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Show 5-11 Eflitli's Star of Diaoionflsi tha tiotea of th march hid thrilled UP to them. They had fallen Into their proper places, the kneeling: rnald had held out her train, her father" arm had trembled as she put her band on U. As she had looked up. he glanced down, their eyes met, silently she lifted ner face and silently ha stooped and kissed her. And as Jack stepped forward to meet her. his eyes had given one satis-fled satis-fled g-laoce at the trembllnt: diamond 'ha kissed It now, and as sha carried tt over to the toilet table, her memory still busied itself with her wedding- day. She recalled how she had slipped away to dress for the journey, and thea had stolen down the back stairs. Just to say one little word of good-bye to the old ! house servants. Going back, she had I paused to unfasten the top button of her boot, which was to tight that tt seemed to cut into the flesh. The gtalrs cassed dowa beside the dining-room, ; and the could hear distinctly the boom-in boom-in voice of her uncle. Col. Kensett, who seemed to be addressing- the gentlemen "' We will wish them,- he said, "health and success. Happiness they surely will have for the few years that love bwts--and there Is no Joy under heaven like love! I suppose. that't why It's . so P!wha?" someone interrupted, and he hotly answered: " , . "Nonsense; j-ou know as well as I that the love of no man lasts for all time. Understand now, I am not speaking of respect, of tender regard, or of kindly affection begot of long association. I'm talking of the eentlmentor passion of love, and I say that no man lives whose love for one woman outlasts five years. That is the limit!'' Then she had hurried on upstairs to find her maid holding? her traveling bag and cloak, and her mother searching: for h Suddenly the smiles left her face. She ank upon the couch, whispering blank-?y blank-?y to herself; "Why-why-thls la our fifth anniversary!'' , , , , ':.j.:, : -';v . cnAPxri; n. ; . The Star Dims. A sort ot friffht came over her. - Has Jack changed? she asked herself. She searched the years. She found him ten der, loving, proud of the baby girl she had given him. True, this last year she had seen less of him than formerly, but his growing business made greater demands de-mands upon his time. When he recently re-cently Increased her allowance she had told him that she would rather do with less money and have more of his com pany, anJ ha bad laughed and pinched her cheek and inquired about the exact location of the "Blarney stone." Oh, nq -no! Jack could pot have changed! "Just then the door bell rang loudly, and In a few moments a rnald appeared carrying a long white box that said plainly to Edith's experienced eyes flowers! She took the box and. as - ahe began to untie the narrow ribbon about It, she noticed that the address was not written on tb box Itself, but on a card which had been slipped loosely beneath the ribbons.- As she threw the cover ! oft and turned back the waxed paper, she gave a cry of delight. ,-- - .' "Orchids! Orchids! Oh, what tro heard of extravagance! -Orchidsfor me! Oh, you dear Jack! Now uncle, mine, here'f your answer! These rare and lovely flower from my hushan4 ot five years! .r' ' ; '" ' .' She laughed though with two W happy tear shining In her - beautiful brown eyes. - - " As she lifted up the mass of weird loveliness, she saw a letter beneath. Seizing it with all the eagerness of a girl, she tore It open, kissed Jack's name scrawled at the end, then began at the beginning to read: v , ,--: Olive, rny own, my adored, I can t come. No, don't frown! For yon it li but an annoyance; for me the disappointment disap-pointment is torture. Bear me out, please. It's an anniversary (I never remember re-member them in time), and the house will be filled with relatives and all that. What can I do? Then, besides, E--is, you know; the most unsuspecting of women. , She rarely questions me; she gives me almost unlimited liberty. A we profit by her blindness it would be madness to arouse her suspicions by falling to play my part in the domestic tableau. But. you, my