The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-08-24
HER EXPIRATION.


HER EXPIRATION.
We had been "inseparables" before
his going and WE would he so never
again | felt convinced. She had absorb
ed him Mind, desire, future We're
packed in the little palm of her hand.
Yet | was not vulgarly jealous. | loved
Aubrey Geldham better than | could
have loved brother hut | had seen
her and had caught the reflection of his
sentiment though III n tempered degree.
| had met her but once, in verdurous
Devon lane. where She had lost her
bearings and we had come To her assist
ance.
Her name was Ruth lnscelles. and
she was "a widow That WIS the sum
total of our knowledge, She might have
been 20, but we estimated her age at
20. deducing our theory from certain
fatigued languor of voice and expression
that accorded i'll with the girlish satin
of her skin. This WAS arrived at on the
first day of our meeting-we had not
discussed her since But one morning
when he had called at the little farm
cottage where she lived and had found
her flown without word of regret his
despair had hoen too much for him
The whole story rolled from his lips
his love for her. hcr seeming rceiproc
ity, their wandelings III the woods, her
Rt41f trn4 nj H.
taught him tnwish himself some knight
of the Holy Grail and not nero he
smirehed man Of many passions
WAS SO out Of it, as the phrase is,
that | could volunteer small elucida
ton. That she was "a caquette Of the
first order seemed the most feasible So
luton. and | offered it. lie derided the
nation--it was apparently so frivolous
Il venture that il failed Ia anger him
But ono day. after we had returned To
town and Were working wei in har
ness, he with his book | with my illus
trations for it, he burst out alrcsh
'tShe unintcntinnally let out where
she lived. 1t Is II village ON the coast Of
France. She must have returned
Well" | said. snspcnding my work
and pretending 10 extract a hair from
tho iino point Vi ms, ,i.,.ss ,,,e pen.
Well, he burst out, the world is
our oyster If we shirk opening it, we
cant hope to fitch pearls. -
"fhat means" hinged eXpectantly.
tThat means. in plain words, that
don't intend to give up the biggest
pearl That God ever sent To make IA man
rich -
~ GU intend To follow her. | ques
fundamentally indeed, for his kin
ding eye contained fire of decision and
energy that for ii days, since the sorry
one Of her disappearance, had smol
dored
He had been absent but IL week when
| received the telegram announcing his
intended return. | stood-~with my
back against the mantcl and hands
warming themselves behind my shelter
ing eoattails--eager to recognize his
rampant mount of the stairs, to feel the
clasp Of his hand or the thump ON TIE
shoulder blade and hear his CHEEKY
Congratulate me, old fellowl" that !
knew must come a cab stopped outside
and key turned in the lock. Then
slow, heavy tread assembled We met in
the passage. There was no need for
more than II glance at him to abridge
the exuberance of welcome that had
bubbled to my lips.
The silence was 50 long-so pregnant
with nnsyllabled anguish-that at last
| closed II warm hand over his fingers
as they olasped the arm end Of his chair
"Welly'
Well, F" he said huslily, starting
little from his coma and poking Il coal
with the toe of his boot, cts over.
so | supposed. and the pearl was
not
Not for my handling, he inter
rupted. II knew you d think something
hard of her, but you won't, you won't
whsn | tell YOU
He stretched his hand to his glass
and emptied it before continuing
1T came about sooner than | intend
ed--the horizon was so serene | wanted
to lay to for bit-but il was no use.
We were talking of something's for
get what-and made quotation. You
know tho chap who said, Show me a
woman's clothes at different periods Of
her life and | will tell you her his
tory ?"
Yes, forget his name, but / think
it was a Frenchman -
Well, | quoted him, pretending to
like perspicacity. II was sncaking,
cowardly ruse to know more Of her -
"Well?"
She snapped at my offer-was al
most ardent in her wish to test me
caught her wrist as il turned the
handle of the wardrobe door and remun.
strated: Il refuse to see them | know
nothing Of clothes, and I'm not detec-
tive. | won't pry into your past secrets
either of sorrow or of Joy.
Her hand shook in my clasp
" Don't stop me, she cried inpcra
lively. Help me- want you to know
them.
. SO be it, said and pushed back
the door. Then She suddenly flung her.
self in front Of it, between me and the
row Of dainty frocks and shimmering
laces. She looked like Cassandra guard
ng the gate Of citadel, though her
fps said III tone richer than wine
iweeter than music, Kiss me first -
There was a long pause eldham
sat blankly staring at the Goals, and |
gazed intently into the mists Of nicotine
that curled upward to the ceiling.
There are some kisses" he said
presently, THAT are worth the whole
sum Of human pleasure. Pleasure
Faughi A rotten word--belonging to
those who only half live
He handled a cigarette mechanically
and lit it.
We had gone through most Of the
dresses when we came to some fine azure
drannrv incruc+ad NTH Jarapoao ,,oId