The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-09-11


/, and troubled. / went into the little al
cove of the library, where it was dar,.
and ouiet. and lay down to think II all
over. You see. thought there must
he some way out OF the difficulty, Tor
loved him 80. and wished more than
ANYTHING in the world to help him.
Presently / heard Herbert's study door
open, and after pause some one cane
into the library, closing the door aI.er
| them. Through a narrow riIc PC
tween the portieres saw the race OF one
Of nv husbands friends--a handsome
younr fellow called Familiarity the
bohemian prince because he was 50
r.cklessly prodigal and very popular.
| He and Herbert talked a great deal 81
neonle whom did not know, and fel:
lerv uncomfortable in hearing what
| did not concern me; but was AFRAID
nv husband would be annoyed Il
made my presence known, SO l lay quite
| still and tried not to listen. At first
| Herbert was in a bad humor, which the
other man noticed, and tried to dis
sipate iestiIgly; but failing, said pres
emily: Loring, old fellow, know your
trouble. lust as the whole world Will
soon know it; and upon my word am
| sorry. but it won't mend matters TO
sulk. Believe me, there is only one way
out Of it, He went on to say that but
! for me Herbert would be at the TOP OF
the ladder of fame, and knew it was
true; but every word was like sword
| thrust to me.
"'Don't take it SO savagely, old
man. he said, lifting his hand as it to
ward off Herbert's protests. You VIII
not be SO foolish as to deny it. No one
blames her; it simply is not in her 10
be otherwise than good, humdrum
little housewife, all heart and simpli-
/ city-the sort to make an ideal wife for
a poor pious clerk, but for you she's
simply impossible Don't Herbert
said once; but the other man paid no
heed. He went on to show him what
a drag would be to him his whole life;
how the world would laugh at and
wound his poor, stupid little wife; and
finally Herbert admitted the truth OF
his reasoning.
THAT night / left his home for
ever. l had no one in the world to
go to, but l knew there were many
poor sorrowful lives that ] could
brighten, even though my own life
was spoiled. Since then / have done
what I could for others, always think
ing of him / love. Once Ilwaited for
hours to see him pass from public
building and l last saw him arm in
arm with the man who taught me my
hard duty. / read in the paper yester-
day that he will go away tomorrow
TO Europe, for long while, perhaps
and when he returns even my grave
will be forgotten; but some time in the
future, when you see him, will you tell
him that thought Of him and loved
him to the last?"
When I rose to go she was crying
softly, holding the rose to her flushed
face, her tears falling into its fragrant
heart; but excitement or fatigue
brought on violent spasm OF cough
ing that ended in hemorrhage, ano
left her winter than her snowy gown
, The nurse promised to inform me O.
her condition on the following day.
That night a certain faction of bo
, hernia gave brilliant farewell recep
!, ton to Herbert Loring, which was
crowded beyond belief by successful
people of all artistic professions.
, caught glimpse of Mr.. Loring be
side a beautiful woman of Thespial
, fame and fair reputation; but thu
L. dad hSrr1 mn
: pletely, and Immediately realized tn
: futility of my plans. learned, how
ever, that he was to sail on the Etruri'
: the morning following at IL o'clock, ant
= decided to act accordingly.
The next day was dark and chill
full of tempestuous winds and raw
= mist. 1 drove early to the pier to wal
. his coming; but, early as it was, other
: were there before me-leavetakers also
y of the humble walks of life, to whom
the restless ocean meant perhaps erer
= nal separation. How strange the iron.
. of fate! Perhaps l was risking nue.
Q censure by my course, but the mem
. DRY of the pale, patient little woma
= who worshiped the great man uphel
= my faith in human kind. l had Ion
= TO wait among the numbering freigh
:, teams and unlovely surroundings @
the pier, but one by one other carriage
arrived and people alighted and gatf
;, cred into little laughing groups, and a
= length a murmur of excited common
- proclaimed the hero's approach. sa'
- my groom press gently through tn
p, ,, circle of eager friends to give him m
20 hastily-scribbled note; saw the quic
upward toss of his head as he read II
A. then he strobe rapidly forward, b