beloved, what will you do with this evening? For heaven's sake, don't give it to H I Anything but that! - - I have ordered the sleigh for you, as the sky has a look of snow about It, Juei as I would order down fire from heaven. heav-en. If I could, if you had a fancy for It. I send your own favorite flowers, and, X beg of you, let them plead my cause. Tomorrow at 4 I will be In person per-son where 11 now am in thought at your feet. - ' JACK For a moment Edith sat stunned as by a sudden blow. Then, white and cold and sick, she began to realize with grief and shame what had befallen her. Strangling throbs were risiny In her throat when a second ring of the bell warned her to control herself. Directly the maid flounced Impatiently In to tell her that "that stupid florist's boy" tad left the wrong box and could she take the first one down to him again? With a shudder Edith replace! the orchids or-chids and handed the box to the maid, but the Utter she retained. As th girt was 5 disappearing she called her back and told her to take with her the second box and arrange its contents herself. "But," asked the surprised -attendant "where shall I put the Cower after I have them In water? "Put them anywhere yoa please, to lonf as you don't bring them here1,! was the answer that astounded her. If fcdlth had been a rellglout woman, prayer . would - have . comforted ber, would probably have ' brought, wise counsel to her, but she had no such staff to lean upon. So, when tba had wept tor a time over her cruel wound, her anger an-ger began ta. rise,, her cheeks flushed and ber eyes grew fierce and bright. She had been to loyal in her love! She was handsome and young. She had bad admirers who. In one r two InaUncea. had lost therr heads a bit and would have made secret love to her,- had aba not known, as every honest woman knows, how to check sharply and definitely defi-nitely such presumption. Judging her husband's honesty by her own the had trusted him. They had profited by her . blindness. Well sherould never be blinded again! Good God! he thought, how poor and weak and contemptible a thing it man't lovtl V ; A ; , For a while she raged Then she fell quiet and thought long. Finally she rose and with a amlle upon ".ber faoe that was not pleasant to see prepared herself to receive her guests. Jack got home late, and while rushing rush-ing upstairs to get Into his evening Clothes, passed Edith in the hall. . - "Oh. by George!".-he exclaimed, as he saw her j "but you do look flU. That la a stunning gown, but but look bere, old lady. Where's my star?" When she tried to pass him. he urged; "Run back and get it. Edie. . "' ' - She ground her teeth to keep back a cry of anger at such hypocrisy, then coldly answeredi. "The star Is being repaired and hat not been tent home." She knew that the would never wear ihe ornament again never. Ehe descended and before other arrived ar-rived bad a few . hurried, whispered words with her handsome cousin. Will Kensett, Just home from Germany. Whatever It was that the asked ot him he seemed unwilling to rive until the said: "It is not generous to remind you of past benefits, but I did not hesitate, when you had a contagious sickness, to nurse you secretly, to that you might not be removed to a hospital. Now. I ask to small a service from you, and you refuse? Ah, good boy! I thourM you -would help me! Now do It right when the time comes!" . . - And ehe gave him eomethlng under her handkerchief. Jack coming dowpstalrt just then, she started nervously and cast down her ayes, teeming so embarrassed that he : But the guests were upon them, and 1 toon the dinner waa la full awing, - '.r cnAprra 1 uz. -' Xh St In. .Eclipse.; - Alwaya a twight woman, Edlth't spirits spir-its teemed positively brilliant that evening, even-ing, yet before the dinner was over Jack had a faint feeling of discomfort, almost al-most of loneliness. Hit wife had a habit hab-it ot exchanging glances with htm on such occasions. 