The Meeker herald., 1896-11-07

fooA at the sweet, wet eyes, and child
tike mouth. the round. soft cheek. and
sosd-hrown hair. wondering. doubling.
hoping all at once-he could not have
TOLD which the most Of the three.
Tnat was two years ago-two blessed
years Of such happiness that they
seemed TO him like long delightful
dream Amber loved him and Amber
was his wife.
But OF late shadow had fallen be-
tween them-the shadow of Lawrence
Kendall The fear that had numbed
Jonn S heart when he first beheld the
young mans admiring gaze upon bis
vile 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
positlVely harsh toward her. What else
had he been tonight? And all the
time his proud, sensitive nature was
sunefing to its utmost capacity.
Dear little Amberi He could feel the
tears in her eyes and the quiver 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 rufIiing the shiny hair.
for she used never to complainant
kiss ber over and over and tell her
how much he loved her. and how sorry
hs 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.
Ah, just wait till she came in, tired
and cold and sleepy! Then he would
make 1t all right. She would forgive
him-of course she would, the darling!
And they would be happy again as
they had not been for weeks. sitting
by 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 the
old Joyous way. What fool he had
been-how cowardly and unreasonable,
to doubt his innocent darling even for
one moment
1t vas 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 clock
Were his fears confirmed? Had his
doubts become truths?
Halk Was not that the sound OF q
carriage pausing at the curbing? What
occasoned this unusual confusion In
the hall below?
John Sarles seized his crutch and
limpei few PAGES toward the door,
but sopped as it was flung open and
the figure OF an old serving man ap-
pearel on the threshold.
MISTER" he began.
John Sarles lips moved, but no sound
passed them.
Mister, 1 have come with sad news
for yol. There has been an accident
the horses ran away-and Miss Am
ber--+"
HI caught John as he reeled and fell
and answering the mute. awful appeal
of tlbse agonized eyes. he concluded
"Il hurt seriously, but not fatally
The hsye Just brought her home"
Thres months afterward. when burst
ing bulls and freshly-sprouting grass
proclaimed that spring was at hand
Amber was carried into her husbands
study ind propped up by pillows and
cushius on the sofa there. Her face
had bst its roundness and its dainty
colorand the beautiful brown-gold hair
was cut close to her head.
There was great bunch Of yellow
roses on the table at her side and she
touched them lovingly. knowing that
John was watching her and that he
had ,laced them there.
Presently he came and sat down or
the edge Of the sofa-all their differ.
ences had long since been made up
md took her hands in his and held
them tenderly against his mouth
There were tears in his eyes. though
Amber's were clear enough.
"You dear old John" she said. smil
ing. 81 believe you feel worse about Il
than do"
He sobbed.
well, you needn't. you silly boy
She was silent moment. and then shs
said musingly: DO you know. b
lieye I'm half glad"
"oh. my darling. to be lame all you
lifeH'
Yes, for don't you see. we shall sym
pathize with one another more thai
we ever have? And. oh. john"
"Yes, Amber"
az never realized before how pArien
and dear you were until l was hurt
l think love you better than ever. i
that can be, and am sure-Quite. quit
sure. that this has been a blessed les
son for both of us, aren't you?"
And John, in his newer and cleare
wisdom, dared not deny 1t.