Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-11-08
An End to All Things

MTHEN they parted he had fallen
wv al her feet and kissed the hem
OF her dress. How ridiculous a dem
onstraiion it appeared to him to-day,
and Yet he dreaded to meet her again.
She had treated him atrociously. he
had considered at the time. Eng
lished, she lad amused herself with
him. and then given him his congo.
She was a married woman ana he had
leen a boy.
He recalled every incident of the
farewell. a youthful passion it may
it even now-it was passion that left
it's mark.
There had been conservatory
opening out Of the rooms she occu-
pied. 1t was in the conservatory that
he had made himself the most alb
surd-there. and for a moment at the
piano, at which she had seated her
self inditlerently, and where he had
linelt to her like u lover in The Los
don Journals" She had strolled
along. shifting at the flowers, saying
cruel things to him in her new ard
careless voice, and he had followed
her wistful4y like a whipped dog.
pleading to be readmitted to favor.
\ spray of. fern that she had dropped
had been capt ured by him passion
ately-she had touched it in their
last moments together. She shrugged
her shoulders with a sheer, and his
eyes filled at her cruelty.
"What do you suppose there was in
a boy like you to hold woman like
meo" she had asked.
1t was the harshest thing she could
have said, and he remembered that at
that he had broken down altogether.
Good heavens, how preposterous he
to work, always being pathetic and
reproachful!
However, it was over. He had not
''found balm for his wounds in six
months as she had prophesied. but
in nine years he had married, and for
was recalled to him ny the sight of
her name in the visitors list,
Now the recoilections rushed back
at him, and while he laughed at his
former self as a fool, he was conscious
of strange tremor at the prospect
of seeing her once more.
lie loved his wife sincerely. Twelve
months ago he could have contem-
plated meeting Mrs. birmingham
without misgiving. But he had been
married ~ months. The time had
not lessened his love, but it had nat
urally dispelled the romance. After
ALL to be Sin love" with a woman is
a greater safeguard against others
than to "love her" He was bound to
acknowledge to himself that he was
frightened at the thought of seeing
Mrs. Jernyngham again. He had. as
matter of fact, avoided the Casino
since he knew she was in Dieppe.
He put down his paper ans looked
across at Nellie reading Tauchnitz
novel. How pretty she was. and how
trust full! What would she say. could
she divine his present mood? Sin.ess
as it was, it would cut her to the
heart. Bah, he was fool. Why
should that make him afraid to VEN
ture out of doors! He was not fond
of her still--of course he was not.
The Tauchnitz novel dropped to
Mrs. Maxwell's lap.
'Mhat are you thinking about, dar-
lingo" she asked.
II was thinking how charming you
look in that frock. my DEAR he an
swered. He preserved the habit of
making graceful speeches to his wife.
Cynical bachelor friends said he for
got who she was-that it was the
force of habit.
There was nasty black wrink. e
between your eyebrows, Jack, and
YOU were Juggling your mustache, as
you always do when you're put out.
l do look charming in this frock, l
admit it-but you weren't thinking
sou
"Nellie. come here. Do you remem-
Der, soon after we were married. you
asked me question. You asked me
if l had ever cared deeply for another
girl than yourself"
II remember" said Nellie. "Yes?"
81 told you what an internal idiot
had once made Of myself over a mar
ried woman. l asked you. too never
to use a certain scent because it re-
minded me of her. You know all
that?"
81 know: I know; go on!"
"Well, she's here, that's all. and
confouud tim rather sorry
OH said Nellie. And then there
was pause between them. She was
the one to break it.
"It-it's quite all over, JACKIE She
couldn't, she daren't attempt to-?
You're 1aarried-you would simply
have to bow and pass on. Besides, by
your own account she was-well, she
didn't care for you any more. Why
should you mind seeing her?'
81 don't know" he muttered, ir-
resolutely; I'D rather not. that's ALL
Anyhow. let's talk Of something else.
We are leaving Dieppe the end of the
week; as matter of fact, I dare say
l shall never come across her!"
Mrs. Maxwell, however. was not sat
~ l.. II.