The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-09
c0NFEssogs
OF BRIDE
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Never before had l bean LETT alone
al night In the bungalow. Bob should
nave thought about that no matter
what his mood might be, or his en-.
eagement. I wasn't at al AFRAID, stu
he house was In a lonely place. This
great Lorimer mansion faced the
main boulevard. Ny bungalow and
AIMS house were set on Q short pr.
yate road at the back Of the estate.
They were In q lovely grove, and they
looked toward q tiny village clustered
about a trolley station half q mile
away.
II was a lonesome walk By private
paths and drives up 70 the big house.
More than one adventure bad happen,
ed to me In the park. There Eioise
had shot the. Hun who had attacked
me BY the lily pond, In the moon
light / had seen Katherine Miller
offer her white shoulder to my hus
! shuddered, not from fear Of burg.
lars, but ct the TOO great Wilderness
OF that smooth shoulder.
Where was Bob!
l couldn't guess, but l was sure
that he was In a hospital, a casualty
in an auto nix.up. Accidents DO not
happen to the Lorimers. Poor Benjte
Maid the price for all Of them and
Tor all time when his plane came
down In flames.
The house was growing chilly. l
1T he wood laid ready IN the fire
place, not to please myself. ! hadn't
the slightest wish to be comfortable.
/ III Il for Bob in case he should
reach home tired and cold. ! was fol-
lowing every tradition which shapes
the lie OF q conscientious wife. The
house should be gay and coy for the
man even II he came home drunk.
But even as applied the taper to
the kindlfng ! shed tears enough to
put out q furnace. ;,
What temptation was alluring
enough to keep Bob from his books?
As Q rule he shuts himself IN his
library when he sulks.
Knowing that my lids were red and
swollen | went up to the bathroom
TO bathe and powder them. ! took
of my frockwith It's silly frilly apron.
II was too juvenile-better for Ann
than for me. | thought resentfully.
aAnn-Ann-Ann!" She was always
In the back Of my mind. Ann had
made all this trouble.
Was she an innocent child when
she sent Bob to find meNwith Ives!
Or was she more than, ordinarily
clever-and tricky?
! nut on my nightgown, taking care
It should be the ilimiest one ] own.
ed, covered It With q slipover Of blue
and gold brocade, stepped into the
little mules made to match, and re.
turned to the fireplace downstairs.
And then l huddled myself In q big
chair, no longer weeping, but think
ing quietly along a new line.
Simply by staying away from home,
Bob was saying that he held me re-
spons!bla for what had happened IN
tie park! He was obstinately refusing
10 let me have an opportunity to ex.
plain! He just took It for granted
that I was flirting with Ives! And he
wasn't fair. When he put such an i'm.
possible Interpretation upon my con.
duct, he was not one whit bette. than
the average male with his hasty &C.
cusal Of the female!
Why explain to a man who was de-
termined to think evil? Thus from
bsd to worse, went. Maybe Bob
wanted to 90 on philandering ex.
crrsion-maybe he was seeking an,
opportunity to stay away from home.
And therefore he had seized upon my
mischance and was magnifying 1t to
suit his desire! Doubtless his wish
was father to his thought!
| had plenty Of evidence to prove
my innocence. Chrys would testify
that / had undertaken the adventure
according to her plan.
But II Bob Lorimer was going to
review her evidence before he accept.
ed my word everything between US
was at an end.
Having arrived. trilmphantly at
this stage Of wifely indignation. !
counted the strokes Of the clock with
q proper sense Of martydrom. It was
midnight. The pretty wood fire had
burned to ashes. The pretty pink