The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-02-18

Martin Arthur and Naria E"upel!
found their lines laid side by side. felt
the letters that stretched lightly from
wrist to wrist were necessary 10 each
other. and knew that it was so.
Three years passed and George i;ou-
pell did not return. and out of The life
Of his widow his memory was slowly,
softly. irresiStibly shOuldcred by the
tilmy. insidicus ghost of The personality
OF another man. One day the gEC>t put
on immortality. ard the likeness OF
Gods own image. and Maria ~itnurell
found the cold. intangible shape ou-
dowed with flesh and blood-eye> that
looked into her very soul. strong arms
that held her against d broad breast.
lips that spoke words Of passion like 4
flame Of fire. that took their answer
from hers and would not be denied. ard
behold. she awoke. and there MAS no
friend any more. but a lover in deed
ard truth.
Martin. Martini" she said. locking.
up at him with a great love and q Ge>-
pcrate fear struggling for the su-
prcmacy in her beautiful dark face. If
/ krcw!-O. God! If ! knew. Euf | DO
not. | may b. 10 widow ut ALL may
be his wife still. and in that caS"-
IN that case love you just tie same.
and nothing can alter IT," he answered.
You have no proofs? Then proofs
shall be obtained. If we have 10 search
every inch Of the Atlantic. Do you
think | mean to let you Go-to let 4
shadow separate Us" Dearest woman
in the world. the thing has got to be
done. and | will do it,"
".Aud-if he is not dcad?!" said he:
eyes: she herself was past u~tterlnce.
lie only looked back into tho" eyes
and laughed a little queer laugh very
softly. pressing both her hands /" his
lips. There would be time to consider
things on the day when he and tEe !iN-
ing George ROupell met face to face
with their worlds like two cities in Il
thousand ships. all fighting for i wom-
an on the sea-
But in the meanwhile. he WAS II leave
her. No. there must not be any more
words of love; things were OutwardIy
to go on as before. and if he could not
keep his distance she would forbid him
TO see her until all the suspense was
over. and the mystery cleared. She WIS
firm. Then he got a little angry. He
found this lOve-making so pleasant;
she was very fair in his eyes: her south
ern beauty set his blood alioht. and the
touch OF uncertainty fred his dramatic
perceptions. But her mind WAS made
! up. ard so he went. his last prrteSta-
tons wearing an extra feryor. to cloak
his rising anger. and in defiance Of
what he chose to term her GOODNESS. and
.nward!y considered her obstinacy.
Maria Roupell. again alone. PRAYED
God on her knees 20 clear the ways for
her and put this torturing tar@ie
straight. Perhaps that WAS why Mar
tin Arthur died and WAS buried. and III"
stood before the mirror a fortnight
after the funeral and laughed because
all the tears were shed. and all the
PRAYERS were prayed. and life hence
forth held TO more for her of either.
"Dorinda. YOU are looking very liz.
Iny child"
I'm really quite well. only-but per
haps It's a mercy to lie thought i'll
when one is merely miserable. - :
Gir,> are fools. Mrs. ItoupeIl. And do
they always leave off folly when they
become women" Oh. forgive me. /
am talking nonSensc-INe got into the
habit Of it because it is easier than say
ing nothing. and feeling = great black
curtain coming slowly, slowly-down-
downtown. directly one >tup> | o
think. : = Your mourning. | ell
" you, What am | saying? But |
wish | had an "Ncu> for Wearing it."
Maria Eoupci! looked at the pretty.
rathciicaI'y pretty face of the girl be
fore her. Twenty gay m had
written their record there in gold and
ros" and white. ard Eow had come q
frost. 4 killing frost. and the flower
Ike head WAS bent beneath il. and the
CIDER woman gazrd ard thought Of the
white blossoms prrishing upon that
grave 50 seldom absent from her mental
eyes. She ~>huGdercd and came back "a
Things of the moment. and Il slow. dull
wonder possessed her that lost It's SLOW
ness and d~uIlne>s a. She realized its
existence. and said. a little sharply:
Fer whom"
She was not the sort of person 10 ak
a t~actIess question. az a rule. and with
such blank directne>>: but there was
something in the girls face that re
minded her of her own as she had seen
it in the mirror that morning.
Dorinda Carson moved ~neryou>ly N
her chair. hesitated and then spoke
quickly. and in a low voice. with her
face averted from her friends sight.
"Oh. for-for some one | knew-who
has died lately-some one | had no right
20 be fond of. Mrs. Roupell-Maria-
| must speak-may |? You will under
stand. and nobody else would"
And the girl was on her knees by
Maria's chair, clasping the hands which
lay on her lap and bowling the golden
head till it almost touched them.
Dear heaven. everything has go;
into such a CHASTITY knot. I've nobody
10 blame but myself: I've taken my hap