The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-09-15
) Lifting the Shadows ;


THE fourth-story lodger was always
busy. Great boxes of flowers and
chifons came to her room. TO be sent
out again in bewildering creations.
tied up in dainty white boxes. marked
-'E. Downing. milliner." But no one
~er came to her rooms. except her
customers. TO the great surprise OF the
curious old lacy who Gwelt in the rear
and kept close watch for a year over
the slender. Pretty. black-gOwned lit
tie millIner.
No one-rhat is. with one exception.
One day a tall woman. clad in deep
mourning. had climbed the steep
stairs and remained closeted in the
fourth-story front room for hours.
Voices rose high. but the curious ears
in the rear could catch no word until
the door opened and a soft voice.
which she recognized as the little mil
liners. exclaimed:
Leave him? Never-never.."
Elizabeth. may you never regret
your determination. Your parents, at
least. have fulfilled their duty" re-
piled the lady in mourning. as she
slowly descended the stairs. Eliza
beth Downing closed her door and
Sa.k down among the chifons and
flowers. sobbing-sobbing so bitterly
that her tears fell upon the soft
masses. crashing their freshness.
"How cracl they are, II is their
pride. not their love. which is killing
me. Ny God. how | have suffered. and
must for four long years" She
dragged herself to the window and
stared up at the sky. gradually cloud
ing IN the soft haze of spring twi-
light. At last her eyes rested upon
the evening star-hiS favorite star.
Her thoughts few back TO that night
beside the lake. so peaceful in its quiet
beauty. that she had turned 10 him
and whispered:
How l love to live, If this mo-
nent could only last forever"
Kut a telegram had broken in upon
her delight. recalling Jack &c town on
business. Fatal word that had broken
so many women's hearts.
They must return at once. Jack eN-
planned. and she had quieted her re-
rrets. stified by the anxious lines hat
furrowed his face. Suddenly. as she
moved about the room. gathering up
their belongings. he had clasped her
in his arms. saying:
Elizabeth. if You ever learned"
He paused an instant. then resumed.
slowly: If anyone should speak i'll
of me 10 you. would you still love
1ne?"
Nothing could make me doubt
you"
But if l deserved ito"
"You?"
She trembled at his discomposed fea-
lures. but answered. firmly:
Even if You deserve IL"
She remembered every detail of that
cherries journey to town. and the
rough men who had met them in the
station. She still felt Jacks trembling
lips pressed to hers in a farewell kiss.
Go home 20 your parents, love; I
must be away so long
The anguish of those first days
swept over her again. But she would
wait for him. would help him eypiate |
his sin. and then together they would
90 forth into the world and live down
the dark stain of their past.
And so she continued in her life of
abnegation, until one spring day she
moved from the little room into a
dainty apartment near by and busted
herself preparing a gown of soft white
material. The lines faded from her
face. a faint rose tint flushed her
cheeks and a glad light shone in her
eyes.
Then one evening she appeared in
the white gown. a great cluster of red
roses at her breast. and stood look
ing around in the soft glow that the
shaded lamp shed over III. little par
Tor with its cluster of roses like those
she wore.
Jacks fayorite flowers" she muir
uured. 81 wonder will he notice