Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-14
By JOHN EDWARD MCCARTHY

the great void that makes you feel So But don't be
silly 1t means only that when she comes she will be
wonderful The void is shrine dear to you
that you would not place there image of common
clay. l understand: Robert has told me all about it.
Besides girls-but that's of your business, Sir
1t the first time the subject had ever been
toned between them, and for the first time in her pres
ence Stevens lost his assumed complacence. He was
looking into her eyes with queer, puzzled expression
upon his face. She returned the glance, smiling for
moment; then the smile died away and she felt sud-
den of shame This shame angered her; but at
herself not at Augustus Stevens recovered himself first
His head shot suddenly erect as if electrified.
@I-I was thinking"
@You-you almost frightened me- she interrupted
with effort and trying to smile. 4Dont get to work
ing my sympathies." She smote him gaily the
with the book she still holding in her hand.
The book fell between them, and they both stopped to
pick it up Their shoulders met forcefully and Mrs.
Barter lost her balance Stevens made quick forward
movement, and she was being raised in his
Stevens cad. The woman anothers wife;
he did desire her He of the sort
himself that she belonged to him by right. He merely
considered that somehow she should have belonged
him. Yet he had failed in that brief embrace to conceal
that which perceive so quickly. The touch, the
contact had betrayed him. She too, in subtle way
not lostupon Stevens had betrayed something They
stood facing each other guilty. The moment was
premey tense and queer for BOTH having acted guity
felt of guilt. Rather they felt confusion, each
feeling guilt only in the eyes of the other Mrs. Barter
was the first to speak.
AUGUSTUS, I-you-I think turned my ankle
Z little"
You simply didn't know what else to say. Let be
honest. We never could be the same now Tomorrow
I'm going away from here. 1 have intended to do
ever since you came 1--we been fool. I shouldn't
have remained day-at least until got over it"
Augustus, what you saying?"
Gplease don't Dretend not to know I have dissent
bled long enough. Even you-just now-oh, there's
something funny about it all!'
Il know made fool of myself Gus; but surely
you-you can't misunderstood me- II love my hus-
band-you know it. Why-why, what a subject
for us"
1--WE won't discuss it. Laura. Let it rest where it is
You know now, and know more surely than ever
Augustus, do you mean"
3No, Laura, don't mean that you love know
that you love your husband But it's plain enough
that had the gods
Augustus, how dare you? Nc-forgive don't
that. And yet I'm ashamed for not meaning it.
1--we sort of lost my head. But, Gus, there
could have been any man for me but Robert feel it
in every fiber of my being
II know, and yet there's something uncanny about
it. There is solution; let this be the end of it.
1t is nothing to you, you who love your husband So
The catac1ysm is all NINE"
@Gus, this is awful! You, whose ideals almost god
like to experience the vulgar emotion of love for-for
me! I was married when you first me. How could
such thing happen to your
aYou were not married when first you. That's
where lose. The mystery is why do l. how !, who
never believed in the endurance of love that is
mutual who don't believe in it now still know that you
are the woman, even though you the wife
of another man.
aYou had seen me before? Where?n
3At Bar Harbor."
aBar Harbor?" Mrs Barters brow gathered in
further perplexty
eyes. Can you forget3 Surely you haven't been
resc,,ed often