The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-08-18
IN THE SUBWAY
BY VIRGINIA kEYEs
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Thank goodness, the whole thing
will be done quietly" Mrs. Francis Tai
founi GuFmured 70 herself as che stood
watching the MONDAY crowd pouring
into the subway. Her gown Of gray.
cllnging 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 hnrrying past A gray velvet hat
with a single ornament OF twisted sill
yer ribbon fitted closely over her coiled
brown hair. No. there would be no
disgusting publicity.
Somewhere a clock struck the half.
hour. Mrs. Talfourd became impatient.
Strange, Francis was late. He had In
sisted that she should meet him there
and that they should go together on
the subway. How much easier 20
have called for him at the office with
her little electriel
In spite OF herself she began TO
think about the first time she had seen
Francis. Then he had been 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
stersi
happy she had been the day he timidly
invited her 20 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 go to
walk with him. and he had told her
that he loved her.
Mrs. Talfourd caught her breath has
tily. She must not think OF such
things. One should not think OF such
things when one was going TO a law
yer's 10 get a divorce. She must re-
member how impossible II 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
helf all the expensive luxuries she
loved so much. Then her father had
died and she had slowly drifted back
into the old way. Why should she not
spend her fathers money! He had
worked all his life that his only daugh-
ter might have everything. Yet Fran.
els wanted her to live upon his salary
alone. Ridiculous There had been
quarrels, rather bad quarrels, and now
she was waiting for Francis at the sub
way entrance. A clock struck one.
A tired-looking man separated him
self from the crowd and came hastily
toward her. His well-fitting suit was
worn and his cuffs were frayed.
"Sorry, Blanche" he said briskly.
There was little extra work that
had 10 be finished. However, this Is
the last time I'll keep you waiting, you
know"
AS they went down into the subway
she began to open her beaded bag. II
pay my wife's fare" he said grlmly,
and the lines about his mouth hard
ened noticeably.
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 ebbed and flowed.
Suddenly the car stopped. There
was no station. They must be under
the river. Mrs. Talfourd sighed with
relief. II was probably waiting for an
other car TO pass. Then the lights
went out. Mrs. Talfourd had been
afraid OF the dark ever since she was
a wee tot. who chung in terror TO her
governess' hands as they went through
the dark hall into the brilliantly light
ed nursery. Now she shivered a lit
tie in the darkness and touched Fran
els sleeve gently to make sure he was
still there.
His voice rang out clearly above
the Otners. we VIII DE koiuk III u
few minutes. The car often stops like
this"
Mrs. Talfourd was reminded OF the
first month OF their marriage. when she
cooked for Francis In a four-room
apartment How happy Francis had
been, no matter how disgracefully the
dinner turned out Something startled
her from her thoughts. the low means
Of frightened woman. In the deadly |
stiffness that followed there was q
low, dripping sound. Mrs. Talfourd
her hands and began 70 count |
the drops IN a stupid way. Now there
was the sound Of running water, no
longer drops. II was the river. The
car would soon be flooded
"Francis,- 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 maddening trickllng.
On the other side OF the car a man
was praying IN a husky voice and a
u-ornan was sOhblng