The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-23

Ter fane q Il 10 protect II from the night
~, she. looked up and down The road-
way, but Il she expected some one there
curious thing. She hold her handkerchief
In her mouth and stood . moment-only
moment-with clasped hands, looking TO.
ward the upper windows Of the house.
Then she hurried across the road, dropped
her handkerchief and stopped to pick II
up turned one swift glance up again to
the house and ran quickly down to the
servants entrance Of the house next door.
IT believe that's Kate! believe It's
Katel Itisl 1t isl It isl"
Daylight had glinted over the housetops
before Clarence Armitage left his vigil
ground and stole softly baox &c his desert
ed chamber.
Next morning ne was In feyerish, rest
less condition, uncertain what to do, what
to think, what to determine. He could
not go to his office, he could not remain at
home, he could not go out. What would
happen that nightp Could he get to speak
to herr This was the cry that arose in his
heart and kept upleaping there all the
dreary day long.
At last tho day was done, at last all were
gone to their rest, and full hour before
the last post time he took up his position
Just within the gateway of the square gar
den and just opposite to the pillar box of
The postoffice. Would she Gomez That was
the eternal question asked and answered
during this slowly moving hour. Yes, ut
last the black figure and white flowing cap
came along in the direction of the pillar
box. Clarence Armitage trembled and
almost shook in his excitement. Buaa
new event Gained him. As she approached
the letter box and posted the letters she
held in her hands a man came around the
corner, his evening dress showing under
meath the half open overcoat, his step I'M
steady and gay. As he approached the girl
he seemed to recognize her.
"Ah, Annie" he said, sis 1t You, my
dearf Come for walk"
"No, sir; certainly not"
Clarence gave fearful start, for 1t was
his wife's voice.
"Bosh and nonsenser" replied the man.
"You must come. You are deyilish good
looking girl, Annie. I"
He had got up to the girl and had taken
hold Of her arm, roughly too.
mo, sir; you mustn't talk like that
and you hurt me-"
Hurt your Nonsense!' was the reply,
thickly spoken, partly from passion, partly
from drink
LET me go! You must let me gol" q.
Clarence Armitage stepped forward, and
as the fellow took hold of tho girls bodice
In a rude, rough fashion he struck him
full in the face and then turned to his wife
apd hnctilv phiaperpd.
Don't cry out, darling! have been
watching for you so long. Come home to
me again--come home Come now, while
there is yet time to get in quietly"
Kate Armitage stood dazed, but allowed
her husband to carry her rather than lead
her toward the house. Fortunately no one
was about. Hastily opening the door with
his key, he drew her inside and shut the
door.
"Oh, Clarence, cannot, cannotl" she
cried as she covered her face with her hands
and slid down on TO the floor of the dining
room, where he had taken her. "You have
found me out, and now you are going to
torture me, to send me away from my
watchhouse next door. Oh, don't do that
BE merciful, dear, for our old loves sake;
for our childrcn's sake!'
Katie, dear, be calm, be calm, he re-
piled soothingly. "You shall never leave
me again. never again, swear! oh, how
I have longed for you again! How have
sought for you! How our children have
prayed for you! There now, do not cry,
darling. Be quiet, and all will yet be well. "
He took her all over the housc, pointed
out that everything stood just as it used to
stand, took her into their bedroom and
showed her her dresses still hanging in the
wardrobe, her jewel case, her hairbrushes,
her linen, just as she had left them.
Finally, after a night of such painful JOY
as is not known to any but such as these,
he let her say prayer over her sleeping
children. And then he once more folded
her in his arms, led her down stairs to the
study, where of old they generally sat, and
talked Of the practical side Of the question
that remained to them. She had assumed
the position of domestic servant next
door because she wanted to be near. She
had preserved her secret all these months
and had seen and known his watchful cure
of their children.
Only one thing he insisted upon-that
they should beremarried at once; that she
should change her dress, and he would
take her to hotel as soon as the dry had
begun, that she should go down into the
country the day after, and he would bring
the children to her for their summer holi-
day.
Eyes, my love, my love-" he said as he
held her at arm S length and surveyed her
in her black dress, Try beautiful love, we
will keep this dress sacred to this night.
And while her tears flowed fast and it
seemed impossible to make the throbbing
heart peaceful again he rcvercntly put on
her one of her old dresses and then once
moro they talked of their DID, old love, and
he once more declared she must never leave
him. They left the house before the serv-
ants began to stir, and their strange woe"
ing ceased until once more they were hus-
band and wife. Sketch.