Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-11-21

60 the door. The station was nearly
three miles off, and Alice, who gener-
ally was waiting for me, did not appear
For few minutes l stood Tuning in
the hall, delighted with my rash griev-
ance. Then / shouted, "AliceW
"Comingp' was returned from the
room above, and Immediately after my
wife hurried down stairs, fastening OH
her hat as she descended.
Alice got into the trap and took the
reins, as usual. I seated myself beside
her. The man got up behind, and so we
started OH that last miserable expedi
ton. Neither of us said much. looked
at her once or twice sideways. Never
had she seemed so handsome or in such
glowing health, but there was an I'M
naturally deep flush upon her cheek, and
her lips were tightly closed together.
When we reached the station, the
train was already in it, rushed to the
booking Office, bought our two tickets
Il have them now, for they were never
used), seized my change and hurried
my wife of the platform, reaching the
train just as it was beginning to move.
Alice hesitated.
"Get in, for goodness sakel' cried
peevishly, opening carriage door, and
then-God forgive mel gave her a
push, and you know what happened
next.
My poor wife never spoke again, but
as she lay in the waiting room, mutt
lated and dying, she just opened her
eyes and looked at me. Then sad,
sweet smile came over her face, and,
raising her arms toward me. as bent
over her in an agony Of remorse, she
put up her dear face for a kiss, just as
she had so often done in happier days.
I stopped down, and then-somehow
I could not give her that last kiss.
Something held me back-a feeling OF
utter shame and unworthiness. A shad-
ow Of pain crossed her face, the arms
fell back, and in a moment the oppor-
tunity had passed forever, and our span
Of welded life and love had ended-so.
Do you remember that awful inquest,
Harry? You were good to me that day,
old fellow. No one could have proved
himself truer friend
You remember that, when gave my
evidence, said that tried to assist my
wife into the carriage. Well, you know
now that was playing with the truth,
and you will probably despise me for it.
! almost hoped that there would be
verdict Of manslaughter-that I should
be sent to prison.
There is only one thing more to tel
you. When the accident became known
l received many kind and sympathetic
letters from my friends and hers.
hardly read them, for each Of them wa
fresh stab to me. IF they only knew!
my conscience kept saying to me. Sh'
knows. She died cursed by my i'll tenn
per, without parting kiss, and if W.
meet in another world what will sht
say to me or l to her?
But there was one letter that arrested
my attention and caused me far more
pain than all the others put together
It was from the lady whose invitation
had caused our fatal quarrel. "Per
haps, it ended, lit may be some com
fort to you to keep the inclosed lettel
from her. l received it after her deatl
probably the last she ever wrote. "
DEAREST MAY-Thank you so very much TO
| your most kind invitation. should dearl.
| love to come and see you again and have
| good talk over old times. But Charlie canno
| we'll spare me just at present. and he Is >
| good and kind to me and SO nice about every
| thing that do not like to be away when h
| wants me.
We are just off for jaunt to celebrate GU
wedding day, and Charlie is calling for me t
start. Your loving friend. ALICE.
That is what she was writing while
bullied in the hall. That is what sh
had written, when she silently Listened
to my grumbling ON the way to the sta
ton. Oh, the irony Of it all
Now you can understand, Harry, VIII,
it is that take SO long getting over m.
loss. One thought, and one alone, some
times arises to comfort me. Perhap
that last movement Of hers meant for
giveness, and--perhaps-when her at
tempt at reconciliation failed, she sen
me that letter as message from beyon'
| the grave. Odds and Ends.
/