Deming graphic., 1921-01-18
IN THE SUBWAY
BY VIRGINIA KEYEs.

/
will be done quietly" Mrs. Francis Tai
fourd murmured TO herself as she stood
watching the monday crowd pouring
into the subway. Her gown OF gray.
clinglng material with It's wide. child
Ish collar Of delicate, white lace seemed
strangely out Of place among the
smart tailored suits OF the working
girls hurrying past. A gray velvet hat
with single ornament OF twisted sill
yer ribbon fitted closely over her coIled
brown hair No there would be no
disgusting publicity.
Somewhere clock struck the half
hour. Mrs. Talfourd became impatient.
Strange, Francis was late. lie had in
sisted that she should meet him there
and that they should go together on
the subway. How much easier TO
have called for him at the Office with
her little electricl
In spite of herself she began to
think about the first time she had seen
Francis. 1hen he had been a secre-
tary in her fathers office. She re-
membered his straight shoulders and
the peculiar habit he had Of becoming
quite red when one looked at him.
How different from the young men
who fitted about the fashionable hO-
tells and drove long, low-seated road
stersl
She remembered how curiously
happy she had been the day he timldly
invited her TO a concert. How proud
she felt, proud Of his erect bearing his
energetic manner OF speaking and his
flashing smile. Then, too. the night
she had given up dance to 20 10
walk with him, dnd he had told her
that he loved her
Mrs. ralfourd caught her breath has
tlly. She must not think of such
things. one should not think Of such
things when one was going TO a law
yer's TO get divorce. She must re
member how impossible it was for
them to live happily together She
could not go without the things she
had always been accustomed To. For
two dreadful months she had lived
within Francis salary, denying her
hdf all the expensive myuries she
loved so much. Then her father had
died and she had slowly driftcd back
into the old way. Why shoald she not
spend her fathers money! lie had
worked all his life that his only daugh-
ter might have everything. Yet Fran
els wanted her to live upon his salary
alone. Ridculousl There had been
quarrels, rather bad quarrols. and now
she was waiting for Francis at the sub
way entrance \ clock struck one.
A tlred-lool,lng man separated him
self from the crowd and came hastily
toward her. Ills welI-humg suit was
worn and his cuffs were frayed.
"Sorry Blanche ne said brskly.
"There was a little extra work that
had TO be finished However, this is
the last time Tll keep you waiting, you
know"
As they went down into the subway
she began 10 open her beaded bag 81
pay my vifc's farc,' he said srlmly,
and the lines about his mouth hard
ened nodceably.
They entered the car and found a
seat In silence. Mrs. Talfourd looked
straight before her Stations flashed
by spots OF light and color nothing
more. rhe crowds ebbcd and flowed
Suddenly the car stopped. There
was no station. They must hc under
the river Mrs Talfourd silhed with
relief. II was probably waiting FOR an-
other car TO pass Then tine 'ishts
went out. Mrs. Talfourd had been
afraid Of the dark ever since She was
wee tot, who clung On terror to her
governess' hands as they went through
the dark hall into the brilliantly light
ed nursery. Now She shiycred % M.
tie In the darkness and touched Fran
els sleeve gently to make sure he was
sdll there
His voice rang out clearly above
the others: 1--WE viii be going In a
few minutes Tho car often stops Ike
this"
Mrs. Talfourd was reminded Of the
first month Of their marriage, when she
cooked for Francis in O fourroom
apartment How happy Francis had
been. no matter how disgraccfully the
dinner turned out Something startled
her from her thoughts. the low means
of a frightened woman. I'm the deadly
stiffness that followed there was a
low, dripping sound. Mrs. T0lfourd
clenchei her hands and began TO count
the droTs ln a stupid way. Now there
was the sound Of running water, no
longer drops. II was the river. The
car would soon be flooded.
"Francls," she whispered. Her
throat was strangely dry.
"Yes, dear" he said softly, and she
felt his arm close tight about her.
Not a ray Of light penetrated the dark
ness, only that maddenlng trickling
On the other side of the car a man I.
was praying in a husky voice and .
woman was sohblng
Dear" 1t was months since she /
had said that word 'pear," she whls- /
percd again. hud she felt his breath /
ncniuSf 1pr check In fhnt instant of q