. Booster (June 1915). a thousand. She was lookingintently at our table. Furthermore, Iwas the object of her gaze. At firstI was at a loss how to account forthis. Then the solution dawned uponme, and with it vanished the last lin-gering hope that I had treasuredthrough all the past years. Undoubt-edly she was Coles wife. She hadheard of his nightly parties and hadfollowed him. She had—oh, heavens—I suppose that she thoueht I wasresponsible for his escapades. Thatexplained her fixed gaze at me. Ithought rapidly. There was just achance that she had not recogrnizedCole. I would help him out. I sa
. Booster (June 1915). a thousand. She was lookingintently at our table. Furthermore, Iwas the object of her gaze. At firstI was at a loss how to account forthis. Then the solution dawned uponme, and with it vanished the last lin-gering hope that I had treasuredthrough all the past years. Undoubt-edly she was Coles wife. She hadheard of his nightly parties and hadfollowed him. She had—oh, heavens—I suppose that she thoueht I wasresponsible for his escapades. Thatexplained her fixed gaze at me. Ithought rapidly. There was just achance that she had not recogrnizedCole. I would help him out. I sav-agely kicked Coles foot as it restedunder the table. Tell the waiter tobring your hat and cane, I follow me; but whatever youdo* dont turn your head. Whats wrong with you, man?growled Cole, as he eased his foot. Quick! I commanded. Do as Ttell you. Your wife is here. For a second, Cole stared open-mouthed at me. Then he struck thetable such a blow that the surprisedwaiter started back, tipped over a. chair, and fell sprawling on the floor. Ha! ha! ha! roared Cole, startlingthe whole cafe. My wife! Ha! ha!ha! Thats a good joke. Do you mean to tell me that youdidnt marry her? I demanded. Forsome reason, my heart was thumpingmost painfully. Marry her? Marry who? askedCole. Then overcome by laughter, heagain roared aloud. So she hadnt married him after she hadnt married this last thought flashed into mymind, I arose from the table, andwithout a word to the convulsed Cole,made my way down the narrow girl saw me coming, and I fanciedthat I saw her tremble slightly. I sankdown in the chair opposite her. Howfamiliar everything seemed! The se-cluded corner, the wicker table, thebowl of sweet-smelling roses, themelody that the orchestra was play-ino\ and—Helen. The girl spoke first; how common-place her words! Ten years have not altered youmuch, Walter, she said. Not much, I repeated, trying tospeak naturally, nor you either. 14 THE BO
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectemmeric, bookyear1915
