The Somerset reporter., 1897-07-22
0IEANDERS.

spoke and caught both these of the
woman firmly in his hold She, rising
from her seat, gazed at him with
startled eyes and parted lips, while the
flowers III her lap Were scattered in a
rosy mass about her feet
/ was thinking of you, the man
went on IN a soft voice of entire glad
ness. In all the years, the long ten
years. since we said goodhy you have
| been in my remembrance always, al
ways. At every little pause in the life
which has been so full and yet so empty
your face has come before me, and here
just now, looking at the sea and the
sunlight, the pain was moro than /
could bear, l turned to leave the ter
race, and there you We're among the
flowers, Margaret. In all my life it is
the first good turn that fate has done
me Tell me you are glad to see me
again. -
Margaret drew her hands from his
with sigh, still looking up at the thin,
keen face, the gray eyes bent eagerly
upon her
" Glad-yes, | am glad, she said,
but her voice was sad with the remem-
brance of long pain and much weeping.
'.It Will be worse afterward-but for
the moment-ah, John, how long the
years have beenl How lonelyn'
There was a pause between them,
and he sat beside her on the low bench,
each afraid to break the silence, while
he gathered up the flowers and laid
them on her knees again Round them
azaleas and oleanders grew in a glow
ing curve of rosy color, shutting out the
length of terrace. Before them. beyond
the glitter of the white houses on the
beach, lay the sea, blue and sail fecked,
meeting the blue curves of the cloudless
sky in its serenest mood.
Tell me of yourself, " he said at last,
leaning forward and touching the flut-
ter of black ribbons ON her white dress.
81 know so little-just few meager
lines in the paper or a chance remark
in a mans letter. l know that he is
dead, that you are free, but that is all
Tell me, Margaret, y
The spell of his entreating voice was
ON her, and the long sorrow of her lone
~ life came to her in vivid stroke
which caught her by the throat in sob
and drowned the blueness of her eyes in
tears.
''There is not much to tell, " she an
swered leaving her fingers in his clasp.
six months after you left for India
was married to him, as you read, of
course.
Her brow knitted sharply in an in
slant S contraction of pain, but he did
not turn away.
"Yes?"
Well, there it is-the story Of my
life, Margaret said, with little smile
sadder than Ter tears. :" | was 20, pen
niless and pretty. | married million
aire of 60, and you-yOu went to India. y
A silence, while the eyes of both were
| bent upon the sea and the sound of mu-
sic from the hotel terrace above came
family over the howery screen around
them.
90 He was generous in his way, Mar
garet went on after little. He freed
my father from the money he owed
him. and the boys got on all right and
Dolly made good match. Father and
mother got their part of the bargain,
and newell, he got his too. -
John Stair flung her hand from him
suddenly and turned away sharply.
"Ah, you wheel said Margaret bit
terly But for me-think of it-he was
hard and misery and coarse, and | was
his wife and loved you. "
Stair turned to her again.
But now? You are free?'
Yes, E." she answered slowly, Il am
free. Two years ago he died and left
me free and rich and childless. Tell me
now, John-tell me about your wife. ;"
'Ah, no; not now," Stair said eager
ly. Let Ut forget for few hours
forget all except that we have been SO
long apart that we have met again,
Margaret.
'No, no, you shall tell me, " Mar
garet cried sharply. why. why did
strong, There was no one to torture
you. You shall tell me- -
The eager look on Stairs keen face
faded, and his face grew white.
1T was in India | was ill., down
for months with fever, and she nursed
me at the risk of her own life and good
name l could do nothing else but
marry her. Poor Martial"
"Martha-is that her name?'
Eyes. "
"What is she like-your MarthaP"
There was a ring Of scorn in Margaret 8
voice, but her eyes saw the sea through
the glitter of her unshed tears What
is she hke?'
IA homely little body, very small
and very plain. Her whole soul and
affection, think, is conferred in her
boy. She worships him.
"Ah, she has cbild?"
Eyes The little one was born in In
dia, grew up very delicate, and two
years ago she brought him home. He is
all right now, l believe, and she seems
happy about him at last. l got leave
about month before | expected. She
does not know that | am in Europe. l
wandered here out of my way--not be-
ing in hurry to get home to Martha,
and found you, Margaret. "
The thrill of gladness softened his
voice again as he uttered her name, so