportions.
She had no idea he would bite" so
quickly and easily. She ran over in
her memory the scores OF boys whom
she had known in the way SHE men
toned. She had said that he lived
across the street though. With the
delightful Inconsistency of her sex
she strove to adhere as nearly as
possible to the truth while In the
webs OF deceit. She recalled the
cognomen of boy who had lived on
the opposite side OF the street.
Harry Walters" she said, linger-
Ing tenderly on the name.
show me the picture you were
n'oonIng over when I came in.
should Ike to see what your youns
fancy chose"
She opened the drawer and selected
a picture of a cousin, a youth OF
eighteen. who lived In the far West
This IL he. Harry" she said. find
the recollection that her cousins
name was Harry.
He scowled at the delicate features
and threw the picture down vindic-
lively.
1T strikes me-" he said. with an
air NJ cold displeasure. that you are
rather sentimental for married
woman"
She laughed lightly. We'll, Hugh,
why not? But II Is time to dress.
We dine at Mrs, Gordon's tonight,
you know
who will be there7"
THE Lant.jons. Maude Wilbur.
Arthur Beauchamp and some others.
1t is given for>a girl from Los An
geles who is visiting at the Gordons. /"
The last arrival at the dinner was
stalwart. weli-set-up man, whom
the hostess finally brought to Vivian
as she stood talking to the CUES. O.
honor. Maude Nelson
Harry" said Mrs. Gordon sweetly,
I want you particularly to know
Mrs Avery. Mr.. Walters. Vivian"
Vivian blushed with pleasure.
oh" she cried excitedly. Il am
sure-yes. you are the Harry Walters
VINO lived across the street from US
IN 'ostoria''
"And you are Vivian Alien. You
haven't changed In the least"
Il am so glad l arranged for you
to go in to dinner together" ex-
claimed Mrs. Gordon.
Hugh" called Vivian to her hus-
. hand. who stood nearby with an in
scrutable expression on his face,
come here. I want you to meet Mr..
Walters Such a coincidence! I
was telling you about him this after
noon"
Hugh coldly acknowledged the in
"a o0dCtAous
i should hardly know you from
The picture of YOU that my wife treas
ures." he remarked
Vivian felt Mrs. Gordon's surprise.
as well az that OF Miss Nelson. She
| Ill., met dare lock. at Harry Walters
until she heard him say:
Oh. did you keep that photo
graph all this time? l hope / have
Nhanged in appearance since that
time
She was very grateful to him, and
,urning to look at him. an idea came
70 her which made her eyes dance
ter husband, with Miss Nelson. sat
opposite her and her ''schoolboy
sweetheart" at dinner. Vivian racked
her brain for "reminiscences. Finding
aens' flor Of all the boys who aattend-
the academy when she did. she
aad known him the least), she orig
mated several. To her delight and
amusement. he not only responded
aagerly, but followed un her lead
with much more thrilling memories
You did not answer the letter I
wrote you when you were In Italy,
he said, rerroachfully.
Indeed. ] did," she replied, earnest
y. "tut long. long afterward | learn
ID that the train to Cherhourg had
burned"
OH" he said. his eyes full of re-
greet.
As he became more attentive and
impressive in manner. and she caught