The Washington herald., 1914-06-07
She did not alter her attitude. ~wenr'

she said. s-.s.-s-
rs IT to be nightT' he asked.
Aubrey vair was rather pale. He had
been having bad nights latterIy, with
dreams Of the Continental Express, Mr..
Aubrey vair possibly even In pursuit.
he always fancied her making the trss-
edy ridiculous by tearfully bringing "a.
ditional pairs Of socks and any such
trifes he had forgotten with her-all
Reisate and Redhill In commotion. He
had never eloped before, and he haA
visions Of difieuities with hotel proprss-
tors. Mrs. Aubrey vair might telegraph
ahead. Even he had had a prophetic
vision Of q headline In a halfpenny even.
ing newspaper: Young Lady Abducts .
his voice as he asked. rs it to be nightf"
"As you will" she answered. still not
looking at him
II want you to consider particularly
how this will affect you man." said
Aubrey VAR. slowly. and staring hard
at the leaves in his hand. "even gains
a certain eclat in these affairs But to
a woman II Is ruin-social, moral"
This is not love" said the Eiri in
white.
Stupid she said. under her breath.
You spoker'
Nothing"
But cannot we go on meeting one an
other. loving one another. without any
great scandal or misery? Could we not
That" interrupted Miss Smith. would
be unspeakably horrible"
This Is dreadful conversation to me.
Life Is so intricate. such a web of subtle
strands binds US this way and that. Z
cannot tell what is right. You must con-
sider-''
A man would break such strands"
There is no manliness." said Aubrey
Vair' with sudden glow Of moral ex-
altation. ''in doing wrong Ny love-
We could at least die together. dear.
esq" she said discontentedIy.
Good Lord said Aubrey vair. Il
mean-consider my wife"
You have not considered her hither-
to-"
There is a havor-of cowardice. Of
desertion, about suicide said Aubrey
Vair. Frankly. have the English pref
udice. and do not like any kind of run
ming away"
Miss Smith smiled very family. II sec
clearly now what I did not see. NY love
and yours are very different things
Possibly it Is a sexual difference"
said Aubrey vair; and then. feeling the
remark inadequate. he relapsed into ST.
lence
They sat for some time without q
word. The two lights in Reizate below
multiplied to a score of bright points.
and. above. one star had become visible.
She began laughing. an almost noiseless
hysterical laugh that Jared unaccount-
ably upon Aubrey vair.
Presently she stood I'D. They xu,
wonder where I am" she said. ct think
I must be going"
ne followed her to the road. Then
this is the end he said. with a cur;ou.
mixture Of relief and poignant rerre,
fes. this Is the end" she an,v.r.d-
and turned away.
There straishtway dropped into N.
soul Of Aubrey vair a sense Of in6,,,.
loss 1t was an altogether new sensa-
ton. She was perhaps twenty wards
away. when he groaned aloud with tn.
weight OF 1t and suddenly began run
ming after her with his arms extended.
Annie" he cried-"Annie, I bav.
been talking rot. Annie. now I know
love YOU 1 cannot spare you This must
not be. I did not understand"
The weight was horrible,
Oh. stop. Annie he cried. with
breaking voice, and there were tear. ON
his face
She turned upon him suddenly, with a
look Of annoyance. and his arms fell bv
his side. His expression changed a, IN.
sight Of her pale face.
You do not understand" she said. Il
have said good-by"
She looked at him; he was eviS.n,,v
greatly distressed. a little out OF breath,
and he had Just stopped blubberinr. HI,
contemplate quality reached the pa
thetic. She came up close to him. and.
taking his damp Byronic visase between
her hands. she kissed him again and
again. ''Good-by, little man that loved.
she said: "and sood-by to this folly Of
love"
Then. with something that may have
been laugh or a sob-she herself. when
she came to write 1t all In her novel, did
not know which-she turned and hurried
away again. and went out Of the path
that Aubrey vair must pursue, at the
cross roads
Aubrey Vair stood. where she had kisse
ed him. with a mind as Inactive as his
body. until her white dress had disap.
peared. Then he gave an involuntary
sigh. a large exhaustive expiration. and
so awoke himself, and began walking.
pensively dragging his feet through the
dead leaves. home. Emotions are terri
BILE things.
DO you like the potatoes. dearr' asked
Mrs. Aubrey Vsir at dinner. Il cooked
them myself"
Aubrey vair descended slowly from
cloudy. impalpable meditations to the
level Of fried potatoes. These pota-
toes" he remarked. after a pause dur
ing which he was struggling with recol-