The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-01-30
DIFFERING NEEDS.
The Story OF Tragic Happening.

CLOCK on the cnimneyplece struck
the half hour and Desmond. reused
from his reverie by the fire. gave the
logs kick and walked over to his dress
ing table. His toilet only needed the
addition Of dress coat to be quite COM
plete, but as il still dissatisfied with his
hair. which wac sometimes refractory,
he picked up his brushes and used them
with unwonted vigor.
The face that looked back at him
from the mirror was not reassuring.
There were deep lines about the mouth
and eyes, and a harassed expression,
which did not we'll become the host Of
the evening" man about to assist at
the celebration Of the twenty fifth ami
versary Of his marriage; he looked as il
he we're contemplating his own funeral
Throwing down the brushes he passed
his hands over his face af il to smooth
out the lines, and the muscles relaxing.
gave him a less tense expression. He
slipped on his coat and started toward
the door, but suddenly changing his
mind, flung himself into chair before
the fire. To leave the house that night
was out Of the question.
Downstairs he could hear the hustle
OF the final arrangements; the guests
were coming at 9 o'clock. Madame was
probably moving about putting a fin
ishIng touch here and there-and he
did not like her touches; they we've in
artistic.
Twenty five years they had been pull
ing along in double harness! At first
they had kept step very well. pulling
evenly and always together; it even out
lasted the honeymoon and into the fol-
lowing year. Then gradually his pace
quickened and hers Jagged until they
found themselves tandem pair; Lie
always leading. With a desire to give
her a chance. he had tried to develop
her along his own lines, but she neither
understood nor was interested, PREFER
ing the conventional, narrow road Oh
which she had always travelled. Safety
and not experience was her value OF
life.
But Desmond. a league or two ahead
OF her, did not lack for companionship
by the way, and at forty five he found
himself as desperately in love as boy
OF twenty. After all, there was a good
deal OF the boy about him-a buoyant.
trusting nature with a great capacity
for affection that kept his heart young.
Since she had crept into his heart the
whole world had taken on different
aspect. 1t was wonderful how she col
ored everything ard readjusted his
point of view. 1t was the strength of
her personality, for sometimes. when he
was away from her, and bad not for
several days seen her, he ceased to be
reconciled to the inevitable, and longed
to escape from his utter desolation, into
the warmth OF her love.
Then when he went to her she would
give him fresh courage, sending him
back into that sitting atmosphere to do
HE duty. Duty, forsootb! Was out
ward form everything to this mundane
world? Sometimes he wondered how
long he would prove so tractable. her
influence dominating his whole charac-
te-, forcing him to live his life apart
from her. There were days when he
was haunted by the fear that he sad
dened her life, but she would never
have it 80. Always, she said, he made
her glad. glad. glad,' but once he nc
ticed that her lip trembled Alb. yes.
he was in love, and he loved the being