Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-09-09

fHplu cuuuBcS, ltS almost llmltle3S pos
sibilities from day to day, the fates
themselves seem to sit alert spinning
on ones very doorstep. One uncon-
sciously treads lightly and whispers
in hopes of being forgotten, if only
for q passing hour. Many a hasty
word dies on the lips because of the
aching memory of cruise Just passed,
the haunting fear of one fast approach
ing,
OF course there had been misunder-
standings between them before, in the
usual rise and fall in the tide Of all
human relations, but never before any
thing like this.
Ensign Phelps had just returned
from long wearing cruise to find a
condition of things political that sud
denly dwarfs the proportions of things
feminine. Also his sense of humor,
never rampant, happened to he further
attenuated by studying late into the
night for his approaching examination
for promotion.
Mrs. Phelps had tried to face it all,
but the two dreary years Of separation
had left her with nerves that shivered
at breath. Then, too, she had in
stantly recognized and resented that
feeling in him that comes to all men
at such times the sense that the deep
purposes and ends of his life had
brushed her aside, that he wanted
both arms free for once. The brute that
fights to win and has been trained l5
years for just that was awake aud on fire
within him. Nothing Of this had been
spoken between them, aud yet it was
at the root of their quarrel that spring
morning, when words were said back
and forth that seemed to sweep up the
love, devotion, patience of two lives
like ashes on the hearth where a fire
has died
He strobe along the gray, chill
streets on his way to hi ship at the
navy yard, and she stood still, wide
eyed and white, and for them both the
past and future were wiped out, aud
the present only lived in one of those
flaming agonies Of disilIusion Of which
one somehow survives such a surpris-
ing number in the course of a life
time.
The baby at her feet plucked at her
dress, and the mother did not even
feel il, wrapped in that overwhelming
sense Of tinality that belongs to pas
sionate youth.
She was conscious of no particular
animosity just then, only a sort of
wonder and awe that this should be
the end of it all. The end of a happy
girlhood, when his words of love had
made woman of her in day. and
happy years of wifehood, when they
were lovers still, and even happier
motherhood, that had set her apart
sanctified forever in his eyes-so he
had stopped and whispered to her that
night when the light burned low near
by, and she had fallen asleep with her
hand in his.
She looked about in dull amazement
at the familiar things about her that
made up their simple little home.
There under the lamp were his books
and pad and pencil where he had
sat studying last night aud near it her
work where she had been beside him
sewing in unwilling silence after her
long isolation The indent Of her
head was still on the pillow on the
lounge where she had at length thrown
herself and lay Watching him until she
fell asleep toward midnight.
She glanced about half dazed; and
then Ruth, her old colored maid, the
only servant she had ever had, came
in from the kitchen and spoke to her
in that low, sweet, compelling voice
of hers that went back to Mrs. Phelps
babyhood down in Maryland. She
obeyed the voice from habit and went
mechanically about her morning
duties, in the performance Of which a
certain warmth and pliability returned
to her frozen mood. A sense of anger
aud outrage began to burn again at
his last stinging words, whose probe
went deep with the sure cruelty of
long association.
She took her little girl and went out
on her homely round of marketing.
largely trumped up by keen witted old
Ruth.
On returning she toiled YEARLY up
the three flights of the apartment
house-the elevator so seldom ran
after the men had gone for the day.
She sunk exhausted on the lounge in
the tiny dining room aud let the child
pull off her gloves, one obstinate fin
ger at time. Her eyes shut, and
nervous reaction had set in, when she
heard young step bounding up the
stairs and sharp ring at her bell.
She was half conscious that Ruth
opened the door and that boys high
voice was saying:
Cant l see the lady herself?"
She sat mp as he approached.
Holding telefoam corner drug
store, lady youse'll hev to hurry" he
painted and was gone again in fash.
Mrs. Phelps sprung after him and
called down the stairs.
What number? Where from? Did
you hear?"
Sixty one" he shouted, from two
stories below.
"The navy ysrdr" she exclaimed. a
thrill of premonition sending her heart
into her throat.
A moment later she stood alone in
the telephone closet at the corner, and
through the transmitter soft "Hello'
sped on its way. Then she listened.
eyes, I'm Mrs. Phelps. Who are
you?" She had not recognized the
voice that had answered.
"Oh, Guyl' she cried, softly, in