The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-29

II VAS ADlp 10 arrive tiCh III al ~
twenty-four hours before | was
i expected there. | went To my own
house dressed and dncd alone,
without letting her know of my return;
for | had IA desire to surprise her pleas
andy in the middle of an evening which
| WAS sure she. also alone, would be
sp nding in anticipation.
I could picture mentally the scene
OF that surprise: just how | would enter
her houdor and just how she. rising.
perhaps dropping a book, surely utter
ing a little Charact, ristc cry, would
hasten flutter!ng across the room and
cuvclop me suddenly in the delicate and
unique odcr of her invariable perfume.
once or twice while dining the details
Of this imaginative scene raised in me
such tremor Of nervous impatienc~
that I was seized with n peculiar local
fain;noss which seemed to centre in the
solar pleXus 1t was only after de-
termin,dy changing my thoughts that
| could recover suffice ~ app Ute TO
finish my dinner
While smoking afterward at a chance
thought | abandoned abruptly all fur
Their pretence of nonchalanCe. | set
out at once to see her, which | had not
at all intended to do y t. Although l
had rather a long distance to 20 |
started walking, for the idea Of sitting
motionless in "A carriage was just then
irsupportable. All the nervous energy
which So far | had suppressed with d.f-
ficulty under tn. check of slow move
m"nt and corr Ct demcanor suddenly in
the dark and nearly empty street broke
out. l expended il in the eXtrava CANT
vigor with which | set forth. My ges-
lures of effort while walking must cer-
tainly on that account have been gro-
tesqu,ly exaggerated and curious.
Finally arrived at her house ant
rang the bell. The DOR WIS opened by
whom l had expected; dark, lean
thoroughly sophist ',ted looking fellow
in plain livery. iie had the heavy
pale olive checks, tie blue chin and the
close clipped black de Vh.Skers which
in combination recall tie impudentlS
handsome faces OF bulltightcrs. His
wide. mobile mouth was exactly Suitabl,
for the expression. 10y comedians on th'
vaudeville stage and servants behint
their masters backs OF a variety OF
imHertinenCeS.
Eut when he identified mo ne lost i'm
IN diately the SNUG. confident air whicl
he had brought TO tn" door. He stoo,
for a moment quite mot.oul IS, hloCk!u-
the way and staring at me in a peculiar
almost childish, manner, Then h. re
covered himself and stepped back will
an indistinct apology, but not before hi
behavior had conveyed to me vagu
f cling of disappointment and irrita
t!On.
entered the little square hall. deco
rated according To her own fancy viii
dun gold panels and japanese dwar
trees In yellow pots Many times whel
she and 7 had come into it late at nigh
from some opera or theatre she hat
cried out with fresh delight at its softl!
Illuminated, mellow Co2iness; ''Hov
good to he home" and J. agreeing, ha
felt thrill almost as though from al
exquisite. complete domesticty which
we could never have.
But tonight I found suddenly tina
for me the hall had nothing at all o
that quality. / tried 10 convince mysel
that it did not now seem unnatural.
cold and empty, hut ] could not do SC
My return, after all my anticipation, wa
being suhtly robbed of its charms D.s
turhed by this thought as ! let the ser
want take my hat and coat, ] asked hin
mechanically if his mistress was in he
boudOir.
unfortunately, madame is out" he re
Piled with a little cough He went o
hurriedy to say that he believed sh
had gone to a play. Two ladies and
gentleman had come for her, II" name
the ladies' glibly. ut is very unfortu
nate" he kept repeating, and finish"
by saying. but ! am sure madame d
not expect you back till tO-morro,
night" He looked at me inquisitive'N
While the fellow was talking I stoo
staring at him as though he We're re
counting To me some real calamity.
had an almost siCkeninS sensation {
disappointment. I felt that after m
intense expectation the delay no'
necessary before | could see her woul
be nearly insupportahle. Then the ide
of her being beyond reach at my retu"
to her and enjoying herself in the com
pany Of strangers-an occupation so dii
fercnt from the flattering one had pic
tured to myself-woke in me an ur
reasonable jealousy and resentment,
1t is true that this jealousy wa m
terrifying, as 1t might have been If
had felt any real apprehension. PEI
haps less than true jealousy it was a
aroused sclhshness, an irritable intolcI
anCe of any pleasure she might rocclN
from others instead of myself NeV1
thcless of whatever exact quality tn
emotion was, a distinct desire for r.
tallatiun succeeded it,
] determined that when she return
after her evening of gayoty she shou
find me waiting for her, cool, perfect
collected, prepared to abolish by subt