The Washington herald., 1914-11-08

Il couldn't bear alI the st1ffy hang
ings, but she loved them. Now shall
we talk about something? Shall show
you some views7 There's an album
there of my wife's notices Or shall
we talk about-Austrslia 2!
She shook her head
"You know very well, Mr.. Dela-
moir," she said, that, however hard
you were to try, you couldn't talk about
anything except"
aOf course you are right" he inter-
rupted. at isn't any use can no
more talk about anything else than
can think about anything else. If you
want to see her picture '(there it is on
the corner of the manteipiece. | can't
look-I don't know why-I can'tP
He had turned his back upon her.
Constance moved to the mantelpiece
and took up the picture II gave her
at first almost shock. 1t was the PIC
ture of woman, haggard, painted, with
darkened eyebrows, false hair, in ball
dress cut absurdly low, and a satin skirt
absurdly tight. She remembered the
words Inspector Simmons had used in
speaking 10 her of the case: "a wo-
man any man would be glad to be
rid Off
Her companion drew the curtain a
little.
III there were any way" he said.
"of ending this
well, then, why not tell the truth
and have it oyerY she asked calmly.
He sprang from his seat She sat
quite still, unfinchings His passion,
however, was not one of anger.
"If only l couldl" he moaned "If
only"
He stopped short
Stay where you arc, Miss Robin
son." he implored. Stay just where
you are. Don't move | shall be back
in a moment"
He left the room. She heard him
climb the stairs and remained where
she was. looking about her. 1t seemed
to her that in all the adventures of her
| life she had never found herself in
such an atmosphere.
She heard his footsteps descending
the stairs He entered the room. There
was new look in his face, white and
strained. He carried in his hand a
little volume, bound in violet purple
and tied up with ribbon. He held 1t
out to her.
The evidence" he muttered-"I
spoke OF the evidence! Only a page or
two, mind You can readt then you
will understand. You will be the only
person in the world except myself who
understands. Don't begin at the be-
ginning-that's all rubbish. Begin
there-therep
His forehnger showed her the place.
She began to read. The entries were
sprawled all about the book in a loose,
untidy handwriting, and without regard
to keeping within the limits of the
dates:
Began today worse than ever. I got
up at twelve and passed the looking
glass on my way to the bath. I almost
shrieked. / can't be like it, 1 had for
gotten my hair! I dressed very quickly.
Such beautiful things / put on. Then
for a long time could not make up my
mind. I put on my lilac dress and my
ermine, with a new hat that came last
night, and a thick veil. l spent quite
an hour with madame in her parlor.
Then / walked slowly away down Bond
street At first no one looked at me at
all. Then a man and a woman passed
and l heard the man laugh,
/ looked in at a shop window-perhaps
my front was little crooked l went
down to the theater I thought today,
perhaps there might be a chance.
Madame had taken a lot Of pains. The
stage doorkeeper smiled when he told
me that Bunsome was out Liar! Bun
some came down the passage just min
ute later. 1 told him what 1 wanted.
He looked at me in a queer sort Of way.
Cant see whom I'm talking to-" he
muttered. Take of your veil" l took
il OF Perhaps my fingers trembled,
perhaps 1 took II off clumsily. He turn
ed away. I could have sworn that he
was laughingi
My good woman he said, I'VE want
girls,'' got out somehow. cross
ed the road. went into a public house.
haG two glasses of portability stun.
but they won't sell me drugs in quanti-
ties big enough. Never mind. when
got home 1 forgot!
Constance put the book away from
her. Her voice was not altogether
steady.
81 don't want to read any more" she
said.
One more page" he insisted. "One
more. please. You are beginning to un-
derstand One human person in this
world understands besides myself! /
think that l shall go about with light
er heart"
She turned the page.
Today 1 feel will be different IsIroche
has sent me home the most wonderful
white Velveteen gown. l have rested
until y O'Clock. Now l have just put
Il on II fits me divinely. One would
say that I had the figure of girl. 1t
is marvellous. have put on my big
black hat with the feathers and a thin
ner veil. Yes, l am going to risk
thinner veil!
| shall go TO madame for an hour.
and then will take all my courage in
my hands. l will go once more to
Princes. I know that Stephen will be
there. will stop him as he passes
my table. and / will watch him. / shall
see. He used to love me in white. Some
how or other feel younger myself to-
day. AS to being old. il is absurd.
am not old.
1 have sent Susan for a taxi. and 1
have made Richard go away for the day.
He bothers me so, wanting to go about
with me What admiration can a wo-
man have who has a young husband with
her, He doesn't seem to understand.
1 don't know why I feel so eN-
cited today. ! think ii is the white vel
veteen gown I shall put on my white
silk stockings. IL Is little daring, per-
haps, but Stephen loves white.
Now am going. 1 don't think. after all,
/ shall ever need to use that ktle packet
The writing sprawled down to the
end of the page. Constance looked up.
Delamoir's eyes were upon her.
Turn over" he ordered.