The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-12-02
GONE BACK"


st is too late to change. The dogcart Is
It the door,
what does that matterp 1t can go back
o the stables l wish you would''
"My dear Jack, do not add Inconsistency
% my other faults. Goodness knows the
ist of them is long enough in your esti-
nation"
The speakers were man and woman,
10Th young, and both good to look upon.
The scene was shady English garden on
i bright summers evening, the mellow
ng light OF fading day f1ltering through
he dark cedar trees and playing upon the
white gown of the lady as she lay back
azily in luxurious wicker chair. She
vas very pretty and very young, but her
mouth was set in a hard line and there
was defiance in her eyes The man stood
N front of her, looking at her anxiously,
and mingled with the cawing Of the rocks
overhead came the sound of horses
hoofs, impatiently paving the gravel in
,ront of the hall door. Truly the dogcart
was waiting.
Jack Rodney gave sigh which was al
most groan, then drew himself up and
squared his shoulders with the involun-
tary action Of man who has to say some
thing unpleasant and who hates the task.
''Very we'll, Maud, I can say no more.
It Is evident we cannot go on like this.
Our lives are burdens to us, and soon peo-
pie will begin to notice that we are not
on friendly terms. Perhaps when I am
away you will think better of me. may
not irritate you SO much. You know,
only speak to you for your good"
"You preach-you don't speak. +"
"Maudp'
"Oh, don't let us argue. am sick of
it."
"And of me, too, SUPPOSED Well,- then,
goodby, If you will have 1t so. I have
left note for you on the boudoir table.
Will you kiss me?"
"No 1t is stupid to be hypocritical,
and there are no onlookers."
With another sigh, the man turned
away, and without one backward glance
walked to where the dogcart stood in
readiness, took the reins and in a minute
the sound of a horses swift trot was heard
down the gravel drive.
Maud Rodney sat quite still where her
husband had left her until the faintest
sounds had died away. Then she rose and
began to hum the refrain of q popular
song from a comic opera:
"Clowns, clowns, clowns,
M1Schlevous mankey Clowns.
But somehow there was no merriment
In the lifting tune, and that, too, died
away into silence. She pulled rose from
tree as she passed, but 1t fell to pieces
as she gathered it, and a thorn scratched
her finger. After all, it was as well that
Jack had gone to Norway. They were al
ways quarreling, and he never let her do
as she liked. She had been SO spoiled at
home that she could not brook the slight
est contradiction; besides, she wanted to
show him how Independent she was and
how well she could do without him.
1t was getting cold, and she shivered.
Where was her warm cloak, which Jack
always wrapped around her when the dew
was falling? The maid would bring 1t.
She went to the house to summon her.
AS she passed through the open French
window into the boudoir she thought Of
the note left for her by her husband.
''Another lecture, I suppose" she NUT.
tered, as she broke the seal. It contained
blank check and short note which
said:
MY DARLING WIFE-You can fill up the In
closed for any amount you like. Do not deny
yourself anything during my Punishment, and
try to recall me as soon as you can. You know
how much love you. Yours ever. JACK.
She twisted the letter about in her fin
gers, and the corners of her mouth drooped
as those of child about to cry, but sht
forced back her tears and tried to tel
herself she was q woman of spirit. Sht
would 60 for a brisk walk in the garden
to brush away the cobwebs from her brair
and then she would look at the new book
from Nudes, and then-well, perhaps i
would be bedtime-but surely this even
ing was very longl
Wrapping a shawl round her, she wen
again into the dusky garden and wan
dered down a long green alley, with tai
white foxgloves bordering it on eithe
side. They looked unoanny in the din
light, and the groups Of pale blossoms IL
the distance seemed to take queer shape
and to bend and wave like fantastic spiri
forms made misty by the darkness. 1t wa
so horribly still, and yet the throb Of tn
night beat like silent pulse In the air
Two white owls flew over her head an
startled her with their mournful cry, an
surely-yes, surely-there In the distance
| under the shadow of the trees, was tn
orouching form of man. Mrs. Rodney
| heart sank into her boots, and with a or
of "Jack, Jack!" she turned and fled
Footsteps followed fast behind her. Th
man was evidently pursuing her, and lik
a flash the thought went through he
mind that she was left defenseless.
"Jaok, come baoki Oh, come back
was her voiceless cry as she felt he
strength going and feet tagging, but 6
she turned the corner she saw q maiG
servant running toward her. She pause
/ to gain breath, and then went on. A hal
py thought flashed through her mint
Her husband had returned. She woul
never be willful again.
"Your master-has he come backf" 81
gasped.
The woman nodded, hut said nothing.
At the hall door a group of people wei
standing, and their faces looked pale an
terrified. She heard murmurs of "Tf
horse fell, :" "pitched on his head" "a
over in a moment" and with an icy fes
In her heart she rushed into the hall.
man held up his hand for silence.
On low couch lay still form, with
handkerchief over the face. With tren
bling hands she lifted it and saw her hu
band, quite white, quite still. He hs
come back, yet not he, but lifeless form
an outward semblance only of the me
she had loved, yet banished. And then 81
knew that she was indeed alone. And y
the world would go just the same, Il
flowers bloom, the birds sing and mornir
and night dawn and darken, making up
round of weary years, while only God al
her own heart would know the despairir
bitterness of her ory, "Come backP'-E
change.
As He Looked at 1t.
} Mrs. Enpeck-Ah, WE'LL Things a
ri never so bad but that they might be wors
: Mr.. Enpeck lin whom the lion has su
denly been aroused)- IL know 1t. I mig
be Mormon and have three or four
you.-Chicago News.