Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-27

it had been occasicned by the
most triling circumstance. Lionel had
refused to say thank you for some
thing she had done for him. and his
Lionel kept on refusing, and Jerome
had kept on insisting. Finally. de-
spite her protest he had turned the
little boy over his knee and spanked
him soundly. But Lionel still would
not obey. He on sobbed himself into
fever and exhaustion. Jerome said
he needed further correction. Then she
had f1ared up. They had had bitter
time of it In the end Jerome d:
Bring him up to suit yourself and see
what comes of it. iii have no more
to do with him" He hid kept his
word, and she was very glad he had.
She had always got along nicely with
Lionel. He was of a peculiar DISPOSE
ed. Humor him and he was a darling.
She had always tried to humor him.
Augusta Sands always had felt that
her husband was wrong in this treat
right. His attitude constantly Of
Tended her. She had become very
cold to him on Lioners account and
Lionel was cold to him on his own ac-
count. Jerome was often the third
wheel, unnecessary and disagreeably
in the way. But it was condition
that he had brought about himself by
his own lack of perspicacity.
Augusta Sands finished dressing and
some one come in and was certain
that it must be Lionel Instead she
found her husband in the library. He
was standing beside the table with
his hands in his pockets, staring at the
electrolier.
Pausing at the curtained doorway,
Augusta suddenly was aware Jerome
was getting old a good deal faster
than she was His hair was thin and
grazing. his shoulders were a little
stopped, and with an distracted
troubled look on his face, he appeared
wan. almost haggard. She felt pang
of regret He had been fine young
man. and she had loved him when
she married him. For a long time
loved him or not He was her hus-
band; she had him. But now it came
to her suddenly that she might not
have him long. He looked ILL., The
sight of him disturbed her. He had
never been i'll, and that he should
now be sick was poignant menace to
her. She went to him and laid her
hand on his shoulder. He did not turn
his eyes or change his expression, yet
it was a good while since she had
given him SO much sympathy even in a
touch.
Aren't you feeling well. Jerome"
she asked.
A long breath auivered through him,
and he slowly turned his gaze upon
her. She had a curious fancy, how
ever, that he did not see her any more
than he had seen the electrolier
Answer me. Are you sick?" She
was irritably persistent.
No my dear; no."
But something's the matter. You
look frightfully. Are you worrying
about your business?"
He smiled wryly. mo. no. The bust
ness is sound as nut.
Augusta hitched her shoulders reXed-
ly Her sympathy dissolved in ex-
ASPIRATION. She walked over to the
mantlepiece and shifted an ornament
with an impatient hand. She felt that
she had been repulsed unjustly; that
Jerome was keeping something away
from her. She hated secrets. On this
evening, when she had looked forward
to being so mentally comfortable. this
had happened to upset her when
jerome was present. Lionel now-but
where was Lionel? He was late. The
clock said So And it was quite time to
serve dinner. All, there was Lionel
now! She started toward the door.
Then a strange thing happened. Her
husband made 4 quick movement and
got before her. He almost roughly
pushed her aside. Wait! I'll answer
that" he said.
He almost ran into the hall. She went
after him as quickly as she could. but
when she got there the door was open