Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-28


accustomed to were replaced
by single shabby surrey at
tached to pair of lean, gray
horses whose stless driver huddled the front seat
and sucked the sodden, 6reless stump of cigar
couple of boys blowing their red hands and staring
her unabashed the only occupants of the plat
form. Beyond stretched the deserted village street,
looking bleak and inhospitable through its leafess
trees.
aMaplewood," said she briefly, naming her summer
home miles away, she stepped into the surrey.
The smooth, winding shore road skmming the low,
wooded hills with the unduating flight of swallow,
beautiful even when shorn of its verdure
but Clara Brant had eyes for it today. Maplewood
ITSELF indeed with its boarded windows and doors and
strawswathed shrubs looked gaun and cherries to her
At the hooded west entrance, opening directly INTO
her private SUITE she by Freda the careakers
wife, and ushered into her sitting room, where gen.
wood fire emanated warmth and coziness. The
plump, blue-eyed Teuton, with the familiarity OF
privileged servant chided her Mistress she received
her wraps for having used public conveyance instead
of telegraphng Chris to meet her at the station Then
she hustled about the room, she impaired some I'M
portant woodland news. Three robins still tarried on
the place. feeding and roosng tangle of wild grape
vines. flock of evening grosbeaks had appeared the
day before; and the week before the ninth of Janu-
airy, Chris had seen chpmunk.
4Fine!" was Clara's comment.
But Freda, who knew her lady like book, perceived
that it not fine-ust now,-that something had
gone awry So, Withholding further items of the feath
cred and furred denizens of Maplewood until more
suspicious hour, she retired as soon as possible.
CLARA was no sooner alone than she dropped into
chair before her teakwood escritore. After
period of tattoong upon her faultless teeth
with pearl penstock she wrote:
DEAR CAL
Then came another pause and glance about the
room. 1t reflected her outdoor tastes at score OF
ponts-in the sprays of bittersweet and hign-bush
cranberry gathered the autumn before, but still aunt
ing their tiny coral lanterns, hummngbrds nest sad
died section of honeysuckle stem, binocular,
botanical collecting butterfly net pair of target
pistols And CAL her husband she reflected sorowfuly
scarcely knew song sparrow from brown thrasher!
Otherwise, she might not be writing this letter.
She continued:
thought take this solitude formulate my
thoughts; but with the train dust scarcely off my hands,
find them already formed. Indeed suspect they have
long been formed.
The reading of this letter pain you than its
writing pains Yet believe that nothing it contains
will come a surprise to you.
Not to beat about the bush, you realize that
marriage is failure. There may be more than
reason for it; but enough childess learned
a week ago from Dr. Colt what you have known for
than year and chartably though mistakenly with
held from methat shall in all probability bear
child You love children, every good does You
entitled to wife who can give them to you.
She paused and wiped her flowing eyes.
You have striven noby pain; that is to
cea change of heart from But it inpos-
sble task As well try conceal the setting of
The sad truth has filtered out from thousand
looks. gestures, wordsunti feel of the fact if
! had read it in letters of blood
l have plans. You will know the legal steps be
taken divorce will be very painful and humiating
both; but pain and humiliation ALL in form
another. and firmly and unaterably of the opinion
though would rather sacrifice my right arm-that
divorce only wise honest and courageous course
left us. The rest does not matter.
cta11b