Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-07-22

| uISsS aul u9iD1 UShSo aSAAS VIZ 'OSo
wife sat down to devote the afternoon
to verse-making.
A week later John Mason came hur-
riedly into the room where his wife
sat reading.
"Elsie. 1 must go to Hatfield at
once. l cannot return before to-
morrow night. Will you get me some
dinner while I dress? I must catch
the 1.20 train ct Layton"
s"What have you got to go to Hat
field for?'
"Business. I'll tell you all about it
when I get back" and hurried up
stairs.
Elsie really evinced very little in.
terest. She listened to the message
he left for the help, and also to his
suggestion that she 60 to Margaret's
for the night, while trying to decide
if Solitude" or "Soul Hunger"
should he the name OF her new poem.
"Johu didn't kiss me" she thought
after his departure. "He remembers
that told him last week that such
things were silly. don't believe he
has kissed me since.
A few minutes later she went to the
secretary to copy the poom tbrt was
to make her immortal. As she let
down the writing table letter dropped
out. She stopped to pick it up when
it fell from the envelope. Tie first
word arrested her attention
DARL1Na-Meet me at Hatfield tonight.
Mus, SEQ you, cannot live unless do.
Yours with undyins love.
GENEvIEyE.
Mechanically the wife returned the
letter to the envelope and replaced it
in the secretary. Then she tottered to
chair and tried to thlnk.
John, her husband, falsel 1t could
not bel And yet there was his sudden
departure, his refusal to tell his busi-
ness, aud, above all else, the letter.
"How could he?" she cried. "He
knew I loved and trusted him, and
that I would have died for him. Oh,
John, how could ycu ruin our once
happy home and break my heart!"
Suddenly she remembered Margar-
cts words. Surely she had not been
to blame. At first she had been so
happy, and then had come the longing
for congenial surroundings. John had
never said much when she bemoaned
her fate, but of late there had often
been cloud upon his brow. Then
thoir home. She shuddered o little as
she glanced around the tastily fur
nishcd but disorderly parlor. In the
adjoiaing room stood the table from
which her husband had risen. A soiied
cloth, the dirty breakfast dishes, bit
of cold meat, crackers, cheese and
pickles. Surely not pleasant picture
for man starting away on o journey
to carry with him.
"But, John, I love you'll" she cried,
throwing herself upon the couch. "I
oh, wish I he'd done differently"
Time passed and still she lay there,
dry-eyed and despairing. The rosy
light of the setting sun stole in at the
west window and rested carelessly on
her tossed hair, but she did not move.
At last knock ut the door aroused
her.
She went wearily to open it. On
the threshold stood Mark Seymour, o
farm hand who had formerly been en-
ployed by John.
"Good evening, Mrs. Mason. I
called for that packet of papers I put
in Johns care when / went hunting. ]
saw him as he took the train at Layton
and he said you would get them for
me. BE said they were in one OF the
upper pigeon holes of the secretary"
It was only by strong effort of will
that Elsie was able to comprehend
what he said.
"Be you sick ?" he asked, noticing
her ghastly face.
She murmured something about
bad headache and advanced to the
desk. As she took down the papers
she started. 1t was from this same
compartment that letter had dropped.
Here it was-and the envelope bore
name of Mark Seymour, and the post
mark was April IA.
Elsie never could tell just how she
managed to get rid OF the talkative
Seymour. When she fouud herself
alone she sank upon her knees and
tried to realize it all.
1t was dark when she rose. She
lighted lamp and the light showed o
lace glorided by great Joy. The
first thing she did was to gather up all
of hec poems. She used them to start
fire in the range, heated water, and
began vigorous attack upon the
dirty dishes.
She spent tho night alone. The
tenant house was near and she was too
happy to be afraid. She worked until
late hour, and was up early'the next
morning.
John Mason did not reach home un-
til late that afternoon. A detected
look was upon his face as he strobe up
the walk.
"I'm glad 1 didn't tell her." he
thought. "She would have been 30
disappointed. / must get rid of the
farm some way. Elsie will never be
happy here. How different our life is
from what i thought it would bel"
He opened the door and Elsie was
in his arms.
"Tell me you love me, john" she
cried, clinging nervously to him.
''Tell me you will overlook the past
and commence anew"
He held her at arms length and
carefully studied her intently. Her
hair was arranged III the way he ad-
mirel it. She wore fresh cream
lawn. and in her belt was bunch of
scarlet carnations.
"What is it, EIsie2" be asked almost
sternly. Then, seeing her lip culver,
he drew her close to his breast. 81
love you, my wife. !"
"Come to supper," she said galyly
aftei little. "5ec, John, I've turned
over N new leaf"
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