El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-27
ONLY TWO WEEKS

Herman Powers hurried along the
street, his thoughts travelling even faster
| than he was doing. He was engaged
| to Margaret Leland and had been for
| over a year. He was much in love with
her. and he considered himself lucky
man to have won her consent to marry
him. She loved him, too, and, as is often
J the case with a good, pure woman, this
love amounted to almost worship.
Herman had enjoyed this devotion on
her part exceedingly, as what man would
not in like circumstances? But lately he
had sometimes thought she was, too dem
onstrative in her affections, little too
sentimental, in fact, and that in her great
enjoyment of his company perhaps she
was little selfish and took good deal
of his time away from his profession.
Before he met her this law business
had been his sole object of interest, and
now that the first glamour of his engage
ment was over he did not exactly return
to his first love, but was willing Co divide
his attention, and strange it would be in
deed if his fiancee did not suffer in the
dividing process.
Just now he was about to take short
trip out of the state, and he was on his
way to bid Margaret goodby. He had de-
cided it would be all nonsense to have a
scene over this first parting, and, as for
love letters, they would be entirely out of
the question. cit would be Margaret's
way to make a great fuss over our sepa-
ration" he said to himself as he ran up
the steps of the Lelands' home and rang
the bell, 'but 1 shall be taking trips Of
ten, and there is need of being fool
ish. We must begin as we can hold
out"
He is relieved as he enters the draw
ing room that there are guests present
and he is not likely to see his sweetheart
alone and with If all iS sense Of
disappointment too. He talks with her,
with her mother and brother and with
the friends they are entertaining. He
exerts himself to be agreeable and to
keep the conversation general topics.
and when at the end of an hour he rises
to go and carelessly announces his de-
parture from the city the morrow he
is convinced that he has avoided the
thing he dreaded, and in diplomatic
kind Of way too. Margaret had perhaps
grown a little white when he spoke of his
trip, but she said nothing. 1t was only
when he left the room that she followed
him and put her arm up round his neck.
81 don't like to have you leave me, dar-
ling" she whispered coaxingly. rs it
necessary
The reply came rather shortly.
"Why, of course. Do you suppose l
would go if it wasn't? Come, Margaret,
don't be silly"
She withdrew her arm Immediately, hut
her face dropped with disappointment,
uneasily, but she recovered herself at
once.
''You will write me every day? 1t will
be such a comfort to me when you are
not here to know just where you are and
what you are doing"
"Oh, no, my dear. l. should not have
time to do that. I shall be rushing from
one place to another, and it would not
pay to display SO much sentiment for just
two weeks
For just two weeks" she repeated
mechanically and with an effort. AT all
events, give me an address where mail
would reach you. Something might hap
pen. / might want you. Something tells
me shall want to send for you"
He laughed rather forcibly.
You dear little soul, you would write
me twice a day, and it would interfere
with my business affairs and take my
mind of my duties. No mail for me this
trip! Why, am not even leaving my ad-
dress at my hotel. We must endure to
be separated totally for two weeks, and
dare say it will be good for us. You will
love me a great deal more when we are
together again"
THAT would be impossible" she quiet
" returned, and then she gave him her
hand in parting. He avoided her eyes
lue lOOk III tueI1 was more tudu NE
could bear-but he took the little trem-
bling hand in his and stopped to kiss her
"Goodby, dear! Take good care of your
self. Give me one more kiss, and / am
gone. Remember, it's only two weeks"
Two weeks later The train is steaming
into the city as fast as the big iron horse
can carry it, but it cannot go too fast for
the impatient Mr.. Powers. The two
weeks are over, the business trip is at
an end and is successful, and now he
wants to see Margaret, his love, his dar-
ling.
He has thought of her day and night,
he has bought her extravagant presents,
he has done everything to please her ex
cept to write to her. and he can hardly
wait for his meeting with her.
He gets his overcoat on, his grip in
hand, he scorns the assistance of the por-
ter, and before the train has fairly ceased
its motion he steps down to the platform
of the station. He sends a telegram to
Margaret announcing his arrival and
then takes cab to his hotel, giving the
cabman an extra to hurry, SO anxious is
he to make the necessary changes in his
toilet and get to his fiancee. He fairly
runs up the stair to his room and finds a
note under the door. From her? No,
from her brother.
My Dear Fellow-we so sorry we haven't
your address and cannot send for YOU Margaret,
some she declines to tell us. Probably it
is to spare you the pain of parting, for Margaret
Is dying. She took cold the day you left, and the
Illness rapidly developed into pneumonia.
The doctor gave almost hope from the
beginning and tonight says must expect the
worst. He thinks she will hold out a couple OF
days longer, and We all hoping that some
chance will bring you home before she goes. l
send this to your hotel that it may reach you the
instant you arrive. Con to us at once if you
would see Margaret alive. Very truly yours,
JACK LELAND
This letter was dated a week before
ROSt0n Post