Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-07-09
a SHADOW BARRIER.
time.

had been too satisfying, and she had
been too happy to think very much
about the matter.
When he asked Alva to marry him
David told her of his previous engage
ment, and there the subject rested.
Alva had been proud to be too honor
able to question him; indeed, she was
not conscious of any desire to do so.
She felt no resentment against the
other woman, for David's love was too
complete to leave any room for jeal-
ousy
But one evening, as they sat in the
coy window seat in the library, watch
ing the sunset colors change and glow,
there came to Alva the womans in
stinct to probe the heart of the man
she loves, and lay bear all its secrets.
do you love me, dear?" she began,
moving closer to run her fingers
through David's hair.
Indeed, do, my darling"
Better than you ever loved any one
before?"
Yes, dear"
"That other woman-the one you
were engaged to first-did you love
her?"
"Of course, or I shouldn't have asked
her to marry me-"
Alva's hand dropped to her side, and
the man took it and held it in a strong
clasp.
ct seems odd," unused Alva. II
suppose you sat by her side and held
her hand just as you are holding mine
now. Did you make the same pretty
speeches you do to me, l wonder?"
Certainly not" replied David, gent
ly. mo man ever makes love to two
women in quite the same way"
mo; men are too adaptable for that"
said Alva, but there was no malice in
her voice; and David, glancing at her
quickly, saw that she did not realize
how deep the truth of her remark lay
Isn't that red sky gorgeous?" he
asked, after a moment. in little
while it will be the faintest pink"
Its wonderful said Alva. do
you know, dear, that you never told
me which one of you broke that en-
gagement?"
Didn't I, dear?"
NO" Alva answered, "but don't tell
me if you would rather not" she add
ed softly. Somehow l feel sure that
you did"
''Yes," David said, you are right
l broke it."
81 am glad it was you,' said Alva,
quickly, "becaue it makes me feel sure
you have no regrets. l never had any
patience with the false notion of honor
that prevents a man from breaking an
engagement | don't see how it can
he honorable to marry a woman when
you do not love her.
AS she spoke Alva looked at her
lover to see whether he shared her
opinion. His face, with the glory of
the sunset full upon it, was very sober
He did not speak for some time, and
Alva waited, knowing he would soon
tell her what was in his mind.
Il did not break my engagement be-
cause 1 had ceased to care" he said
finally, "but the woman l was to mar
ry did me a great wrong, and | lost
faith in her. l could not marry a wo-
man l did not trust, so l released her.
think it right to tell you this, dear"
And then" said Alva softly, you
ceased to care"
Yes, dear, 1 ceased to care. Not all
at once, but gradually. There, now,
the sky is pink, pink that would just
become you. Don't you wish I were
equipped with wings so l could fly up
and get you piece of that cloud for a
ball gown?"
WAS it before you met me or after
ward that you ceased to care?" Alva
/ asked
Il hardly know. 1t was before, /
think, that I stopped caring, but it
took you to restore my lost faith in
! womankind."
And l made you forget?" Alya's
voice was hushed with tenderness.
Eyes, dear, you made me forget y
said David in the same tone. See
how fast the pink is fading" he con-
tinued. TT is just as well l could not
get you that ball gown, I guess.
am afraid the color wouldn't wash"
Once Alva would have retorted gayly
| that people didn't wash ball gowns,
but now she gave his hand a tiny
pressure and said:
1T must have hurt you dreadfully
| to be treated so. Are you sure the hurt