The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-12
VEIL BETWEEN
Continued from Page 10

dark With an almost superhu1nan effort
she recovered her waning consciousness,
and presently the face reappeared.
1t was the face of the man she loved,
the man whom, in another week, she was
to have married. Married! And there sat
his wife and his little children, He had
been away from her for several days. She
had thought he was maing preparations
for their wedding. And instead, he had
been ding!
Surely it couldn't be- Perhaps it was his
brother. or someone else with a close re-
semblance. But no, she knew the feat
ures too we'll: the silky mustache, the
mouth the eyebrows, the hair. 1t was he.
the man who had said he loved her. who
had planned to wreck her life; the man
who. in spite OF his treachery to her and
to the wife whose sobs had accompa MED
her song. lay smiling in his sleep amid
exquisite floral offerings sent by number
less friends; honored, revered. man
amongst men. = shining model, as the
minister had said, for others to go by!
Well, his death had snatched her from
the jaws of perdtion. She should be
thankful. On, yes. she should be thank
full That would come later. perhaps but
just now it was all she could do 10 refrain
from failing on her knees there by his
side, among all those flowers, and scream
ing aloud.
He was dead That fact rose paramount
1t annulled his contemplated sin against
her broke down the barrier OF her re-
proaches. and deadened her TO every other
thought. All else was as nothing.
The future rose up before her. a blank
dark wall How was she "a scale il with
out MS help? How was she to 90 on liv-
ing. and he. dead? II only there were no
future for her, II only she could lie there
by his side. cod and still as he,
Someone back Of her gave her q little
push she moved slowly forward. touch
ing the black skirts Of the widow with the
ruffles OF her own white gown; and pass
ing around the cssket she took her last
look AT the dark hair across the marble
forehead. the lashes on the cheek. and
glanced 5espairiugly back. as she returned
TO her place, al the rounded chin above
which the closed lips curved in tire calm
majesty OF death
she stumbled on. treading In her confu-
sion upon the gown OF the woman in front
% her. The daisy-trimmed bonnet and
coil Of yellow hair gave pace for a mo-
ment 70 an angry face whose mouth nut
tered the words. stupid. careless The
singer pushed her way forward. she had
no strength left COR apology. L needed
every effort 10 reach her place near the
statne5-Elass window.
The last friend had passed the bier. A
few left the house; Others fingered for
time at the doors.
The minister again arose ard u1odoned
70 the girl 10 sing. she stared back q,
him aghast. only hsls ccnp-eheafinr
Must she sing asajn2 How could she9
The minister nodded once more ard
frowned- He consulted MS watch. The
services were being undusy prolonged Il
he were proPoraonzteIy de-ayed a. the
grave it would De impossible fo- hin 70
gel home Ia tine for dinner What had
come over the giri7
Just "a he had made W his mind "a
conclude without the song. since s.e
seemed blind 10 MS appeals. the siure-
rising. began 20 sing ths Ave Maria.
Those leaving the house crowded back "a
the doors as she poured fo-th her 8lzsnt
her glorious voice FACILITATING upon -
silence Ike az ache At arst TIE CIV toaes