The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-16
Semper Fidelis :
WeERsoLL eoDEYs

81 never turned this corner yet but
what II seemed like | was turnin'
away from all that was mean and un-
pleasant" he said, slowly. 81 feel as
though / was leavin' behind me all
the things that trouble me because
| amt used to 'em. ard can't under
stand 'em. It's been 50 always, and
I'd hate to have it any other way.
Now, If what ye want to say is gOiE'
to be disagreeabc for either Of us two,
I'd rather ye'd wait until we get home,
and not have to go into the house
feelin' bitter against-against any
body. Mebbe We don't quite UNDER
stand me. Eunice?"
Il understand" she said. with half
sob. "Oh, yes, / understand
"Go in by the fire" he soid. "It'n
take me some time t. fix things up"
But when he came back from the
stable he found her waiting. leaning
against one Of the posts OF the porch
and looking out across the darkness
of the valley.
81 wanted to wait until we could g
in together" she said. The long low
kitchen was full of changing shadows,
which danced across the time poi
isheG floor. and lost themselves in
the corners of the irregular ceiling,
when Ordway crossed to the huge fire.
place and piled some sticks of soft
wood on the glowing ashes.
Then, twisting himself out of his
heavy coat and bestowing it. together
with his cap, on q convenient table
he dragged from the chimney corner
a great old-fashioned chair, and sank
back luXuriously in it's capacious
depths. His wife had also removed
her wraps. and now took her seat at
the other side of the fireplace, on n
low STOOL drawn back just within the
wavering boundary of shadow. At
length she spoke slowly and with evil
dent effort at calmness.
"Nou must try to be patient with
me-" she said. You'll be astonshed
| know, and I am afraid you'll be
angry I shouldn't blame you any
but I want you to wait till--tin I've
finished"
Are ye quite sure ye better begin,
or hadn't We better let It go till to-
morrow, anyway" he asked, earnestly
"Id rather not hear anythin' that We
might say unless ye say it of your own
free will" he added.
1T isn't that" she said. quickly.
i've wanted to speak-to speak so
many times, and haven't dared to-
I'll feel a thousand times happier
when I've told you, no matter what
happens Let me so on now"
"Mebbe | know what" he be-
gan, and checked himself smilingly,
but with glance of almost womanly
tenderness at her avertcd face, I'm
listenin,'" he said
She hesitated as if to gain strength
and he marked how the slender figure
quivered with the effort of her hur-
ried breathing.
Il had promised to marry Willis be-
fore | knew you" she said, unstead-
lily. I'VE quarrellcd about some lit
tie thing and each was too proud to
speak first. Finally, he went away
without seeing me. You know how
we heard that he died i'm Mexico.
believed tive all did-and cried my
self to sleep night after night, be-
cause l hadn't acted differently. As
time went on | began to forget little
by little, and after awhile it all seemed
like a sort of dream; then you came
into my life. and taught me to trust
you and turn to you for help in every
thing"
She paused and lifted her eyes to
his face. Eve told you the truth so
far" she said, almost fiercely. and
it's true that l loved you more than
you could ever understand. You must
believe this" Her voice trembled pit
fully. You do believe me. John?"
she asked. Say that you do believe
me-"
Ordway drew his hand across his
eyes with an involuntary movement.
Il amt never doubted it," he answer
ed. softly.
She gave a quick sigh of relief, and
let her head sink again upon her breast
as she spoke again.
Il was happy and COntented for two
long years. 1t was like heaven; and
you We're happy, too, John?"
Happy" he said Lord, YES: no.
bodyll ever know how much"
And then little Dora was born"
she went on, "and somehow all our
trouble began right there, for it SEEM
ed as though her baby hands took
hold of our hearts and pushed them
apart, little at first, and then more
and more. | actually thought that
you didn't care about her-I know il
was wrong but l thought it--and | got