Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-10-26

/
cessantly into one another. like rings
in water, standing out before me and
receding into space.
Then l began to reflect how l was
to get out of church and meet Lucy.
There were steps and turns, and |
could not bear the thought of a scene.
Besides, | had my ideas about Lucy.
l wanted to break it to her in my own
way. l wanted, in plain truth, to
lay a trap to catch her inmost
thoughts-the first cry of her heart.
| was not delirious; 1 was as sane as
had been for weeks past. Now /
would see if she could be all to me
that | could fancy. That was what
thought How sane / was do not
know.
The service was of an appalling
length. 1t outlasted the storm. Mean
time l was ripening my plan. If my
man would help me, it was feasible.
When the sermon ended-great heav-
ems how l commented on that ser.
mon, though it was nothing but a
string of inoffensive platitudes, but
it ended at last, and | took my neigh
Dor by the sleeve.
Look here" whispered, II want
you to help me out. Do you mind
waiting for the voluntary" They
havea sort of recital there after the
boys have gone out. He nodded,
suppose, for I heard nothing and had
to ask again.
"Yes, all right" he said. He had
pleasant voice.
steadied myself bit during the
hymn, but then came a collection.
That was the first thing that brought
the feeling of helplessness in on me.
had to ask to be touched when the
bag came. This and the fumbling
way in which handed it told the
tale to my neighbor.
Pardon me-" he whispered, "but
aren't you blindf"
"Blinded9" l replied, and l felt his
start. Then explained to him that
had a wife there and did not wish
the shock to come on her too sudden
ly and wanted him to see me home.
fancy he thought me crazy.
"All right" he said, IN do my
best. But you must explain fully"
"Your name is Bedford" l said,
''and you knew me intimately in
Paris five years ago."
But never was in Paris" he re-
piled.
We tried other places. Finally Lau-
same was pitched on. was to go
out on his arm and introduce him to
Lucy.
"You had better tell which is your
wife, if you can, he said.
"She is sitting in the front row on
the left"
There are four women there" he
said.
l made him describe them to me.
Lucy was the third. am so unob
servant about dress that l could not
be sure till he described her features
roughly. 1t is very odd sensation
to hear another man describe your
wife to you, especially if he calls her
beautiful in an apologize sort of way.
| should have been vcxed if he had
said pretty" Yet somehow the
other word made me catch my breath.
AS the voluntary ended he told me
when Lucy got up to go, and we
stumbled into the isle while she could
not see us.
Lucy met us in the vestibule. He
had to nudge me when she came.
Luckily, she spoke first.
What storml And you looked
deathly i'll"
"It was pretty bad, said, but let
me introduce Mr.. Bedford, of whom
have talked so often"
Then we walked homeward. Lucy
made talk about boating with the
young man. He was dreadfully EN-
barrassed in his tone, and no wonder
I cut in now and then with leading
questions about the people we hac
known, or rather l had known IL
Switzerland. But he was very re
sourceless in lying, and had to gave
it up for fear of a revelation. Be
sides, my head was dizzy with walk
ing on in the dark, expecting every
moment to stumble. | was afraid
too, that Lucy's suspicious might b'
reused by my taking his arm. an
not demonstrative in my ways witt
men.
Happily the foOtpath was empty
but about half way home we me
/, some women-I think they were al
, women from the rustic OF thei
, dresses-and had to steer clear 0
! them. In my nervousness l ran m!
supporter hard into lamppost,
: NV dear boy" Lucy cried out
r "Mr. Bedford won't appreciate you
r affection at this rate. Have you los
, your eyesf ...to,. ac
: We got home without further ac
? cident, and put my hand on tn
5 omen door Lucy was urgent WIZ
5 our friend to stay and have Tea
Q Never mind your work, she said