The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-02
ny A. HOWARD GUNTFn-
Copyright. 1912, by the Associated
Literary Press.)


papers signed. and Margery Graham
and Henry Wade. whom God had
Joined together some eight years
earlier. were put asunder by Norton
IL Norton, as attorneys for the hus-
band. and young Kelley West, repre-
senting Mrs. Wade. The whole af-
fair. their friends agreed, had been
beautifully managed. incompauhillty
WAS the plea, and the only Disagree
able feature of the arrangement vas
that which nscessitated final meet
ing of the parties to the suit at tn"
ONCE of Norton & Norton.
Maygery had cried before the meet
ing. for II seemed absurd to think OF
Harry as not belonging TO her any
more, as marrying some other woman,
perhapg Then she had dried her
eyes, powder her nose ana put on
her most becoming suit, feeling that
Henry must be Ilade TO see that ne
was losing something precious; ana
-aaaketE by ef-bosena- fftenAT-tfsts
Whitmore. and on the arm or young
West, she had come to the appoint
ment with just that look OF reslSiiTd
martyrdom on hes face winch inc oe-
casion demanded.
Henry came to the meeting by him
self and looked frankly worn and
wretched, moreover. he made no at
tempt to ease the embarrassment ol
the situa ton, but was cold, grun ana
unnatural "a perfect brute, as Riia
said afterward with a congratulatory
squeeze OF Margery's hand.
Marxery went back to the mansion
that Aaarr- had built fer-heF when
they moved into town I'VE years pe-
fore, and. putting her head GOWN on
Polly Marie's curls, cried so that heF
fl.-li xsIa flt
sickled Polly Marie, and she laughed
suoh splendid. hearty gurgte thftt
Margcry had to laugh, too, though
she was very miserable. a burning
sense Of Indignation had upheld her
during the ordeal. but now that Henry
had granted all her demands the
transgressor had In some way 17ah-
aged To put her in the wrong. she was
sick Of life. she hated this tnarpl"
palace. which had been the scene OF
her troubles, and suddenly she re-
membered the little brown house.
She had not been there Tor years
because 1t was ever $? Tar out IN an
undeve,ouod suburb. that small, snug
home w1.re she and Henry had be-
gun housek eeping when they ran
away from their people and were
married years ago, Old Martha, her
nurse, lived there nov. aud kept
everything just as they had left ii, ,,
Dress Polly Marie for a walk,
she called TO the COVERINGS, and be
gan suffing things into her hand
bag.
the heavy clouds that were gathering
outside but her mistress was OBJ
durate.
There was a long trolley ride and
h q.
with Polly Marie. who had fallen
| sssfe4,,. hanging ffrsrpiys over ora
shoulder. and the bag humping
against hcr ankles In y most uncom-
gorta Bile way. Bur she struggled bFt%e
Nv on. for over the high stone Wall
IN the distance she could see the
gables OF her haven.
Through the iron gate, mp the long
walk. and then came dtsappointmeN'
| for the sitting-room shutters "crs
1 closed and Martha was evidently ho'
at home. A moment she paused y,
! conformation, then she recalled tht
/ 49, n basn ON the shutter of 1t t'sfc7
| rr,adep IL had been so long SINGS
| she VAS there that she had a4itl"S
/ Tnrp-o,ten. All sne had TO do WIS -
| climb on the garden bench, pun INV
! shutter open, and--there she WE
| Rut this was not SO easy WIZ
| t,o.ly Marie and the bag, ana cn,
| after two or three futile leaps- ar
| sh . reach the hedge and scrsamhiv -
| ths f,oor inside The sky had oasN,
| ened and great splashes or ram va
| falling. but from her vantage gi%"'
Margery leaned out and Called ue't' =,
| Nv. Rain away, rain away w iS
In our little brown house
From room to room she went ara
the house was full of memories
nice. donlesricated mernorles---IliA'
hoyerad about the linen closet anu
hurried from the kettle IN the stpHc
THE tiny bedrooms, dining FooA'
a sitting room and best---or worst
~ ali. Henry's den. AL mat door
she Storped II would be SO Carr ~
there. for the heavy panels heeuan
cherry fire 70 light them up nn
something like a Sob. she threw oi, e.
the door and caught her breati, w. ~
sheer low, A bright fire cracked OF
49, ,aar,h and the reading lamp
hroprht out warm lights from IA,
hrasses In the room. and in front -
| -ha Are. with his head buried IN hls
| hands, sat Henry. -
sui. of course, Henry should ne IL
| his den /, vas the most na.u
! thing I'm the world. SO, Please. sh.
! begged. may we come in2 Wef'
| treadfully cold"
Polly Marie emerged like fat bios
som. and Marg~ry stripped or th'
| damn stockings and held the tlnN
| pink toes 10 the fire. Then she SNUG
| gled deep into her chair, cuddiet
POLLY against her heart. ana signet
a long. deep sign,
| whispered.
Henry 1T his pipe and settled him
self deep in his arm chair.
Fright little. tight little. nest. ms
| answered. through clouds % smoke
and did not even pretend to ID
ashamed of such fooiishness.
"Oh. coy. cunning home, cr'ec
| Margery, with great content
| They sat for some time In sflenc.
while. outside, the storm roared ans
whlssled through the trees, A Viva,
| fash Of lighting tore the darkness
| mot afraid Of that" asked Henry
J, "a of old, :,
I She almost forgot what the an
swer should be. but got 1t OUT pe,'re
the pause was noticeable. Not ~neT
80 ., hara- she answsed. But
| H~nry. what are you doing mere
tbourht You had rooms at the cluo'
! which shows how much you kne"
about me. or cared he answered
yloomtly. I've been living here over
fvo months. with old Martha keep
| ing house for me. She's gone to nsi
| sick daughter tonight. When the
.ro,,hie got go bad"---he WINGED anc
smoke with lowered voice-I couian'1
| stand 1T, Marcy. ! bolted from I'M
| club one night and came back nome,
| He leaned over and touched one o.
/ PolIy's pink toes. "Fine kidae, ~