Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-10-26
WARS SUDDEN GALL.
A Love Story of, the Present.
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as she clupg tightly. to the receiver.
F Eyes, yes-Islf listen carefully, "
she said next, and then silence.
''Whats Whatp Say it again, very
slowly. 1.ca.n't understand. Surely
/ haven't uuderstoods" her voice was
sharp, with q sudden dread. Again
silence, and then her answer,
"Not todays At once? The ship
ordered to Pnerto Rico? Have I got
'it rigbts Oh. Guy. hare I got it
rigbt2"
She listened, md o low moan OF
pain escaped her.
stBut-but surely you'll come hone
for q minute2 Til see you again9"
The answer sent shiver through
her from head to Foot. and she said,
fercely:
sJ cannot stand it, Guy. I cannot!
To have you 90 OF once like thIs--after
this morning. Gould I see you-iust
see you, .Guy-if ! weat straight to
the yard nowf" Aud feV Seconds
latet:
'Ips too terrible, too cruel" Sud.
denly she started violently es 9
thought flashed through heT head, and
she asked, rapidly
aGny, be honest with me- Does
this sudden order mean-does tt
mean-waYs Is there any news?
Something don't know9" and after
On interval:
eyes. yes, TIL try No one knows
,yes Of course, But Guy, speak to me
your voice ia still cold and hard and
strange. Say something 70 me--oaa
word I can cling to, 10 help mef
"What9" A pause
'1You are in the paymasterss efbces
Clerks oil about? Is that it9 Please
whisper 1t, and I'll try and catch it "a
She listened painfully-only a bury,
8 woman,s laugh, word IN an IN
known voice, 8 tantalizjng, incessant
vibration fsnrn the endless feYarisah
e4;ase 0ss ei
which she: :bad no part. : g. :.
s'I can't hear -Oh, Guy, ] can't
hear word" she pointed sDon't
go yet When can hear from you2
Just one minpte; ! want to soy some
thing, Guyl" The telephobe bell
sounded with sharp impat.snce even
as she spoke. She rung again and
again, aud there was no answes.
"Come back I must say one word
Central, give me 81, please, give me 81.
Guy, dear, won't you come for one
single seoond2 Tm-I'm SO sorry for
this morning. It was oil my fault,
every bit Of It" She pleaded sobbing
into the senseless thing In her hand
that no 'loager responded. She runs
again and once again, frantically.
Then she sprang rigidly erect and
whispered:
"It's too late-he's gone-perhGps
forever" Her head fell forward, she
swayed toward the closet door, funabled
at the handle, opened it oad cried IN q
voice faint and pitiiul:
"Will some one help mop Hes
falling sightsaw Ruth hurrying toward
her through the street door; her tail
ing hearing was pierced by the shrill
young voice Of newsboy dashing
round. the corners
'eE1=tra, e1-tral Presidents message
read in Congressl War sure to -"
His1voice was lost in the roar of the
streets.a and Mira. Phelps sank uneon !.
soto,,e into 12utbto ormo
Twenty-forr hours passed Holt
through the I ight and ali day long the
cries Of the newsboys reached the
shrinking hearing of the young wife.
Her sweet face was stiff and ashy with
suffering; her hands 80 cold that her
child shrank from her touch and
whimpered. Ruth hoTered about, in
and out, on hundred foolish loving
errands. She played and laughed
boisterously with the baby to drown
oil other sounds when she caught the
first far cry that wrung her mistress
heart again and again, coming nearer
and nearer down the street.
AS the day drew to it's close Mrs.
Phelps lay once again silent and spent
on the old lounge, and again she
heard a quick step spring up the
stairs, o ring at her bell, the low words
at the door. It seemed like tho con-
fused memery of dream. She did
not even open her eyes until Ruth
said close beside her:
"0ne these yer mess'g ger boys, Miss
Mamie, jes' broughten this yer passed.
TO you. 1t do smell like 1t might be
some sort Or boquet" she added,
smiling,
''Put it down, nanny; I'll arrange
them later said Mrs. Phelps. Prob
ably some friend at the yard, who knew
o. the ships sudden sailing, had re-
membered her and sent silent mes
sage OF sympathy in this sweet way.
It was often done from one sad
hearted wife to another, just to help
o little in the endless pathos OF their
common lives.
Gland sakes, Miss Mamie, nin't you
put them posies in the water yet?"
complained Ruth, again appearing OF
the door, watching for some spark Of
interest in that set white face before
her yearning eyes.
"Dat's no way to act, Miss Nannio,
an you know dat right well. When
folks takes de trouble an de
'spense to buy you some flowers, you'd
orter spuuk up 'nough shorely to say
'howdy' to 'em."
Gall right, nanny dear; please
don't scold," said Mrs. Phelps,a q smile
breaking for an instant through the
rigidity of her face.
She arose and began to unite the
string about the pasteboard box. She