Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-04-15
MATTER OF TEMPER
BY LOUISE pR,scoLL.


Ss@W **@s1AAC AAVAaCS 0hGtCAaG0 vi
either side OF the way. little pointet
bay windows displaying a variety ol
cheap net or Nottingham lace cur
tains. The street had never beer
fashionable. Numerous ash barrels
stood quite frankly ON the sidewalk
and the mistress of the house. as !
rule, answered the bell.
A maid admitted Ellsworth, regard
ing him with the indifference born o.
long service In q lodging house.
Madam win be right down." she
said. and left him standing in the
narrow parlor.
He recognized some of the furni
ture. There was q rocking chair he
had chosen himself He felt a little
pain creep into his throat as he looked
at 1t. II was as though the inani
mate thing had risen to strike him
And there was the piano.
So Rose had kept the piano. II
showed the effect of having beer
moved more times than was good foI
1t.
There was an air OF disorder In the
room, little wads Of dust lay on the
floor against the wall, where the rus
didn't meet the Dashboard. The table
was overlaid with n light cloud ol
dust.
An impulse 10 run away seized him
a new fear joining the old repug
nance; but he conquered both and
rose to greet her, looking quiet. only
his eyes were tense.
Rose had come in carelessly. She
supposed he was looking for rooms.
We'll, OF all thingsl" she said, and
sat down suddenly; and then: Il sup
pose you're looking for rooms? Aini
1t funny?"
Ellsworth found his voice. Why
no." he said. He found Il was not easy
to tell her the truth. You see-I was
looking for you. I met Sara Walton
In London last month. She told me
about you. All you had been doing
these last years. The time you were
on the stage-in the store-keepinp
boarders-"
She interrupted him. You dida'i
think ! was living on what you sent
did your she inquired tartly.
Il sent all l could" he protested
"and as long rs | knew how to reach
you; but after Desborough died
couldn't find out where you were.
have more money now. My last bool
really pafd-yOu IND II hard 20 De1ievs
that?" he smiled for the first time.
She refused to meet his jest.
Il got along" she said sullenly.
He felt very awkward. Rose hadn't
changed. He laughed uneasily.
I've made rather a mess OF things
Rose" he said.
She flashed another look at him
without making any answer, so he
spoke again:
1T was rather a shock TO meet Sara
as ] did. She brought It all back &c
me so vividly. She set me wondering
how much OF Il could have been
helped. l know I was wrong a good
deal of the time. I want TO be faii
about that"
You haven't changed Bit" she de
clared hotly. You just sit there and
talk; and you'll sit there and talk ali
night IL Ill let you"
Ellsworth was slightly offended. II
was all ridiculously like the past they
had both dropped.
Il only wanted TO make the thing
clear" he told her; IF We could talk
ii over quietly. We might both feel
better"
Rose shook herself impatiently.
What's the use of talking 1t oyer?''
she exclaimed. Who wants to talk II
over? I've got along all right and you
look as though you had. People are
good to me-im that kind. You got
notice OF the divorce, didn't you?''
"Tes-yes," he said, from Dakota.
Yes. To tell you the TRUTH confess
u didn't pay much attention TO 1t.
I've never thought of marrying again,
and was so busy with my book"
Rose smiled audibly. Il can believe
that" she remarked with some as
perity.
, Perhaps gave too much attention
TO my work." he confessed. Il can see
that now. At first II was with the idea
OF making more money-you always
needed money. Rose" He was very
uncomfortable. What ground did you
give for divorce?" he asked with a
new curiosity as he reviewed their
life together.
'Nonsupport and extreme cruelty"
replied Rose glibly.
He laughed involuntarily, and Rose
stiffened perceptibly. half insulted.
Then he rose and paced the little
parlor: twice and three times he went
before he stopped In front OF her
chair.
"Of course that's all nonsense" he
said. You know that as well as do
] gave you more than could AFFORD
and you didn't know what cruelty was.
] probably did spend too much time
over my work. You needed a lot Of
things ] never thought OF. i don't
blame you for being dissatisfied. I
was so tired OF quarrets and worried
with debts that | wasn't really sorry
when found. you'd gone. We may
ss well be honest about that. just
vent into my work little harder and
left the country before long.
II sent you money through Desbor-
ough as long as could After he died
I couldn't seem 10 reach you"
AOh. ] got along" she said. Il al
ways do. I'm the kind people look out
for. got paid pretty well in the