The Washington herald., 1916-05-07

that he had patient to visit. he hurried
away.
Nevertheless that little suggestion that
his wife considered herself the guiding
spirit OF their partnership fingered and
ranked down deep in his consciousness,
and Mrs Sands did not fail to discover
IT,
She managed to instnI subtly into his
mind the conception of Esther as a
rather self-sufficient person who had
never rightly appreciated him, while
she herself-a woman of far wider ex-
perience and higher mentality-recog-
nized at their true value his brilliant
powers and attachments.
The result was not hard to forsee.
Bullard spent more and more time in
the consenial and fascinating society
of Mrs. Sands.
why. this thing is making you al
most stranger to me, George" said
Esther laughingly one day. IF were
not so sure Of you, you old dear.
should be turning Jealous of Sylvia
Sands
Not a suspicion did she have, though.
that there was really any cause for
worry. Nor. to be fair to Bullard. did
the suggestion cross his mind at any
time that in his association with the
other woman he was the least bit dis
loyal to Esther.
Consequently neither of them was in
any way disturbed when 1t fell out that
the affairs of the hospital required George
to make a visit to New York and, by
a similar coincidence Mrs Sands was
to be there at the same time.
Indeed, Esther sincerely regarded 1t as
a highly desirable arrangement, and
when she called up Mrs Sands on the
telephone to bid her good-by and wish
her a pleasant journey, she added the
hope that she might see a good deal of
the doctor during their joint stay
Together Mrs. Sands and Bullard did
New York thoroughly.
Ten days or two weeks at the outside
he had set as the limit of his stay, but
again and again his departure was de-
layed by the necessity of investigat-
ing some new method of hospital eff
cheney in vogue. At least that Is what
he wrote to Esther although. oddly
enough, he failed to mention that on
each of these occasions Mrs. Sands
had arranged some excursion or gay
event in which he was scheduled to
take part.
At last. though, he could defer his
return no longer. He had been away
from home now for two months and
the excuses for his continued absence
were getting worn threadbare.
The final evening Mrs Sands and he
had chosen to spend together. away
from their usual associates and com
panions, and after a delightful dinner
alone at one of the uptown hotels they
went 10 the opera.
Sylvia was undoubtedly at her best
that evening. On the way home she
had brought up the question of the
interior arrangement for the north pa
1yilI Of hosY,ifa
a source of stubborn contention be-
tween them-and had rather intimated
that she was converted to his judg-
ment. an opening which gave the doc
tor an opportunity to dilate on one of
his pet theories.
He was still full TIT on 1t when the
limousine stopped in front Of her hand
some town house facing the park, and
as he had one or two points he still
wished to make clear to her he fol-
lowed her. almost as matter OF course.
up at the door
The butler laid out a little supper Of
chicken and champagne and then with
drew at a word of direction from her.
You need not wait up tonight. Rob-
ert, she said.
It was all delightfully."- intimate and
informal and Bullard insensibly WELD
ed himself to the spell Of the secIu-
sion Of his surroundings. Doctor Bull
lard did most of the talking. Mrs.
Sands merely listened appreciateIy and
wove the spell Of her entertainments as
she lounsed in a heap OF cushions.
I'm too comfy to move" she said at
length. Would you mind filling my
glass for me
Then as he leaned over to take her
empty glass the nearness of her af-
feCted him like an intOXiCatiOn, and al
most before he knew it he had her in his
arms.
Good God" he muttered hoarsely
Don't you understand? It is you I
love. you ! need. But he added
miserably, Il am bound to Esther"
Mrs Sands gray-green eyes narrowed
a little and an impatient exclamation
half escaped her lips.
Let US talk things over" she said
There's nothing more to say that
can see" he shrugged his shoulders.
What is there in the situation to Gre