The Press., 1912-01-03

 u1e u ner IU nave LnaL waln4ng uwI here I'll try to be decent to her. At the noon dinner Violet presided, rosily beautiful, timidly difident in the presence of the guest Miss Drage greeted her host with an abstracted smile.
 Before the end of the meal he was discussing the Persian poets with such fuency 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 we'll known fact. Gail had winced, 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 make up her mind to run away and thus rid her husband of such stupid little helpmate. Every day she told herself that if 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 played 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 it open and read it with a frown gathering on her dark forehead.
 q am called home at once. I 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 scared smile on her face.
 What if Annabelle had gone to join Gail! Suppose the telegram had been from him! She flew up the stairs into AnnabeIle'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 lpiec- ing them together. When shek had pasted the torn message into its brig inal form she sat and stared at the words, growing horror in her eyes: Miss Annabelle Drage. SuburbaIgville
 N. Y.:
 If you have never had smallpox leave the house at once Am coming dowr.
 GAIL IRVING.
 Her husband coming down with smallpox and she would not ;have known save for this telegram td 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 at once, Gail, and will send for Dr. Blake. No one shall nurse you but me, and-why, what are you laughing at?''
 My dearest" said Gail solemnly, "l knew nothing save the smallpox would scare selfish person like your cousin Annabelle, and yet didn't say T had it, you know-just reread the message. We'll. Eve come down-after you! Pack your trunk and let us run down to Atlantic City for few days and recover from Annabelle's visitation
 Il was sure you were attracted by her cleverness," lamented Violet. land believed you were ashamed of me because am so simple and domestic and''-
 That's why I married you" re- marked Gail loftily. q admire that sort of women. Had enough of An nabelle, or shall we send for her to come back?'
 "Oh, forgot-I must telephone for the man to come after her trunksv' said Violet, and so Gail had his an SweP.