Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-10-26


sibilities from day to- day. the fates
themselves seem to sit alert spinning
on one'syery doorstep. One uncon.
sciously treads lightly and whispers
In hopes of being forgotten, If only
for q passing houp. Many q hasty
word dies OH the lips because OF the
aching memory Of Q cruise just passed.
the haunting fear OF onefass 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 Q
condition of things polisical that sud-
denly dwarfs the proportions OF things
feminine. Also his sense Of hurnor,
never rampant, happened to be further
attenuated by studying late into the
night for his approaching examination
sor promotion
Mrs. Phelps had tried to face it all,
but the two ,dreary years Of separation
had Left her with nerves that shiYered
OF a breath. Then, too, she had in
stantly recognized and resented that
feeling In him that oomee TO all mea
at suoh tlmes-tha sense TINT the deep
purposes and ends OF his lise had
brushed her aside, that he wantod
both arms free for once The brute shat
fights to win and hos been tsained Is
years for Just that wss awake end on aSe
within him. Nothing OF this had been
spoken between them< and yet 1t was
OF the root OF their quarrel that spring
morning, when words were said back
end forth that seemed to sweep up the
love, devotion, patience'of two lives
like osheston the hesTta where fire
has died
He strode along the gray chill
streeta on his way to his ship Of the
:sSsss'
dyed and n aiss, and for them both the
past aud future we're wiped out, and
the present only lived in one of those
flaming aSonies Of disillusionof OF which
one somehow survives such a surpris-
ing number In the course OF life
sime.
s. The baby OF her feet plucked at her
dress, and the mother did not even
feel ii. wrapped in that overwhelming
sense Of finality that belongs to pas
sionate youth
She was conscious Of no particular
animosity just thon, only a sort OF
wonder aud awe that this should be
the end of it all. The end OF happy
girlhood, when his words OF love had
made woman of her in day, and
happy years of wifehood. when they
we're lovers stiH, 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 omazement
at,the familiar things about her that
made up their. simple little home.
There under the lamp wera his books
and pad aud pencil whore he had
sat studying last night and 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 hal 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 o
certain warmth and pliability returned
to her frozen mood. A sense Of anger
and outrage began to burn again at
bis laststinging 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 wearily up
the three flights Of the apartment
house-thc elevator SO seldom ran
after the men had gone for the day.
She sunk exhausted on the lounge in
the tiny dining room and lot the child
pull off her gloves, one obstinate fin
ger at time. Her eyes shut, and q
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:
"Can'tI / see the lady herseif2"
She sat up as he approached.
.'Holding, telefoam- corner drug
store, lady youse'll hev to hurry" he
panted-and was gone again in flash.
Mrs. Phelps sprung after him and
called down the stairs:
,''What number? Where from? Did
you hear?"
s.Sixty-one," he shouted, from two
stories below.
s.The navy yard" she exclaimed, O
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 asoft 'Hello'
sped ON its way. Then she listened.
eyes, I'm Mrs. Phelps. Who are
youp'' She had not recognized the
voice that had answered.
tNl,tt Gnuw che cried softly in