The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-03
WAR AND PEACE.
Love Story of Today--By Anna A. Rogers.

den, illogical. overwhelming relief, a.
she chung tightly to the receiver.
Yes, yes-I'll listen carefully" she
said next; and then silence
What? What? Say it again, very
slowly. I can't understand. Surely
haven't understood" her voice was
sharp, with a sudden dread. Again
silence and then her answer:
Not today? At once? The ship or
dered to Porto Rico? Have 1 got il
right? o, Guy, have got it right?"
She listened and low moan of pain
escaped her.
''But-but surely you'll come home
for a minute? I'll see you AGAIN."
The answer sent a SILVER through her
from head to foot, and she said, fierce
| ly:
Il cannot stand it. Guy. I cannot! to
have you go at once like this-after
this morning. Could 1 see you-just see
you, Guy-if went straight to the yard
now p And few seconds later:
Its too terrible, too cruel Sud
! denly she started violently as a thought
/ flashed through her head, and she asked
| rapidly:
! Guy. be honest with me- does this
sudden order mean-does it mean-war?
/ Is there any news? Something 1 don't
| Yes, yes, I'll try. No one knows
yet, of course. But Guy, speak to me
your voice is still cold and hard and
strange. Say something to me-one
word 1 can cling to, to help met
'What?" A pause.
You are in the paymaster's office?
Clerks all about? Is that it? Please
whisper it and I'll try and catch it,"
She listened painfully-only a burr. a
woman's laugh, word in an unknown
voice, a tantalizing, incessant vibration
from the endless feverish crisscross of
life going on forever, in which she
had 10 part.
Il can't hear, Guy. I can't hear
word" she painted. Don't go yet
When can l hear from you? Just one
minute; want to say something, Guyl'
The telephone bell sounded with sharp
impatience even as she spoke. She
rang again and again, and there was
no answer.
Come back; l must say one word
Central, give me 81. please give me 81
Guy, dear, won't you come for one sin
gle second? I'm-Pm so sorry for this
morning. 1t was all my fault, every
bit of it, She plead sobbing into the
senseless thing in her hand, that no
longer responded. She rang again, and
once again, frantically.
Then she sprang rigidly erect and
whispered:
ut is too Iate-he's gone-perhaps for
ever" Her hand fell forward, she
swayed toward the closet door, fumbled
at the handle, opened it and cried in a
voice faint and pitiful:
will some one-help me?" Her fail
ing sight saw Ruth hurrying towards
her through the street door; her failing
voice was pierced by the shrill
young voice of newsboy dashing
round the corner:
Extra, ex-tral Presidents mes
sage read in congress, War sure to"
His voice was lost in the roar of the
streets, and Mrs Phelps sank uncon-
scious into Ruth's arms.
TWenty-four hours PASSED. Half
through the night and all 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 so cold that her
child shrank from her touch, and wh.m-
pered. Ruth lowered about, in and out,
on a hundred foolish loving errands
She played and laughed bOisJerously
with the baby, to drown all 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.
liC4PS 10y OlCC AGAIN SlltiIj anu spent
on the old lounge; and again she heard
a quick step spring up the-s stairs. a ring
at her bell, the low words at the door.
1t seemed like the confused memory of
a dream. She did not even open her
eyes until Ruth said. close beside her:
One these yer messenger boys, Miss
Mamie, jes' broughten this yer passel
To- you. 1t do smell like it might be
some sort er bouquet" she added. snil-
ing.
Put it down, nanny; I'll arrange
them later" said Mrs. Phelps. Prob
ably some friend at the yard. who knew
of the ships sudden sailing, had re-
membered her and sent her silent mes
sage of sympathy in this sweet way.
1t was often done from one Sad-hearted
wife to another. just to help a little
in the endless pathos of their common
lives.
Land sakes, Miss Mamie. amt you
put them posies in water YETI" COM
planned Ruth, again appearing at the
door, watching for some spark of in |
terest in that set white face before her
eyes.