Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: in THE VACILLATOR Lorkaine, a scowl on his face and wrath in his heart, went slowly down into the cafenever seeing whom he passedand made his way to a secluded table in the darkest corner. For a time he sat staring at the wallacross his mental vision floated pictures of his courtship and his short married lifeof the beautiful woman he had caressed and who had caressed himwhose arms had been around his neckwhose ruddy head had lain on his shoulderwhose lips he had kissedwhose form he had embraced in a fury of tendernessof the woman who was his wifewho was his wife for yet a little time longer, until the Courts could cut the bond asunder. The uncertainty that had dominated him was ended. He knew his mind nowknew whether he loved her still or whether that love was turned to hate. Why had he not known sooner? Why had it taken him so long to realize it? Why had he vacillated like a pendulumnot sure of himself nor of his feelings? Why had he had any feeling for her since she had none for him? . . . He laugheda little, bitter laughand turned his face deeper into the shadow. It was not pleasant to contemplate. It had been misery for him every day since that shameful one when he had found her goneand waiting, dazed and unbelieving, had read the truth in the newspapers the horrible, damning truth, that she had given herself to another man. And nowshe had returned; flung aside by the man. Would he receive her! take her back! take someone's else leavings! a dishonored womanlower than the hired ones who stand for pay, honest in their dishonor. Had she lost all idea of the fitness of things? Was she dead to every sense of shame that she should thus show herself at the Clubto all the moband flaunt her degradation before their very eyesto their vast enj oyment ...