Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-12-31
On New YEHR's Eve.


The fire was burning low in the CRATE,
throwing out occasionally little flicker
ing thread of blue gray light. The unshad.
ed lamp on the table, too, burned f1tfully,
and the man writing by 1t spluttered and
fumed with wrath.
On the sofa, half in the light, half lost
In the shadow, a woman lay in an uneasy
attitude watching the writer with steady
eyes. Her face was haggard and pale and
scared round lip and nostril with hues of
discomfort, her hair in disorder.
On little table by her side were lot
of medicine bottles and q novel; half cut,
the paper knife sticking in it, foregathered
with bottle of cheap smelling salts On
her fingers quantity of false jewelry play
ed hide and seek with the freight, gleam-
ing from the folds of her crumpled gown.
There was nothing of tenderness or of
solicitude in the gaze which she bent upon
the man by the table, and she persisted in
it, although she saw it irritated him. At
every nervous ejaculation her eyes gleam-
ed brighter than her jewels and with no
flicker in their intensity. At every pause
of the pen she moved restlessly, as If to
hurry it's pace, but she never turned her
head away.
But presently the lamplight with one
last fltiul leap gasped and went glimmer-
ingly out, and the man threw down his
pen with quick exclamation. Hang
the lampsl Are they never seen to in this
housep'' He stumbled tentatively to the
mantelpiece feeling his way with out
stretched hands, and searched carefully
across Its surface.
The woman on the sofa raised herself
deliberately on one elbow and regarded
him, her eyes shining with malice.
"Really, is it worth while lighting 1t
spain9' she asked 'sSuch a pity you
should have SO much trouble, and you
have knocked over half dozen things al
ready! should leave it alone The fire.
light will last our time. / suppose you
are going to bed within an appreciable
periodf"
She sank back among her cushions.
81 cannot write in the dark, - he said in
a sullen tone.
Her laugh echoed through the room,
but she made no other reply.
"But Of course that is Of no conse-
quence." s1
81 did not say so, but-well, it costs
money nowadays to keep ones light burn
ing, and now that you have mentioned it
I am not sure-what reason have for
thinking IL worth WnlleI
''God knows; you have little" he
struck match with shaking fingers and
lit couple of candles, then crossed quick
ly to her couch and, bending, laid bis two
hands upon hers "Maude, do not let us
quarrel. We have only each other, and
and it is the last night of the old year.
Perhaps better one is dawning for us. -
She sighed impatiently and twisted her
hands ovvou from his NAV b0 ~
sShall read it to YOUR He had turn
ed to the table.
She nodded.
He carried his work to the hearth and
read, standing, with bowed shoulders and
excited lips, by the meager light. 1t was
evident that this mans work was much
| to him. And when it was finished:
"Well?" he said, turning to her eagerly.
She was playing absently with her rings.
"To think that shosld have come to
wear false stones" she said, the tears al
most in her eyes.
az wish they were all behind the fire
every one of them!" he said excitedly.
ST dare say you do"
Then presently: st dare say 1t is very
good; but, then, don't know much about
that kind of thing. 1t is too good prob
ably. Like the bread cast upon the wa
| tiers, it will come back to you after many
days."
"There was a time when you cared
enough about that kind of thing" bit,
! terly.
"Ah, dare say-in the old days when
you posed as a genius and were to set the
| Thames on fire."
"Maude, how can your You know that
I told you-yau know that did not de.
ceive you. / told you
"Oh, they all say that, but they don't
mean it to be taken for gospell'
81 told you that was no burning OF
shining light.
ibid you mean me to expect thiss" She
thrust her hand toward the bare room
with q contemptuous gesture that stune
him to the quick. g
"Thiss God Forbid Oh, know have