THE RUINS.

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 11, 14 July 1928, Page 21

THE RUINS.

Jones, rubbing the fuiccs from his smarting .eyes, gazed in dismay r.t the smoking ruins that lay before him. For this only had he hastened hime with, eager steps! There was a bitter irony in the memory of the anticipation that he had enjoyed as he had hastened up the lonely road. Assailed suddenly by sickening sensation, he turned fivm the scene. If only ho had not been delayed he might have been in time to have raved something. But fate had been* against him, and apparently no one else had observed the conflagration. J'ljpi'p was nothing remaining now but ashes. While he stood there, feeling how utterly helpless he really was. the thought occurred to him that the destruction might have been intentional. He had known his wife would be away, but where was Annie, the maid? Was this her fiendish revenge for tho reproof he had given her before he had left? Had she taken advantage of his wife's absence to wreak her vengeance? And. then through the wreaths of smoke, he noticed a piec of pnpor. Snatching it he glanced at the words written thereon. He recognised his wife's hand. "Dearest," he read, "am going to visit mother, as arranged. It's Annie's evening out. Muriel. P.S.—l've left your dinner in the oven." . . ■ . ' Meanwhile the smoke cm-led lazily froni. the blackened cutlets upon which b,e hail been gazing, "