Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-08-27

some goou IN me, or You would not have
loved me. OH" and she clasped her
hands and looked ut me with soft, wet
eyes. IF I could only 60 back and be that
girl again.!"
Her voice thrilled to my heart. I dared
not look at her.
ITO go back 1 said presently, sis i'm
possible. That is the worst of it. With
all its mistakes and %fol!ies, it pushes you
On-On remorselessly. You cannot stay
you cannot return-you can only so for
ward, bearing the pain and the regret as
best you may"
"Wc," she said, humbly, ''ha-e had to
bear both, l fear"
Then she rose and stood before me. Her
face was white and anxious, her hands
were claspcd tight. and hung before her;
the folds of the soft gray dress caught
light and shadow from the flames.
There was something" she said. and
her eyes looked Mt me piteously, like a
chilGs. ut was a~hout-about myself. /
have tried to remember, but l cannot. 1
can remember the girl you met here. l
know every walk we took. know the
very tracks of the sea. do not think 1
WAS bad then," and her voice grew anx-
iouN. II did not mean TO he. l know. l
was happy, too, in a way, and 1 had faith
and hope, and life did not seem so hard
and sad Il thing. Now" and she put her
hand to her brow and pushed the loose
curls back, while her eyes grew clouded
nov it is all so different. Yet l cannot
tell why-I only feel as if my life had all
gone wrong-as if, somewhere on it's road,
l had missed happiness; and, when l long
for it there is q gulf between-a gulf 1
can never pass"
The words, and the young, sorrowful
voice. smote ME to the heart.
My poor child" l said, brokenly, 81
would it We're in my power to give it back
to you!'
why should you care" she said, and
half turned away. 81 was not good to
you. l have thought of that very often.
And l never cared about your feelings
my w seemed to fill up everything, and
when I did" Again the cloud came
over her face, her eyes dropped. her little
hand moved with restless touch among
those soft white curls. when l did,"
she said, sit was too late"
1 was silent. l seemed to have too
many words to speak. yet something kept
me from speaking even one.
I'm all my thoughts and dreams of
you," She went on, II always knew how
good You We're. IL hope you believe
that. There are things l have told you
that 1 felt you did not believe. Some
times it is so hard for a woman to speak.
and when we feel we are misunderstood
it makes it harder. IL have often tried
TO tell YOU of my feelings, but YOU chilled
me. You did not mean it. l know; but
always l felt, as told YOU just low, that
you were so good. and so true. and so
strong. Oh. always-always l felt that.
And if could have come to you and told
You everything. 1 know 1 should have
been happier"
Perhaps" 1 said. huskily. "you can tell
me now"
She drew back from me. shudder;ng
and white. a change cam cover her. as
if some hidden hand had struck at her
swaying figure. She hid her face in her.
hands.
Il cannot" she cried. p~iteously: II can
not! 1t has all gone from me. Often and
often l have tried to remember, but it is
an dark"
'"rhc light may come yet" I said. eager
ly. for l knew we'll enough that. until
perfect confidence drew her heart to mine,
my dreams of happiness would never be
more than dreams. nor she. my wife, be
more than the shadow she had been for
those two years of suffering.
Her hands dropped. She looked Mt me
again.
You are my husband" she said. 81
remember YOU and I remember what you
told me about love and trust. IL lost
both. did l not??"
was silent.
For IL few seconds tho room was still as
death.
"Ycs." she said. as ! did not speak. 81
know it. But why have you rome back? 2"
II have come back" l said, and my
voice was unsteady as her own. because,
after all. you are my wife: your sorrows
are mine; your troubles. too. have left
them too long unshared. have been
| SELFISH"
"iou!:' she interrupted, and looked at
me with eloquent eyes: you selfish! All,
no. no.! YOU never were that"
YES" l said. II was; and l have much
to reproach myself with; but there is still
n future for lis. and we must make it as
happy as We can"
"One can't call back trust" she said
sorrowfnlly. "If it goes. it goes forever.
And evcn if You loved me-"
II do love you." said earnestly. touch.
cd to the heart by the piteous sorrow in
her eyes.
She looked at me for a moment as if in
doubt.
Until you love and trust me. too" she
said very low. we shall never be happy.
Between us. like Il cold ghost, there is
always that something"
turned aside. sick at heart. but recog-
nizing only too plainly the truth of her
words.
went to my room. but l was too rcst-
less for sleep. 1 was racked with doubts
and fears. and all the sorrowful events
that had freshly come to my knowledge.
For long hours l sat ti..re buried in
deep thought. when IL slight noise aroused
me. The door opened softly. and on the
threshold stood a little white figure, with
something clasped to her breast. She look
ed so unearhhly in that dim light. that for
a ONE my heart stood still with fear.
Then suddenly she glided forward. and
went straight up to my bed, and laid on it
the book she held. The action gave ME
speech and courage again. l sprang to
my feet.
4 sseNnrl,,rS I o.:,J