Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-12-22
THE sELF-SACRIFICE.

II was western home. plain and
small. the prairies stretching away
from it on all sides in green lillows.
Near it was little group of NAPLES.
theif tender foliage stirring softly i'll
the evening air There were a few
stars ont. and low in the west cres-
cent moon hung, looking for the
nonce like broken ring, one golden
half gone.
This thought came to Sarah Vane
as she sat in the porch, with her face
resting against her hand.
Everything is divided just SO in
this world" she murmured to herself.
rising. the book which had deem lying
upon her lap falling to the floor.
She stopped to pick it up, and as
she did so caught the sound of a stop
in the distance. Nearer it came,
strong, even and firm, keeping time
to @ tune melodiously whistled For
a moment the wife stood, book in
hand, listening attentively; then, a
look of disappointment shadowing
her eyes and mouth, she went into
the house, closing the door after her.
But the step came forward just the
same, and the tune, as clear and
beautiful as the notes of the thrush,
filed the air with music.
1t was frank almost boyish face,
though bronzed and bearded, that
came forward that night; just such
an one as a mother would lave de-
lighted in looking upon because the
world had lefted no traces of evil
upon it.
AS he stepped into the porch, still
whistling softly, slip of folded
paper lying upon the floor attracted
his attention. He picked it up and
read his wife's name written in well
known hand upon the back. The
impulse was strong upon him to
crush it in his hand, but something
restrained him; whatever the feeling
was that flashed up in his eyes for
the moment he had, or seem to have
perfect control of it. He stood for
while with his straw hat in his hands
and then went into the house as
quietly as though no fierce passion
had been graphing hard at his heart.
His wife was sitting by the table, and
he laid the fold paper beside her,
with the simple Words
"This must be yours, Sarah"
"Thank you," she answered,
without raising her eyes; and Harry
Vane passed ON, something very like
a sob rising in his throat.
The husband sat down to the even
ing meal without word. Somehow,
everything seemed terribly real to
him that night. Looking upon the
pretty, tasteful room he saw it as he
had never seen it before. 1t stood
before MIN like living picture, with
its home made ornaments, snowy cur
tains, and neatly laid table. And
the wife, too-how fair she was to
him-how far above other women,
with her neat, housewifely habits
and ladylike ways! No matter if she
no longer loved him-if some one
else had taken place in her heart,
Of all women, she stood to him the
fairest ana the best. He was but a
common fellow, after all, with little
taste for poetry or books, while
George
His thoughts startled him with
their intensity, and he sprang for
ward so suddenly in his chair that
Sarah looked UP wonderingly.
"What is it?' she asked.
I'm afraid / cannot make you
happy" he said in a choked voice, 81
-I-what shall l do, Sarah!'
"You can do nothing" she an
swered, in a low tone. II am as
happy as I deserve to be-"
He arose from the table and held
out his hand to her. She did not
place hers in it. She was too honest
to play a double game, and she
could not show love she did not feel.
He read it all in her white face and
startled eyes, and turned away with
out another word. The next moment
he was out of doors, walking rapidly
toward little enclosure which lay a
few yards from the house. 1t seemed
all the place in the world for him
then. and with a great sob he threw
himself down upon the grass and
laid his head upon his baby's grave:
Never child longed for the kisses and
earesses of its mother as Harry Vane
longed for the touch of the baby
hands and lips at that moment.
Broken-hearted and alone, wan
derer, as it were, and oh, so terribly
homeless! he pressed the very gates
of heaven to bring back his child.
Above him the stars looked down
coldly; the wind soughed through
the naples and rushed along the
prairie grass, as If to tell him how
barren life lay before him. .
"If she does not love me have no
right to her. My suffering is moth
ing; her purity and truth is every
thing" he thought. ",She shall
never look upon my face again"
He pressed his lips and cheeks to
the dewwet sod, smoothed it tender
ly with his hands and then went
from it forever The light was
shining brightly from the cottage
windows. buthe turned from it reso-
iutely and walked with long, rapid
strides forward into the darkness.
1t was ten miles to the nearest lake
town, but he was accustomed to walk
ing and the distance was nothing to
HIM. He only prayed that he might
ind boat ready for sailing at the
landing; for now that he had re-
solved to go he could not brook an
instant Of delay.