The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-05-19
REUNITED.

J
now the change to east of the wind had
brought sleet, and the moisture was
freezing in thin, dangerous ice on the
pavements.
George Witherspoon swung the cor.
ner into Pine street. His usually erect
body was bent against the strength OF
the wind
Such weather for the last of April, -
he muttered as be went up the steps OF
his house, and as he put the key into
his door vision came to him of the
April two years before-a vision of long
lanes, with poisoning lilacs and horse
chestnuts and datfodils and of tall and
radiant woman always at his side. He
entered the house and went slowly VI
stairs. How clearly it all streamed out,
enveloped his mind, his senses He had
first seen her at a table d'hote in Paris.
He had followed her over half of Eu-
rope and had finally met her at Baden
Baden. She had doting old father, but
ultimately the two had gained his re.
luotant surrender of his only adored
daughter, and they had married.
For just year they had enjoyed su-
preme, overlooking happiness Then AL
ice became jealous. A batch of Old let
tiers had come to her from an unscrupu-
lous woman her husband had been fasci-
mated by in his extreme youth at college,
and she resented with all her intense
passionate nature anything which could
come between them and their exclusive
love for one another. She had spent one
long night alone flashing her bitter envy
to madness, and the next morning she
had gone to him with marvellous calm
ness and told him of her irrevocable de-
termination to leave him forever He
was proud. He had met her with dis
daiDful Indifference, had considered self
justification unnecessary, and they had
separated.
They both had lived quietly. They
went nowhere, for their friends were
common ones, and they avoided all pos
sible annoying meetings. He spent his
time on the board of trade, at his clubs
or in his home, which he could not
bring himself to give up, and she had
SO restricted her life that be scarcely
caught glimpse OF her. Only at the
theater or at some concert did her pure,
proud profile suddenly start out from
the crowd, and then emotion would so
powerfully sweep over him that he
would have to leave the building.
Only one bond still existed between
them. Alice's father was old and an
Invalid. His time was spent at water
ing places, mostly on the other SIDE
and it had seemed simple and dutiful
kind of falsehood to weave around him
veil of ignorance as to the real state
of affairs and leave him with the happy
feeling of Alice's JOY and completed
love. So they wrote to him regularly,
filling their letters with sweet plans
and ambitions, unconsciously embodyipg
III them their fondest wishes and most
heartfelt desires.
George Witherspoon was dressing
himself carefully. Three cravats were
thrown aside before he had tied one to
his taste He never looked so we'll as III
Tuxedo, Alice had always said. He
could hear her voice now, her low
thrilling voice, saying as she came to-
ward him across the ball my big,
stunning sweetheart, and just before
she put her arms closely around his
neck, Dear, dear, how love you"
He shivered with desire for her.
Would he never recover? Would /
never forget? He thought he could IA.
most feel her face pressed softly against
his-his nostrils were filled with the
sweet, subtle smell of the sandalwood
her laces were put away in.
Husll--a knock at the door The
mans heart swelled with feeling. He
forget everything, the intervening year,
the awfuf bitterness, the loneliness, and
he softly opened the door, drunk with
one dominant idea. His man Chambers
stood without.
A lady to see you, sir, ne said.
Her name5' Witherspoon asked.
"She says it's not necessary 20 tell
it, sir y answered the man, "but it IS
ON important business she wants you,
sir, and she will keep you only min
ute. y
Witherspoon whole being was vi
brating. What was this strange premo-
milton? Was 1t sorrow coming or did he
feel dawning JOY.
II II be down IN moment, he said.
He walked up and down the room rap
idly several times. 1t was their ami
yersaIy. He had remembered and kept
it so IiRidly 1t was barely possible j.
had come over her rs strongIy--the hap
piness they We're missing from their
lives, the lrcompleteness of their vapid
present-an perhaps She had come to
him. He W almost running down the
stairs i'll hi eagerness He held back
the portieres, and there she stood before
else. He bad heard the voice before; he
was sure of it. 1t seemed 10 hlm to
come from some time of the long ago
some time of which he had kept no
souvenir.
1T seems a strange thing to say, he
said, "but | cannot help thinking we
must have INST before am sure | rec
ognize your VOICE.
Yes, she said, 1--WE have met You
would have recognized my face too,