Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-02-03

you will be made glad or sad by what
I may become. We'll, far away from you
in land where l shall be alone and
lonely I'm going to work thinking of
you. After tonight l may not see you
again for years. When l am fit, I'll
come back, and I may say to you then,
Anne, what now 1 must only whisper
from shadow and without a hope.
, love you. You are more to me than
creed or church or prayers, for you've
done what these couldn't. And l love
you for yourself, apart from this alto
gether. love you, Anne. l love you. ="
His voice faltered. Anne rose and
faced him. 1t seemed as if chords in
her soul had been struck harshly that
night but in some insolvable way q
wondrous harmony had resulted. The
warming sentiment which Donald had
always inspired in her ros" to some
thing more. In being hope, desire and
strength to him there was responsible
ity of joy and pain she could not who'll
ly accept, yet would not repulse She
gave him her hands, her mouth culver
ing like a child's. Her eyes were all
tenderness and confidence.
II don't deserve love like this, " she
said seriously. "How little deserve it !!
But I'll remember, Donald"
She sighed and looked at him intently.
"I'll remember all you We said" But
when his eyes grew more wistful she
looked away.
1t was after o'clock when Donald
left her at her door and said goodby.
She watched him down the street and
saw him stand once in the drifting
snow and look back.
She went slowly up the stairs and in
to the sitting room, where the fire had
been kept bright. A knocking presence
seemed to greet her. just within the
door she leaned against the wall. There
was the snow padded window, the cur
tain drawn back as her hand had placed
it. BY t. fire was the chair in which
David Temple had sat. She saw the
book on which her elbow had rested as
she listened to him.
In the shock of Joe's death and Don
AIDS unexpected words the memory Of
the bitter hour spent there had been
crowded back. Now it started into full
life, and apprehensive disgust Of the
days to come nullified other feeling
within her.
"Oh, to forget, to forget, to forget"
She flung off cloak and hat and sat
down at her desk before the window.
Her lips were set and seemed to have
been brushed with ashes. Her eyes were
shut. beneath frowning brows. She
would forget--she must. She could not
bear the days to come unless she did
forget.
Before her lay the portfolio holding
the pages Of her neglected novel. Scarce
ly knowing what she did, she opened it
and laid her hands upon the leaves. A
phrase here and there caught her eyes.
the name Of the characters she had Gre
ated. A deeper attraction for the work
awoke in her, desire for sleep departed.
and she felt alive to her finger tips.
She bent over tho pages, and her pen
went haltingly at first. but by degrees
q new desire dominated her, and moth
ing but the thought and the word born
Of the thought was real to her. All else
had failed. This power in herself was
strong and true. Though all other de-
lights forsake her, this never would.
Her cheek was gray, and the light
had gone from her eyes. whose lashes
were stiffened with tears. But she was
no longer unhappy. The drifting mists
Of that strange dawn fled under the full
sunlight and found her still writing.
TO BE CONTINUED.