Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-19
schl
Woman and Home
Continued From Yesterday

And Felix Lynn avoided her sedu-
lously. seemed unable 10 he near her.
4 She noticed il, but convinced herself
1t WAS merely another phase OF this
strange jealousy that so completely
4 possessed her. She was also keenly
q Haletead. She had thought Esther a
Shit overly interested in Felix; had
caught stray, wistful chances the girl
cast at him. which maddened her. And
Z wrong. Or. at any rate. that it was
entirely one-sided.
She started from her reverie and.
with gay laugh, ladled glass from
fastened inquirinEly upon her maid.
I who was just returning from the
4 phone. Somehow. the dazed, somewhat
frightened expression on the girls face
alarmed her. She shivered slightly. as
though cold. dank shadow had passed
across the sunligh, of her happiness.
3 she would have stopped the maid,
then thrust the impulse aside, though.
as the girl approached Esther. she could
not resist bending her ear in that d.
reotion.
She caught the cold. dazed look that
filmed Esther Halstead's eyes as she
received the message, caught the mean
ingless sound of her voice as she par
roted the words: "My-fa,hcr-dcad-."
caught the sympathetic forward surge
of friends, then. with a shrinking
within herself, noticed the swift stride
with which Felix Lynn reached the
stricken girls side
Like tigress, she moved forward,
swaying a little from the hips, her
. eyes blazing. Felix Lynn drew Esther
a bit closer to him, then thrust out
his jaw squarely, speaking over her
bowed head
Please do not crowd-plcase. Ny
wife's father has just died. The mar
riage was kept secret to prevent this
very thing"
For momen, ALICIA felt her limbs
numbled, felt something go icy cold
Il
sound perfectly audible to herself
And then the numbness gave way to-
pricklinE, as OF a thousand needles |
And then the banked fire burst into
full flame. II was n lie. 1t was un-
true. II could not be true 1t was a |
lie told TO trick her. But they could |
not do IL. She sprang forward, thrust /
ing herself between the pair, hurting
them away from ono another with vici-
Gus strength. f,
IT'S n liza lie. IT can't be true !
tell YOU it's a lie He's minc--minc |
mine by every moral law"
Her eyes p pointed fame. She could
sec nothing of the shrinking guests.
nobody in the room hu; the man, the I
man she claimed. Again she would !
have leaped forward as Felix Lynn
threw out his hands in passionate APP
peal toward the woman ne had lust
Acknowledged as his wife. Then A |
slow, cruel smile parted her lips. re-
VealinR a row o: small, sharp teeth, !
too white arm. even. TO No beautiful !
teeth that strengthen the pantherish I;
impression she gave, FOR Esther Hal |
stead, with a cry OF anguish and fear.
shrank away from him as from an
unclean thing.
ALICIA did not know how the guests
: had>felt, was not conscious-woula no,
have cared had she been conscious-of
their furtive leave takings She ONLY
knew that Felix Lynn remained. that
she had held him that she would con.
tinue to hold him.
"You-you--" she could no, con
tinue for the torrent of rage ina,
threatened to eneuif her "Oh. but
you shall suffer for this" she finally
managed TO articulatc. You thoucht
YOU would come 10 me-tnousht Won
would shame nc-thought Won would
amuse yourself with mo Well. Won
: have had your play. And now Won
shall pay. And YOU will pay To mo
as no man ever paid 10 woman before.
Syou--you-thief"
Before the poisonous hiss OF her he
shrank away. But in the hallway No
covered his face with his hands thar
he might shut ont the picture focused
there OF the terrible expression in her
eyes.
s. The nine-days sensation died away
for the morsel OF any scandal no odds
how savory and juicy 10 begin with
grows fiat and puipy win too much
\ FletcheriZing. But the cheeks OF I.elir
Lynn grew more and more sUnken. aud
the shadows under the Nne ewes OF tho
Frnan seemed 10 have eaten hollows
there. hollows from out Of which 3.
Fearful light burned the light Of 3
ca