New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-14
By JOHN EDWARD MCCARTHY

the great void that makes YOU feel 50. But don't be
silly II means only that when she comes she will be-
wonderful woman The void is a shrine 50 dear to YOU
that YOU would not place there an image Of common
clay | understand: Robert has told me all about II.
Besides we girlsbut that none of your business, Sir
II was the first time the subject had been
toned between them and for the first time in her pres
cncc Stevens lost his assumed complaccncc. lie 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 a sud
den sense OF shame. This shame angcrcd her. but at
herself not at Augustus Stevens recovered himself first
His head shot suddenly erect as if electrified.
al was thinking
"You-you almost frightened me- she Interrupted
with effort and trying to smile Don't get to work
ing on my sympathics" She smotc him gaily on the
with the book she was still holding in her hand.
The book fell between them and they both stopped to
pick il up Their shoulders met forcciuly, and Mrs.
Barter lost her balance Stevens made quick forward
movement and she was being raised in his arms
Stevens no cad The woman was another wife;
he did desire her He not OF the sort to assure
himself that she belonged to him by right. He merely
considered that somehow she should have belonged 10
him. Yet he had failed in that brief embrace to conceal
that which women perceive quickly. The touch, the
contact had betrayed him She too, in a subtle way
not lost upon Stevens, had betrayed something They
prcmcy tense and queer for both having acted guilty,
felt Of guilt Rather they felt confusion, each
feeling guilt only in the eyes Of the other Mrs. Barter
the first to speak.
AUGUSTUS I-you-I think turned my ankle
"a little"
Stevens head hung low "No, you didn't Laura.
Ycu simply didn't know what else to say. Let us be
honest We never could be the same now. Tomorrow
I'm going away: from here. ! have intended to do 50
ever since YOU came 1--we been a fool. | shouldn't
have remained a day-at least until got over it.
augustus. what you SAYING
please don't pretend not to know. have dissent
bcd long enough Even you-juSt now-oh, there's
something funny about it ALL
81 know made fool of myself Gus but surely
you-you can't misunderstood me- Il love my hus-
band you know it. Why-why, what 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
no. Laura, don't mean that you love me. know
that you love your husband But its plain enough now
that had the gods
augustus, how dare you? No-forgivc me. don't
mean that. And yet I'm ashamed for not meaning it.
1--we sort Of lost my head. But, Gus, there never
could have been any man for me but Robert. feel it
in every fiber Of my being.
81 know and yet there's something uncanny about
it. There is solution; so let this be the end OF It,
1t is nothing to you, you who love your husband 50.
The catacysm IS all mine.
Gus this is awful, You, whose ideals are almost god
like to experience the vulgar emotion Of love for-for
me, | was married when you first saw me. How could
such a thing happen to you?'
"You were not married when first saw you. That's
where lose The mystery is why do |, how can |, who
never believed in the endurance Of love that is not
mutual who don't believe in it now, still know that you
are the one woman, even though you now the wife
Of another man.
you had seen me before? Whcrc?
at Bar Iiarbor
"Bar Harbor?' Mrs. Barriers brow gathered IN