Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 269, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1920 — IN THE SUBWAY [ARTICLE]

IN THE SUBWAY

By VIRGINIA KEYES.

(gx 1»1». by MeClure Newapaper Syndicate > •Thank goodness, the whole thing will be done quietly,” Mrs. Francis Talfourd murmured to herself as she stood watching the noonday crowd pouring Into the subway. Her gown of gray, clinging material, with its wide, childish collar of delicate, white lace seemed strangely out of place among the smart tailored suits of the working girls hurrying past. A gray velvet nat with a single ornament of twisted silver ribbon fitted close » over her coiled brown hair. No, there would be no disgusting publicity. Somewhere a clock struck the halfhour. Mrs. Talfourd became Impatient. Strange. Francis was late. He had insisted 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 electric! In spite of herself she began to think about the first time she had seen Francis. Then he had been a secretary in her father's office. She remembered his straight shoulders and the peculiar habit he had of becoming quite red when one looked at him. How different from young mAn who flitted about the fashionable hotels and drove long, low-seated roadsters ! She remembered how curiously happy she had been the day he fimidly 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 a dance to gpto walk with him, and he bad told her that he loved her. —-—

Mrs. Talfourd caught her breath hastily. She must not think of such things. One should not think of such things when one was going to a lawyer’s to get a divorce. She must remember 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 herhelf 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 father’s money? He had worked all his life that his only daughter might have everything. Yet Francis wanted her to live upon his salary alone. Ridiculous! There had been quarrels, rather bad quarrels, and hOW she was waiting for Francis at the subway entrance. A clock struck one. A tired-looking man separated himself 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 a little extra work that had to 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. “I pay my wife’s fare,” he said grimly, and the lines about his mouth hardened noticeably. They entered the car and found a seat in silence. Mrs. Taifourd looked straight before her. Stations flashed by, spots of light and color, nothing more. The crowds ebbed and flowed. Suddenly the car stopped. There was no station. They must be under the river. Mrs. Taifourd sighed with relief. It was prdbabTy"waiting for another car to pass. Then the lights went out. Mrs. Taifourd had been afraid of the dark ever since she was a wee tot, who clung in terror to her governess’ hands as they went through the dark hall into the brilliantly lighted nursery. Now she shivered a little in the darkness and touched Francis’ sleeve gently to make sure he was still there.

His voice rang out clearly above the others; —“We will be going in a few minutes, the car often stops like this.” * Mrs. Taifourd 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 I Something startled her from her thoughts, the low moans of a frightened woman. In the deadly stillness that followed there was a low, dripping sound. Mrs. Taifourd clenched her hands and began to count the drops in a stupid way. Now there was the sound of running water, no longer drops. It was the river. The car would soon be flooded. “Francis,” she whispered. - Her throat was strangely dry. “Yes, dear,” be said softly, and she felt his arm close tight about her. Not a ray of light penetrated the darkness, only that maddening trickling. On the other side of the car a man was praying in a husky voice and a woman was sobbing. “Dear.’’ It was months since she had said that word. "liear,” she whispered again, and she felt his breath against ner cheek. In that instant of happiness she forgot that she would soon die. In that same moment the car was flooded, not water, but with dazzling light and again -.they were rattling noisily through the tunnel. Blindly they left the car. 'Mrs. fourd, still clinging to her husband’s arm. found herself in the street filled with sunshine. The crowds surged by unnoticed. ••Francis,” she murmured, flushing in ronfnstan- “Do yon suppose if we hurried we could find a apartment and move in tonight ?"