Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-10-20
CHAPTER l.

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palm across my eyes, with gesture
half scared half petulant, that irrl-
tated me vaguely, IL don't like IT,
dear"
II beg your pardon, Helen" re-
sponded somewhat huflily, drawing
back. IL really was not aware you
objected so polntedly to my looking at
you"
II dont-I dontW she broke In
eagerly, How could you imagine
such thlng2 II was the expression
OF your face, Paul, that took me back
for the moment, when | turned my
head and found you sitting there
watching me with such critical,
searching sort of look, almost as II
you--you---"
"As II | what, sweetheart" asked,
appeased by the carressng touch.
"As II you saw something In me
you could not quite make out, and did
not like at all--at all! But l was
mistaken In that, wasn't /, PAUL."
Then, after a moments pause, as
did not reply
Sure II was only foolish fancy on
my partY Say 1t was only that-ah,
say II was only that, love!" she whis-
pered, In the soft drawing brogue
was learning to like.
well, dear" answered slowly, "as
you press me 80, l must admit was
little surprised, after leaving you on
the lawn romping with the dogs In
the very ecstacy Of high spirits, declar-
Ing that even the twenty-hrst Of June
was too short day to be happy In,
to find you half an hour later sitting
here alone, to all appearance a prey
to the profoundest melancholy your
eyes perfect wells OF despair, looking
as If the burthen of existence was too
heavy to be borne another summers
day."
1T was heavy-so heavy! You are
right. could not have borne II much
longer. For the last twenty minutes
II have been your widow, Paul"
"oh," said, with feeling Of unac-
countable relief, stroklng her tumbled
silky hair, 81 seel You were my
widow, madam-a very flattering and
satisfactory explanation of your APP
pearance indeedl But, dear, don't you
think, all circumstances considered 1t
Is rather premature for either of us to
don the weeds even in spirit YETI"
She was nineteen, as fresh and as
hardy as the mountain heather she
had lived among all her life. l was
twenty-five, stood six feet one in my
stockings, and had not known an
hours illness since had the measles
many years before.
THAT was not the kind Of widow
hood / meant" Helen said, looking at
me with touch of pathetic reproach
in her strange eyes. your death,
your mere bodily extinction, Paul,
would not grleve me for long; / should
cease to mourn you soon enough"
Mrs. Dennys," l exclaimed, in
mock Indignation, explain yourself,
please! You surely would give me
the conventional year of Grape at the
least?"
mo, / wouldn't-not year, not o
week, not day, for would die the
same moment you did, Do you think
| could live and you dead, husband?"
And yet you say you were my
widow for full twenty minutes, true
daughter Of Brln?"
THAT was because / had lost you In
way that severed us in life as we'll
as in DEATH"
Lost me in way that severed us
In life as we'll as In death? This Is
dreadful weather for conundrumsl /
give 1t up!" responded languldly.
Twas widowed, Paul, because
had lost your love--because you cared
for another woman more than for me-"
she returned, In low voice, looking
ut me with eyes full Of tragic denuncl-
alton, as Rebecca might have looked |
1t Ivanhoe, as poor La Valllere at |
Louis when she babe him her last |
yood-by outside the convent gates.
laughed little too boisterously, | |
Ielt, and drew her to my side.
ITO be sure, to be sure,"' assented
yolubly, Il never thought of that So
luton! How long is 1t since | first
learned to care for you, ma belle? That
day you and slipped down the noun
tain side through the yellow broom?-
let me see-seven, eight, why, nearly
nine months ago! A long spell Of con-
stancy-almost time should BE weary
ing Cor another love, isn't 1t? Some
men. you know, would like a change
Of wife with every change OF coat; but
as happened to be Of rather conserva-
tive kidney, think ought to be able
to wear one wife to three coats at the
least. and believe courted you in
the very cloth your fingers are caress-
ing now, It's getting a bit shabby,
TO be sure; but"
you may treat my words lightly"
she interrupted leaning over me with
half-closed eyes, bright pink spot
burning on her cheeks. Il still
stick to my opinion, something
tells me shall lose you, as say-some
dayv'
Feed your melancholy on the