12 some dish waa particularly par-ticularly good, he said so with a look. It something- threatened to go wrong, the appealed to him with a glance and he came to the rescue. But tonight not one tingle time had the met hit eye, and once when a toast, embodying congratulations, con-gratulations, had been ' proposed, he could have worn that the sneered. At last tha evening waa over. . The guests were all gone except Will, -who was starting. Jack was lighting a cigar, and at he turned around he plainly taw young Klnsett slip a letter Into his wife's band. He uttered an exclamation and sprang forward, but the door was Closed sharply. WW was gone ' Mrs. Rollins crushed the letter tn her hand, thrust it into the bosom of her decollete gown and hastened upstairs. Jack forced himself to follow in a leisurely leis-urely manner that he might not attract the attention of those relentless domestic domes-tic spies; the servants. When he catered ca-tered the room above and closed the door behind him, his wife taw that he was white with anger. She stood in tha full glare of the gat light, leaning heavily heav-ily against a table. Through the open door behind her. he taw the dimly lighted light-ed sleeping-room beyond. There was a pause. Then-ho spoke: ' e ' '-v - "Well? I am waiting1 for an explanation?" explana-tion?" : - ' - ::' "My explanation of what?" tullenly. ; "Don't try my patience too severely, Edith." he exploded. Tm not a fool, neither am I blind!" ":.-. ; He had used an unfortunate phrase. The eyes she lifted to hit were biasing. "Not blind r You are. Indeed, to be congratulated! con-gratulated! Still, at I understand It, blindness Is profitable when tt'a on the wife's tide?"- "' "Sneering at me it not explaining your shameful conduct tonljjrht. Yes, shameful! shame-ful! Do you suppose a man will permit his wife to carry on a secret correspondence? correspond-ence? When I see a man smuggling a letter Into my wife's hand, do you suppose sup-pose that I don't know that It means an appointment?" ' Strangling a cry that arose to her 1' r , she threw her head back and (razed at him in haughty silence. Suddenly tt taw ber as with the eyes of a ttrar : r, and noted all her beauty, the she;, i-ness i-ness the color, the spirit. He felt the 1 blood of his body rushing hotly to bl bead. Then her clear voice rang out: ;4 ' "Truly, yours la a very foul mind, btv If, you follow the usual custom of Jttdf-1 lng others by yourself you natural i must have violent, suspicions ofevatj poorWlur v.-i- -i J - ."You sneering devil!" he cried, "are ytia SO hardened that you feet neither fei nor thame! Edith Edith!- VWhat h 4 changed you from the Innocent, --tweet) girl I have wooed and won? X feavaj loved you so devotedly,, he cried, pas-i eionately. "1 have thought for you,r planned for you, worked and tolled for4 you, cherished and honored yon akmeH--With narrowing eye and curled, eon-, temptuous lips, the answered him. t , Without thought, without cnslcw Intention his hand Cew out like lightning and struck her across the mouth. BheL surge red slightly and pressed her Uc morsel of a handkerchief to her lip. Aa It slowly stained, aha raised her voice; Slightly: - : " v "Marie, bring mo ft .freak . nandker-V Chief, please!- -' .-' :--,-" .- ;' ' :" - -- . - With a violent start Jack dlscwered that the maid was moving about in thei next room. However, the discreet Marie disappeared without obeying, her mistress' mis-tress' bequest. Then. Jack turned en his wife In a perfect fury. ' ' . So." he shouted, "that's the game. is It? Tou're to stand all solid in the law eh? You goad me Into giving a Mow and you have a witness handy! Well. suppose I wan little evidence; too ; Give we that letter!" Give it to me! I'll have It If X bavs to tear U from, you by force!"..' :- "Oh. she calmly answered, "It la not necessary to beat me. You may have, the letter." "Drawing it -from-her bo? ' torn, she held It out to him.. U wrenched It from ber hand. He tore the envelope Into Jagged strips. He opened to enclosure and read: . 