"Mrs Lorrimer's Folly."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 May 1913, Page 2

"Mrs Lorrimer's Folly."

(OUR SLRML

By Charlotte M. Sianity. Author <>f "Edna's Vow," "His C ountry Cousin," "How an Oath - Was Kept," "A Wo man" Wronged,"-

CH APTEiR M—Continued

THE.QUARREL.

Tho tone ol' Fred's inquiry did not improve his life's temper. She raised her eye* to his for a mo nent, with tho same expression of contempt,-and spoke in the same cold, disdainful tone—looks and tones that, should never have b?. % eh exchanged between these two. .who, nevertheless, loved each other dearly.

"Altering it," she said brusquely. "And putting in a ruffle of muslin and lac:' to preserve the train. I an in a hurry, because if it is to be worn to-night there's no time to lose about it."

"If it is tobe worn to-night!" Oh, if he could only have known her real menuing! If he had only listened when she was inclined to explain, if he would only have curl>ed his tern4per even now, and spoken affectionately, and asked for an explanation, how much of misery "would have been spared to both. But it was not to be.

To his mind—possessed by its one jealous notion —only one meaning wag possible. He. flushed darkly red with indignant, rage and passion at her supposed defiance of his wishes. "I understand, you," he said .hoarsely—not understanding her at all — "how understand me; if you attend that ha M, -tonight you are no longer my wife! (Jo to that ball to-night and we part to-morrow. So think a lit'tlo before you stitch away so, readily. 'Jf that dresg is to be worn tonight' "—'scorn fully repeating her words—"the ( loss of husband, child, and home is tho price you will have to pay for it."

In his dismay she laughed,, at his threat. A curious laugh, partly of scorn, partly of mockery, partly of bitter almusoment. For she knew the twe meaning*of her words.and her work, and-she laughed. to think how foolish he would look when he, too, should understand it, but —he being in ignorance of the truth—the laugh galled him. "You are not~Tv true prophet," she said coolly. "I shall be none the worso for tho wearing of this dress tonight. Anyway"—somewhat' impatiently—"it will be worn, I can assure yon."

Mr Lorrinicr arose and put on his coat'-and hat, apparently with great deliberation. _-^ "I hope not," ho saTSohstinately—he thought, "firmly." "I think ter of you than to believe it, Lillian. Wo won't talk any more," with rather an air of superior toleration very provoking to his wife. "I'll go out for'a while and leave you to think it over. It's nearly six o'clock, and I have to give an answer to a friend about some business, which.l wanted to have talked about with you, if you hadn't been so full of this infernal ball!"

. A pained, puzzled expression that, flitted over his handsome but somewhat careworn young face might have tmioheSl Lillian's heart and calmed her temper hnd she seen it; hut £he' sat sowing busily, with her head bent down. "I shall come back before ten o'olook. Ymi'll.haye made up your mind and decided our fata by that time. ftrxKl-hy"—Jie* stood for a. moment hes ; tating. watcjhing her wist-fiilly~."good-by, Lillian!"

She "raised her head and looked at him "standing there by the door, ard his pale, snrl face, and a certain air of nnhappiness about him smote suddenly up>n lior heart. Why had she teased and vexed him so about nothing? Poor,'dear Fred! An rnpulse came upon'her to throw down her work and run to him, and she felt the quick tears springing to her eyes. Pride said: "Don't let lrinvsee them," and she turned her face away. The next minute, when at the sound of his footstep, she sprang up, Fred had gone, and shut the door behind him.

CHAPTER 111

"A Y'OUXG MA.N MARRED." JDownstairs went Fred, and out l).y the street door, and s lvut that also, behind him, not looking hack .to see it Lillian followed, not pausing to listen if she called. Wounded already _by their quarrel, her movement, when, after looking" at him, she deliberately turned her head away, had cut him to the quick. Ah! Lillian, better that yoxi had let liim see your tears; .better a thousand times! He was not likely to see them now, however, though any one might, who had glant'ed* up to her window from the street and calight sight of her gazing after him. Away he dashed, arid, turning the corner, passed fro'ii her sight, all bathed in a gold and oi-inisqA glory by the ray s of the setting sun. Somehow the crimson made her think of blood, and frightened her, and set her thinking: "What if anything should happen to him, so that we should never meet again?" And then certain solemn words came to her memory : "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath." Ah, well; no sun would go down on any angry word or thought of Lillian's! She cried, as she .stood watching and weeping, poor girl. How could he. judge her so harshly, so unworthily? Hon' could ho take ;her foolish jest so roughly, and speak such" bitter words about parting? How could he think so cruelly of Rose? poor, dear, good Rose, who had been so :nuch her friend! These were poor little Mrs Lorrimer's thoughtsno angry ones. Her passionate, but short-lived wrath had died out already.

