The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1896-11-14

iook NJ the sweet, wet eyes, and child
like mouth. the round, soft cheek. and
gold-brown hair, wondering. doubling,
hoping ali at onee-he could not have
told which the most Of the three.
That was two years ago-two blessed
years OF such happiness that they
seemed to him like a long delightful
dream. Amber loved him and Amber
was his wife.
But Of late q shadow had fallen be-
tween them-the shadow of lawrence
Kendall The fear that had numbed
Johns heart when he first beheld the
young mans admiring gaze upon ais
wife had ripened into fierce jealousy.
He had grown cold and austere In his
manner, causing Amber many tears and
much worriment. Once he had been
positively harsh toward her. What else
had he been tonight And all the
time his proud, sensitive nature was
suffering to its utmost capacity.
Dear little AMBER He could feel the
tears In her eyes and the culver Of her
mouth though he could not see them.
The wistful pleading In her voice had
touched him to the quick.
How he longed to snatch her In his
arms-crumpling the dull yellow silk,
II he must, and running the shiny hair,
for she used never to complainant
Kiss her over and over and tell her
how much he loved her, and how sorry
ne was to hurt her by word or look
But no-his pride, his indomitable
pride, restrained him, and he had let
her go with her whole evening spoiled
because Of it
All, just wait till she came in, tired
and cold and sleepy! Then he would
make II all right. She would forgive
hfm-of course she would, the darling!
And they would be happy again as
they had not been for weeks. sitting
oy the fire together, she in the big
crimson chair and he on an ottoman at
her side, just where he could touch her
hand or cheek and kiss her when he
chose.
The freight would dance on her hair
and bring out the soft color In her face
and she would laugh and smile in tn
old joyous way. What a fool he hao
been-how cowardly and unreasonable,
to doubt his innocent darling even for
one moment.
1t was o'clock and Amber ought to
have been home an hour ago. What
was 1t made John start and tremble
and pale as he glanced at the clockf
Were his fears confirmed? Had his
doubts become truths?
Harkl Was not that the sound Of q
carriage pausing at the curbing? What
occasioned this unusual confusion In
the hall below?
John Sarles seized his crutch and
limped a few PAGES toward the door,
but stopped as it was flung open and
the figure Of an old serving man ap-
peared on the threshold.
Master" he began.
John Sarles' lips moved, but no sound
passed them.
Master, have come with sad news
for you. There has been an accident
the horses ran away-and Miss Am
per
He caught John as he reeled and fell,
and answering the mute, awful appeal
Of those agoniZed eyes, he concluded
els hurt seriously, but not fatally.
The have just brought her home"
Three months afterward, when burst
ng buds and freshly-sprouting grass
proclaimed that spring was at hand,
Amber was carried into her husbands
study and propped up by pillows and
on the sofa there. Her face
,ad lost its roundness and its dainty
,olor and the beautiful brown-gold hair
vas cut close to her head.
There was a great bunch Of yellow
,oses on the table at her side and she
ouched them lovingly, knowing that
John was watching her and that he
lad placed them there.
Presently he came and sat down on
he edge of the sofa-all their differ
noes had long since been made up
md took her hands in his and held
hem tenderly against his mouth.
There were tears in his eyes, though
N Der were CfCdE CuOu6u.
You dear old John" she said, snil-
ug. 81 believe you feel worse about it
han do"
He sobbed.
well, you needn't, you silly boy"
he was silent a moment, and then she |
aid, musingly: do you know, I bs. |
Ieye I'm half glad"
"Oh, my darling, to be lame all yuur
IfeT
yes, for don't you see. we shall SYM
athize with one another more than
re ever have? And, oh, John"
Eyes, Amber"
ct never realized before how pGxient
nd dear you were until was hurt.
think love you better than ever, II
hat can be, and / am sure-Quite, quite
ure, that this has been a blessed les
on for both Of us, aren't your"
And John. in his newer and clearer
risdom, dared not deny It