The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-07-17

was after the flood that Elizabeth s
mother-in-law said so. So if you were
to die do not doubt that by the time
John married again he would forgive
even the muddy coffee and"
That IS enough. I came to you
for comfort, not insults" and Elsie,
wiping her eyes, hurried down the
path III the direction of her own home.
Margaret smiled little as she care
tully moved the dasher to gather the
golden butter, but the smile was fol-
lowed by quick sigh.
AS for Elsie, ] wish I could affirm
that she was so impressed by her
cousins words that she went home and
began to mend her waye. But truth
compels me to admit that she went
straight to her own room, threw her
self upon the unmade bed and in
dulged in o good cry. Regarding John
Mason's dinner that day it was much
like his breakfast, except that strong
ten took the place of the coffee, and o
loaf of bakers bread brought from
Layton was q decided improvement
on the mullins OF the morning.
After the meal was finished Elsie
listlessly gathered up and washed part
OF the dishes. She had really intended
to wash them oil, but an interesting
subject for poem came in her mind.
So the dishes were left, and, with dirty
dress and unbrushed hair, the young
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. p
"Elsie, I must 60 to Hatfield at
once. l cannot return before to-
morrow night. Will you get me some
dinner while dress? I must catch
the 1.20 train at Layton"
"What have you got to go to Hat
field forr'
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 go to Margaret's 8
for the night, while trying to decide
if Solitude" or "Soul Hunger"
should be the name of her now poem.
"John didn't kiss me" she thou ght
after his departure. "He remembers
that 1 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 poem that was
to make her immortal As she let
down the writing table letter dropped
out. She stopped to pick it up when
1T fell from the envelope. Tho first
word arrested her attention.
DARLING-Mect me at Hatneia ,>,-nisht.
Must sec you, cannot live unlesA do.
Yours with undying love.
GESEvIzvE.
Mechanically the wife returned the
letter to the envelope and replaced it
in the secretary. Then she tottcred to
a chair nnG : >ed to think.
John, hes Glsba..d, false! It could
not be! And yet there was his sudden
departure, his refusal to tell his bust.
ness. and, above all else, the letter.
''&:icw could hc?" she cried. "He
kne-' / loved and trusted him, and
that 1 would have died for him. Oh,
John, how could ycu ruin our once
happy home and break my heart!"
Suddenly she remembered MarcGr-
cts words. Surely she had not been
to blame. AZ 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
their home. She shuddered little as
she glanced around the tastily fur
nlshed but disorderly parlor. In the
adjoining room stood the table from
which her husband had risen. A soiied
cloth, the dirty breakfast dishes, a bit
OF cold meat, crackers, cheese and
pickles. Surely not a pleasant picture
for man starting away on q journey
to carry with him.
"But, John, love You" she cried,
throwing herself upon the couch. "l
oh, | wish had done differently.
Time passed and still she lay there,
dry-eyed and despairing. The rosv
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 O knock at the door aroused
her.
She went wearily to open it. On
the threshold stool Mnrk Seymour, a
farm hand who had formerly been en-
p!oyed by John.
Good evening, Mrs. Mason. /
called for that packet OF papers [ pu.
in Johns care when l went hunting. ]
saw him rs he took the train at Layton
and he said you would get them for
me. lie said they were IN one of the
upper pigeon holes of the secretary"
1t was only by n strong effort of will
that Elsie was able to comprehend
what he said
"Bo you sick:" ho asked, noticing
her ghastly face.