\Xot so with Fred, however. Deeply offended, cruelly wounded, and bitterly disappointed in his wife, lie walked moodilyMilong sinoeVelv believing himself to be as unhappy and ill-

I used a, man as any that could be found in New York." And to speak the truth, taking into consideration all tho circumstances —his hopes, his struggles, his devotion, the sacrifice of his own feelings which he was will- i ing to make—he had some cause — I thanks to his. poor little girl-wifes ! folly—for thinking so. "I'll decide the. matter for myself and in the interests of the child!" he said moodily, as he walked along. "Why should I sacrifice myself to a woman who cares so little for me? To see her face all aglow, when.'l went in. with pleasure over that lwll dress! A ball! And wo so poor ; and I work-* ing my very life away to obtain mere necessaries; and the child sick; and Lillian can take pleasure in a ball! On tho very eve of our parting, too!" He forgot that Lillian knew nothing about that. "On what may. be, perhaps, our last evening "'"together f May be? nay, it shall be —the fast but two, anyway, if I sail on Tuesday. Ah! if it hadn't been for this vain, selfish, frivolous creature, how gladly I should have taken this chance, that —if I were single—might be the making of me! 'A young man married is a young man marred,' " he sa:d. "It's'true; I feel it's true." Ho walked vigorously ■ and fast, "lashed by the furies of the mind," until he found himself almost at the Central Park, and heard the various city clocks strike seven:' Time, and this violent exercise had cooled Ms blood and temper a .lititle, and the voices of reason and affection began to have a chance of being heard. He went in the park and sat down in a solitary place to think It was a pleasant evening in midSeptember, and thei influence of the pace and hour ■soothed him more and\ more. His heart began to soften toward Lillian. "I never before found her vain, nor selfish, nor frivolous, .poor little girl If he sighed remorsefully. "Have I lieen too harsh with' her, and too hasty? I wish I had been more patient, and reasoned with her. and told her about Ellinger's offer. . It's hardly right to engage with him without telling her a word about it."

It had been in his thoughts to do this—to cull fit Mr Ellinger's hotel, and toll him his offer was accepted, p,nd then go home at ten o'clock to Lillian, and announce to her his engagement and aooroaehing departure —poor, unsuspecting Lillian! But now .he began to realise, the injustice and cruelty of this idea. Such a course might bo the best for himself, and even for the child, but how would it affect Lillian- He knew her to be affectionate, fondly attached to him; bow would she bear the trial of such a !separation announced to he,r as a settled and inevitable fact withfit power on her part to object, or time to prepare for it.? It would, be certainly cruel, and its consequences might be ruinous to them all. No, be would go home and tell her of it. But he still hesitated. Pride said : "Keen your word, and go ( o her at tm o'clock; give her time to realise lrt>r folly!" He felt-hungry too, and rememl)ered t.hat he had dashed out of his little home without giving one thought to the nice Jattle four o'clock dinner Lillian always had ready for him on Saturdays. What a fool he had been! If he had only waited for dinner they might have come to an understanding over it, and all have been well. Well, of course, it was t™ late to think of that tiow —Lillian had doubtless had her dinner long ago! Poor Lillian! Finally he decided to go into some cheap restaurant close at hand, and afterward go home and come to a.n explanation and understanding her.

"That is if T find her there. If she hasn't defied me and gone to.this confounded ball!" he thought. But he smiled faintlv at his own fancy. He no longer believed that she would even desire *a pleasure that annoyed or vexed him. She might be angry, cross, unpleasant with him, but Jie should find her there, waiting for him —she. would not go to the ball! (To be Continued.)