The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1899-08-19
MY POOR WIFE.
BY J. P. SMITH.
BY J. P. SMITH.

CHAPTER VI.-(Continued.)

i've found out the things she cared
for wonct PLACE her no more, that her
eye is always turned wan way-the
way you come across the mountain;
her ear always listenin' for wan
sound-the sound of yer foootstep;
that her thoughts are with you night
an day, sleepin' and wakin'. l came
on her yesterday mornin' at daybreak
an found her dramin' on the cliff;
when 1 touched her she smiled and
whispered the word 'Paur-that's yer
name, isn't it-Paul? An we've axed
her to call yer by it, though We did
nan no harm!"
The old woman was right; I had
asked her to call me by my Christian
name the day before. l turned away
strangely moved and startled, remorse,
pity, tenderness mingling with a steal
thy glow of triumph and satisfaction,
offspring of the meanest, most self
ish vanity, making me ashamed to
meet my inquisitor's s%cornful search
ing eye.
What do you wish me to do, If this
be true, which l very much doubt?"
I asked, after a painful pause.
There's only wan thing you can
do, and that your sense ought to tell
you quick enough. Go away at once
and never come nigh the place again."
YES" l assented eagerly, Il will
go away in a day or two without
fail"
"In a day or two. No-if We go at
all, We must go now-this very night!'
"What, without one word of fare
well?"
without a word"
"Pll do nothing of the kind; you've
overshot the mark, old woman" I said
determinedly, moving away. "1f I do
go tonight, I'll see her first and as
sure myself of the falseness of your
silly tale, 0 doting old termagant!'
I added under my breath.
l went quickly back, she follow
ing me slowly, and, on the edge Of
the cliff where we had first stood to-
gether, I found Helen motionless look
ing out to sea.
Without giving any explanation or
looking her in the face, I told her,
with a forced heavy briskness, 1 had
come back to say good-by, as business
Of Importance called me to England
on the morrow.
"You are going tomorrow" she re-
peated, but said not another word. I
stole a glance at her face; it was
deadly pale and still, but otherwise
bore no trace of stormy feeling.
"It's very unfortunate, but I must
start in the morning. I'll send you
the books I promised and the illus
trated Atlas as soon as I get to
town. You will find the latter very
useful for the information o want"
I said uneasily-"there's an alphabet
ical key at the end, you know, and
and I'll leave you my address in case
in case you should want anything.
You know how happy I would be to
help you, and-hear of your welfare
now and then, Helen"
Still not a word; she did not seem
to hear me, so l relapsed into silence
too.
Helen" I resumed desperately,
"have you-have you nothing to say
to me; II am going away tomor-
row."
81 have to say goodby, have I
not?" she answered at last, turning
round full upon me. "Then let us
say it at once" She put her hands
for a moment into mine, stopped,
picked up Jim and held his little wet
nose to my face. "a friend has come
to say good-by to you and ME, Jim
q very kind friend. Tell him how
sorry you are to lose him, and ask
him not TOTO forget us too soon.
An instinct of self-protection urged
me to hold my tongue. I bent my
head over her arm and touched Jim's
little ragged poll gingerly. Our faces
his mistress and mine-were but a
few inches apart; I could not resist
the upward glance-lo, before she had
time to turn away, a great swelling
tear fell from her yelled eyes. and
what little self-possession l had left
deserted me altogether. The next Sec
ond Helen was in my arms and l was
Kissing the tears from her crimson
cheeks, telling her not to fret, for I
would never leave her now. that she
and Jim and l would go away to-
gether and never part again.
Prove yer words, prove yer words.
if We name fair an honest. Come up
to the house wild ME this minute an
jist ak tn ould wan for her straight.
She'll give her to ye fast enough, sorra
a fear"
Molly's fiat eager voice broke in up
on my sweetheart's smothered sobs:
her dusty hand pulled us apart and
finally dragged me up the meadow and
into the presence of Mrs. Casey. The
venerable lady We found in a flannel
wrapper and befrilled night cap,
warming her toes before a bright turf
fire, a round of buttered toast and a
steaming tumbler of port negus by
her side.
HITA nnnn WV