4 "Olive my own, my adored!" ; , e His face turned white, then suddenly crimsoned. Ills hand went to his collar,-whlch collar,-whlch choked him went -to hit eyee.' that had black specks dancing before them. He looked again. -Yes, there-were there-were the words: "Olive my own, ray adored." '-v C He turned his stupefied face toward Ms wife. Khe was gone. He heard the Eharp click of a bolt as It shot into it pocket on the other side of the e!a-t Soor. He fell heavily upon the eoucs. As he gnzed blankly at the letter, he r-c-ticed a few lines In Edith's bandwriur at the bottom of the page: , "I suppose you must not be fc.af for you are neither better nor v t r a other men. A wiser cm i s , 1- declared: No man lives who? s for ens woman ouUatsfl'eyefj!. . fravo simply reached that Mra.t -C ,'ornt tn the Pittsburg Dispatch. Genesis of the Star. ; EDITH ROLLINS, happy and a little . tired, had gone to her own room to lounge and rest for an hour. She had seen her small daughter safely off for an airing with the correctly frilled and fluted nurse. Bhe had gone through, the lower part of the house seeing that the ; flowers were loosely and gracefully ar- 1 ranged in order to show the tender beauty of leaf and bud and stem, and rot left In the toothpick, wired mass of tloom affected by florists. Now all was , as it should be, and she would take Just, a look at her dress, put out her fan and gloves, and then rest for a while. This ciay was the anniversary of her marriage, mar-riage, bhe always made something of the occasion, and this time the dinner to her intimate friends would be followed ' ' by a reception and some, good music .for the entertainment of a swarm of lesser friends snd acquaintances. As she- was about to drop Into her cufhlor.s. she suddenly exclaimed, with a laus-h: "Ch, the star! I haven't put out the star. Dear old Jack! What would he say if I forgot that on our anniversary? an-niversary? Mercy! It won't bear thmk-j--? -of!" ' - ' Lasr v:tt tsappUy, Fhe crossed to the bureau, toe 1; from the deepest drawer S ' hr r-.o-Jest, Jewelbox, and. unlocking It, j broa - "t ta view a really handsome dla- i n-o-id Eta-r, whose fine old mine e tones in I skelton fettlnp, were full of t re nd nrile. A ray of eunl'.sht struck one , cf Its flv 1 oir.t.'!, sending: a fountain Frny 0f broken color danclr? up the v' '" a;-d etich bit cf vivid yellow, blue. r 1 -.'. r r jinrr le recalled some eweet i-. I .'r-V.t. ? -:-e tii.y detail of her Joyous I T-V w f 1 - on just such a cic-ar win-t. win-t. fs c'jy 5s t:.:3. . "Poor mother, the sighed; "she was glad, I remember, to profit by the Christmas greens as a help for the wedding wed-ding decorations. She always had to pinch here and there poor mother!" Still, how pretty the house had been, and the bridesmaids how gay and handsome hand-some and happy all save Madge Leslie, Les-lie, who had to wear heelless slippers that she might not be taller than the 1 bride! .And what a state of mind Jack was In about this very, star his gift 1 that was to fasten the veil; for the Jeweler Jew-eler who waa mounting It on a long pin had failed to send It In time. , She had not worried half to much at Jack. Finally, she had arranged a tiny tiara of white blossoms In her hair and had adjusted her veil with the supposed assistance of her maids, who really saw nothing but their own reflected finery in the mirror, and Just then there had been a rush outside. Someone bounded up the stairs, three steps at a time, and aa the door stood wide open, In rushed Jack, the bridegroom! At such a dese- j cration of all th conventions, screams j arose. The maids puffed themselves j up until they looked like so many angry pouter pigeons. Jack, breathless, tri- j umphant, tore open the package he held and, dropping the veJvet case upon the floor, with clumsy fingers tried to stab the blazing star Into its place: but before be-fore he quite succeeded in tearing the f.Imy veil to pieces her mother, in violet brocade (brocade wears bo longr). summoned sum-moned by the outcries of the horrified mails, swept him from the room and left the distracted routers to preen their feathers, calm their nerves and make ready for the stately descent of the stairs, so Important a part of the ceremony. cere-mony. . . She -herself had placed the star In her rnass of wavy brown hair, where the rln, fine and delicate, trembled slightly and was beautifully effective. And then |
