The Florence daily tribune. (Florence, Colo.) 1898-1903, 1899-02-10


for an extraordinary space of time)
Mary did not care, and that is the
worst of woman She loves one man
and kicks tine rest of the world oct OF
the door The man foryets-the world
remembers That is the worst of a man
and of the world
She had spent four and-twenty years
in sitting by the weary wsyside watch
ing for happiness to come along the
road. And now happiness had hove in
sight. in a distant cloud of glory. and
she straightway arose to meet it. with
out any mock modest delay What did
it matters She was going away from
them all for good
A week before she sailed she received
letter from JACK Collingwood Ii was
longer than the last II beat about the
bush good deal hut it left no doubt
as to its ultimate intention
When fate makes mistake. it is apt
TO be spitefuL 1t lies low and watches
its opportanity-the opportunity fer
bringing its victim TO grief-and then
it is itself again
Fate made Mary lover unfaithful to
her. and the letter was TO break it to
her rs gently as possible that he had
married another woman-in haste. il
seemed, lest she should come out and
stop him-and that there was no neccs-
sity for her To go out to Calcutta.
Mary Charrington suffered torture
for that one week At the end of il
she looked facts resolutely in the face
and realized that if she had nowhere
to 90, she had ut the same time mo-
where to stay nowhere in the world.
And out of the world-her dead hus-
band would be waiting for her The
passage was taken ON the Kandahar
That was the detail which proved her
salvation. A first class passage to India
costs money 1t would be a pity TO
waste 1T There again WAS the woman
practical through the numbness of an
appalling calamity. the loss of every
sailed at the end of the week and the
name of Mrs. Percy Charrington figured
in the passengers list.
Fate sometimes repents and makes
what amends it can 1t made honorable
amend to her The third man in her
life crossed her path and linked his lines
with hers on board the Kandahar ON the
voyage out He fell in love with her at
once-love that came SO soon as tc run
neck and neck race with pity
His name was Edgar Goring. and he
was man of action, not speech. and
told her that he loved her and meant to
marry her.
She laughed for several minutes more
than was decorous or suitable when he
told her this, but he understood Then
she grew quieter and gave him the his
tory of the last three Yeas simply and
truthfully
81 am quite without hope, and /
don see there is anything left to me
Mr.. Goring she said You are more
than good but | am an old woman
have got through the best of my life.
cannot marry you feeling as do.
"Oh, yes you can. said Edgar Cor
ing.
VERY well, she said, giving in
from sheer inability to resist lyon
must take the risk. and you have got a
very, very bad bargain '
She gave him limp, nerveless hand
and looked into his resolute eyes with
watery little smile
He kissed the hand. and then he kiss
ed her
II take the risk" he said. II mean
to marry you and make you forget
mean to make You love me.
He did all three things
And this is a true story. so will not
apologize for its glaring improbabilities
Her husband is younger and nicer
looking and richer than Percy Charming
ton. more charming and more success
full than Jack Collingwood and she
loves him far better and knows it
A woman is anointed with the oil of
gladness above her fellows when fate
bestows upon her a full love and a full
er knowledge of what that love can be
to her. bringing her. as it brought
Mary Goring. through fire and water
into the ultimate haven of wealthy
place. -Sketch.