The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-09-26


have been the one object of your exist
ence. To make her radiantly happy. to
give her love, to gain hers Ill return, that
is your real life's work.
''She has her own interests-her art"
Her art?' cried Sir Roland. She
took it UP simply because you neglected
her She worked at it everishly-simply
because you took not a shred of interest
in her life. She has put her whole being
into a picture simply because it makes
her forget-stites the pain at her heart"
Murray pulled himself together to
sienced him with a gesture.
But it can't last! Even the passion
for her art won't suffice. A girl like
Nora must have love. 1t is natural-it
is right And if you won't give it to her.
some one else will. And I'll be hanged
if you don't deserve it.' finished Sir Ro-
land holly, as he picked up his hat and
gloves and moved to the door.
Murray sat motiopless at his desk for
some minutes after his friends departure
He wanted to continue his work, but he
could not concentrate his thoughts. Sir
Roland's words were ringing in his ears.
He flung down the pen and strobe rest
lessly up and down the room. Was there
anything in what HUH had said? He set
himself to think the whole thing out He
went back to the time when they were
first married. He remembered he used
to set aside hours to spend with her He
considered them recrea ton. and the sound
of her happy laugh. the ring Of her voice,
was pure JOY TO him. And he laughed.
too. in those days. Then as time went on
and the great work was started. these
hours grew less and less. He had no
recreation. He abandoned himself body
and soul. to his task. He only met her
at meals-hardly spoke then. his mind
completely wrapped UP in the work he
had left for a few minutes. Gradually
they had drifted apart. She took up art,
worked feverishly at it. but he, her hus-
band. had taken not the slightest inter
est in it-never spoke of it, had not even
seen a single picture she had painted
All these things he realized for the first
time. He flung open the door of his
room and crossed the passage that led to
her studio The house was built in two
wings, a great ball and staircase sepa-
rated them AS he opened the studio
door and crossed the Threshold Murray
felt he was entering a strange region.
1t was the first time he had been there.
At the further end of the room he saw
large plcture-it was already framed. He
crossed quickly to it and stood gazing ut
it mutely. Even he. the man Of science.
could tell that it was Il wonderful piece
Of wOrk-destined perhaps to achieve
fame. He realized that she had thrown
her whole being into it-that it meant as
much to her as his book to him. Yet he
had hardly known of its existence.
Huth was right. He saw it all. He
had neglected her-neglected her cruelty.
He strobe hurriedly out of the room, down
into the street. He felt he wanted to be
in the cool air, wanted to think. She
had loved him. He felt sure of this
Did she now? Or had she killed every
her love, some one else will The words
rang through his head. The very thought
cut him to the quick. A sudden intense
craving to see her eyes light up again
with the old joyous smile, to feel her
arms Irvine round his neck, took posses
sion of him. His love, which had been
asleep, suddenly awakened and sprang
into a fierce passion. Could he win back
her love-or was 1t too late? And with
this maddening thought he trudged for
miles, until at length. wearled and foot
sore he turned and made once more for
his home.
1t was dusk, and the London streets
were already twinkling with their thou
sand lights. In Il cab that was rolling
swiftly along on the wooden pavement
sat a woman-a young and pretty wom-
an, hardly more than a girl. In one
hand she held a letter tightly. She
smoOthed it out and looked at it again.
Tomorrow [ must have your answer
Remember, your love is all | have to live
for she read i'll low, trembling tone.
She leant back, and sat staring ahead
Of her with a dazed expression ON her
young face. Then her eyes filed with
tears, and she gave little sob.
"Oh, Geofrey" she murmured piteous-
", why couldn't you have given me
just little lover
Suddenly there was a loud shout in
the street, then quick rattle, and a fire
engine dashed by. 1t turned down the
first street to the right, which led to the
quiet square in which the Murrays lived
The cab followed, and the girl gave a
gasp as blaze of light broke before her
eyes. A house was on fire the other side
the girl uttered a little cry-ther
house. She paid the driver and got out
of the cab. The square was full of peo-
pie. She pushed her way through them
round to the other side, where the fire
engines stood, their horses painting and
foaming at the mouth. The door of the
house was open, and she could see the
flames leaping up the staircase. AS yet
the fire seemed to be only in the center
Of the house.
In the little circle, kept free by the
police, she could see her husbands tall
figure. a freman-apparently the super
intendent, was pointing to the house. and
talking to him. She tried to get through,
but IA policeman stopped her.
He is my husband-it is our housew
she painted. And he let her through
She crept up to within two or three
PAGES Of him.
by devoting all our energies to one
wing we can save itn' the superintend-
ent was saying. '"The other will have
to 60. Have you any choice as to which
one?'
Murray's face was pale and drawn In
the right wing was everything that had
been dear to hlm-the great Work, the