Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-10-20
{ Lifting the Shadows !
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THE fourth-story lodger was always
busy. Great boxes of flowers ana
chiffons came to her room, to be sent
out again in bewildering creations,
tied up in dainty white boxes, marked
"E. Downing, miliner." But no one
ever came to her rooms, except her
customers, to the great surprise of the
curious old lady who dwelt in the rear
and kept close watch for a year over
the slender, pretty, black-gowned lis
tie milliner.
No one-that 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
II the rear could catch no word unit.
the door opened and a soft voice.
which she recognized as the little mil
liners, exclaimed:
Leave him? Never-neyerl"
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
sank down among the chiffons and
flowers, sobbing-sobbing so bitterly
that her tears fell upon the soft
masses, crushing their freshness.
"How cruel they arel 1t is their
pride, not their love, which is killing
me. My 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 to him
and whispered:
How l love to live! If this mo-
ment could only last foreveri"
But telegram had broken in upon
her delight, recalling Jack to town on
business. Fatal word that had broken
so many women's hearts!
They must return at once, Jack exc
planned, and she had quoted her re-
grets, stifled by the anxious lines that
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
de paused an instant, then resumed.
slowly: IF anyone should speak i'll
OF me to you, would you stin love
me?"
Nothing could make me doubt
you"
sf L
'You?"
She trembled at his discomposed fsa-
lures, but answered, firmly:
Even if you deserve it,"
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 te hers in a farewell kiss.
Go home to your parents, love; I
must be away so long"
The anguish of those first dava
swept over her again. But she wouId
wait for him, would help him expiate
his sin, and then together they would
go 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, faint rose tint flushed her
cheeks and a glad light shone in her
eyes. o.Hr 80
Then ono evening she appeared in
the white gown, g great cluster Of red
roses at her breast. and stood look
ing around in the soft glow that the
shaded lamp shed over the little par
Tor with its cluster Of roses like those
she wore. lie {Fs .rTEIG
= Jacks 1avorite flowers" she muir