Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-02-17

could Sec you ID the evening clothes OF
last years cut. Isn't it funny, David:
Isn't it all deadly funny" She pressed
her hands upon her excited eyes and
laughed again.
When David could speak. he closed
his hand nervously on her shoulder and
bent over her.
Don't say such things" ho said,
"Oh, don't. This is an hour to bring
US closer. Olga. it changes all our lives.
1t must change US too. Can't you see
that: Can't you see how we must help
each other now"
"Of course it will change every
thing" she said quietly.
but want it to change us, Olga,
he prayed. Listen, dear, listen! We'll
not have so much to crowd out love and
the peace Of home, without which no life
is happy. Let us come nearer, dear, and
be to each othcr now what we've never
been, even i'll the early days of our mar
rage"
When David had felt himself master
of his fate, plea like this would have
been impossible. But defeat had I'M
nerved and humbled him. Olga, what
ever she was, was all he had, and in
broken pride he was weak enough to
crave tone, look, rich in the felicity
of a grief shared. He had not realized
his loneliness until he permitted the
want to take expression, but once un-
leashed tho desire for sympathy was
like the gripo of thirst.
He flung himself on his knees beside
her and held her close.
"Oh, Olga, my dear, come to me-
won't you? You've seemed to need me
little, you we seemed cold, yet you loved
me in the beginning. Our life had q
promise then it hasn't kept. Can We
find the best now, Olga, when other
things are gone? Oh, can We find it?"
he cried in bitter longing.
The words thrilled through Olga. She
felt an awe of him. His soul it seemed,
stranger, looked through his miserable
eyes, awaiting her reply.
"You loved me when you married
me. Olga. My wife. you love me now.
Tell me SO, tell me sol"
"Why, yes. you foolish fellow, love
you, Of course" she said, gently touch
ing his face with her fingers.
She glanced sideways at the clock. 1t
was half past 8. Fortunately she had
dressed early, as the scene in which she
was to appear would not commence TN
til after 10. 1t would be necessary to so
soon, yet with David in this unusual
mood she feared to speak of the engage
ment which he evidently did not think
of, despite her strange costume.
His heavy eyes looked into hers. He
had flung away his unimpeachable re-
serve in humbly praying for her love.
and Olga dimly realized how much he
must have suffered before this possibili-
ty was reached. The thought even
crossed her mind that it would be mar
velous and might be an agreeable sensa-
ton to love man as her husband de-
sired to have her love him, so that.
ruined, she might be his hope and exult
in this, though everything else was lost.
There were women in the world who
loved men that way. She had often
heard so.
"You shall have what you want, my
dear; yes. just as much as I can give
you," David whispered, his head on
her shoulder, his lips on her throat. ut
won't be SO hard for me to do without
things. I'll work too. In few years I
may make some lucky Strickland then
life will 60 more easily. Just let's
stand by each other and be happy in
spite Of ALL"
''In spite Of ALL" Olga echoed, an
unnoticed frown passing over her brow
when the clock struck the half hour
after 9.
"You didn't know the suspense suf-
fered from, Olga" David went on,
finding it necessary to ease his reawak-
ened pain by talking of it. "There were
days when I saw doom siding to me
and knew in my soul there was nothing
to be done to keep it back-nights when
I walked the floor forecasting the fu-
ture. Why, when the terrible truth
came upon me today it should have been
no stranger. had faced it many times
In fancy. But must have hoped with.
out knowing it, for it was q blow"
She felt him shudder He held her
more closely and closed his eyes.
II am 80 dazed and sick from it ALL, 1"
he said, "but now the worst is over,
for I've told you, dear. I hated to tell
you. 1t seemed cruel thing to do.
You don't blame me, do your"
mo, you couldn't help it," she said.
He snatched at the words hopefully.
II couldn't. he said. "Oh. indeed
oouldn'ti I did all for the best. Oh,
yes. I'm glad the telling is over. Olgai