Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-02-10
CHAPTER NV.

Davld's marriage III April and the fog
w afternoon when he and Olga with
some other hundred souls arrived in
New York on board the Lucania.
DIR. Ericsson was at the wharf to
meet them. They We're to dine that
night en- famille at the old house in
Waverly place.
"Anne can't be with US" said the
old man regretfully as the carriage took
them up Broadway. Her old home i'll
the country is without a tenant at pres
ent, and she's taking rest there. She's
been working too hard, too steadily,
night and day"
She's fool" said Olga from her
corner, where she sat wrapped in furs
to the nose. She'll be used up in five
years.
David felt his heart grow warm at
the mention of Anne's name. The old
life would be delightful again. He had
lost many ideals during the long honey
moon and now longed for work, the
rush of The Citizens rooms, where dis
cussions on life's verities shot to and fro
like a weaver's shuttle. He longed for
sight of Anne at her corner desk with
bent profile or cheek resting in her
hand. His marriage should not alter the
friendship which had been in its way
more satisfying, as it surely was rarer,
than love. A comrade of pretty, clever
woman was the best gift o man could
have in life. And he knew Anne would
be glad to have him back. She had
missed him, for she chose few friends,
and none had been to her like him.
"Tell me about Anne" he said eager
ly, while he gazed with pleasure at the
familiar street scenes framed in the car
riage windows. "She's we'll, isn't she?"
"Oh, yes, indeed!'' said DR.. Ericsson,
with q bright smile. "Why shouldn't
she be? If, as they say, woman thrives
on admiration, she's had quite enough
to turn that dark tressed head of hers.
You know about her book"
"No. Is it finished? You don't mean
she's had her book published? She did
not write that bit of news. I call it sly
Of her,
perhaps she doubted its merit. its
reception. She doubts no longer. There
are plenty Of books chucked at the pub.
lie, but seldom one like hers. Every.
body IS recommending it to everybody
else."
"This is great news. Do you hear,
Olga?"
But Olga was asleep.
"Morgan did good thing for himself
when he got her for The Planet, didn't
he?" asked DR.. Ericsson. you'll miss
her on The Citizen
"What do you meant" asked David.
II don't know what you're talking
about"
"But you knew Anne was no longer
with The Citizen"
"No, I didn't"
''She wrote you ten days-two weeks
ago."
II didn't get the letter, them" And
David sat back, making no effort to hide
his disappointment.
After learning the particulars he was
silent. He could not realize Anne was
gone, and with her to q great extent the
influence in his life he desired and loved
in the purest sense. He longed to see her
again that night. There was much hs
wanted to talk to her about. He wanted
her to come down a room and welcome
him. He wanted to hear her bright &C.
count of the multitude of incidents
which had happened during the months
he had been away. She had pretty
trick when talking Of bringing her fist
down upon her knee in the most gentle
way that had always reminded him of
. flower striking its head against a wall
-he wanted to see that, and her uplift-
ed face, and to hear her quick laugh.
He had felt similar but less intricate
craving for chum at school after the
division of the holidays.
The feeling strengthened during the
night, and long after Olga had gone to
her first land sleep on a bed that didn' Z
wabble he found himself treading the
stairs leading to The Citizen offices. It
was close upon midnight. He had not
been expected until morning, and his
coming made a sensation. In q twin
king he was in the midst Of the old
life, finding at that unexpected moment
a score Of questions to decide and the
usual turmoil singing in the air. He
flung himself into the work, his disap.
pointment about Anne almost forgotten
in the earnestness of the hour.
But in the early morning, with the
wet. first copy Of the paper in his hand.
he stood before her deserted desk. A
sense Of loss crept coldly over him.
Would he never see her sitting there
again?