Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-12

almost harsh, and she advanced brusque-
ly-"such a beautiful carving a friend
brought me the other day from Japan;
YOU must see IL.
But Mrs Witherby seemed unaware of
any interruption. Turning the leaves OF
the volume she held. she whispered:
They are all marked-the ones he Is
always raving over and wanting TO read
aloud AS If uncon sciously, she turned
to the front of the volume, but suddenly
she closed it resolutely. and rising. ad-
vanced upon Miss Fletcher who had stood
waiting and watching her nervously l.
didn't look to see who gave 1t to YOU
she said II don't need to. know now.
You are the other woman. alwaH ;
knew there was one.
There always is one. sald MISS
Fletcher facing her gravelH.
Yes. Mrs Witherby conceded. but
for YOU he never would have had all
those whims. those tastes-if YOU IKE
that better. None of the rest-hs brotn :
ers and sisters-have them TINS room -
full of his fads. she went or, sweeping
it with unfriendly eyes. Why. Just now
when YOU took away those lilies with
such lool. of disgust. i, came over me-
in flash He can't endure Their per
wanted them for my wedding bouquet
but even then / had to give them up,
didn't know why. But ] hno" now! sue
added bitterly Il, vas because YOU
didn't like them,
didn't suggested Miss Fletcher,
No no. Men don't have those fancles
He's queer because YOU made hlm 50
And I have to be queer-as far as can.
because YOU We're So It's insullns-
And. droppins upon couch. Mrs With
erby turned her head away ana iet he'
eyes gaze into vacancy.
Il saw him week or two ago. the
other woman began from her seat across
the room NO. | mean saw him sne
repa.t.d NitharbN started ana
looked up Please understand that
had no suspicion he was living mere Wneil
| happened on this pace. He was walk
ing that day | saw him. and | passed MN
in cab. He id not look Very queer as
YOU call it, l wondered if it could be he
I don't believe ! hurt MN very much. He
has grown stout. and he looked comfort
able and--pardon me- since we are speak
ing so very frankly-a little bored
He is comfortable. asserted the wife:
II hope to make him So And if he is
bored sometimes. why. are all men
after they've been married and settled
half a dozen years-f they are happy
"He-says soo
.'He doesn't need to say So answered
Mrs. Witherby. the color rising in her
cheeks. II can Sc it for myself.
"Oh. yes. of course. conceded Miss
Fletcher. and rising. she began TO pace
up and down. speaking in her low, sweet
voice as if unconscious of the other wom-
ans presence. 1T was such beautiful
time she sighed. "A dream filled with
visions of springtime. Every smallest
atom in my whole body lived and eXulted
in living-and what | felt, he felt. ! had
only to look in his eyes to be sure of it,
Her voice had risen with the rising tide
of memory. and she stood. smiling. saZ-
ing straight into the vision she had
evoked.
half-stified cry called her back. If
ii was all SO beautiful said the other
woman. why didn't YOU go on?"
do dreams go on" The exquisite
voice was very gentle now. They seem
TO last thousand years while We are
dreaming them: their memory is often a
part of our lives. but when we wake
they are gone like bubble that bursts.
1t was dream. a mirage of youth. There
is nothing to waste any tears on, belleNe
me- He had to go to work. had his way
to make, had you to marry by and by.
had my vocation calling to me. j could
not stay any longer for a circumstance
dreams do not last" AS sch spoke sac
crossed the room, and. dropping to her
the fair one that was half buried in the
pillows.
Don't you see that it was a Dream
she whispered. gently. A dream-noth-
ing more. And don't you see that If l
am the other woman he was another
man? The man you married YOU have
always had-he was never mine And.
she added. rising to her feet. mine was
never yours.
Yes, perhaps So and Mrs. Witherby.
rising also. ignored the traces of her
tears. and smiled a rather crooked little
smile But all the same l have to live
with your Keats and your Botticellis.
and-and. go without my lilies" she end
ed. whimsically.
And II" asked the other. holding out
her hand. lis there nothing ] must go
without? 1t is the common lot. Goodbye.
Count on me for the babies.
(THE END