The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-06-07
Lifting the Shadows
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! THE fourth-story lodger was always
busy. Great boxes of flowers anC
chiffons came to her room, TO be sent
out again in bewildering creations
tied up in dainty white boxes, marked
''E. Downing, milhner." 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 year over
the slender, pretty, black-gowned lit
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
in the rear could catch no word until
the door opened and soft voice,
which she recognized as the little mill
liners, exclaimed:
leave him? Never--neveri
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
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 arei 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 flew back to that night
beside the lake, SO peaceful IN its quiet
beauty, that she had turned to him
and whispered;
How / love to Hvel If this mo-
ment could only last foreverlr
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 ex-
planned, and she had quieted 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
He paused an instant, then resumed,
slowly: IF anyone should speak i'll
Of me to you, would you still love
me?"
Nothing could make me doubt
you"
"But II deserved it?"
"You?"
She trembled at his discomposed fea.
lures, but answered, firmly:
Even II 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 to hers in farewell kiss
go home to your parents, love;
must be away so long.
The anguish of those first DAYS
swept over her again. But she would
wait for him, would help him expiate
his sin, and then together they would
20 forth into the world and live down
The dark stain of their past.
And so she continued in her life OF
until one spring day she
moved from the little room into
iafnty apartment near by and busted
herself preparing gown of soft white
The lines faded from her
lace, faint rose tint flushed hei
cheeks and glad light shone in her
yes.
Then one evening she appeared In
he white gown, a great cluster Of red
'oses at her breast, and stood look
ng around in the soft glow that the
haded lamp shed over the little par.
or with its cluster OF roses like those
he wore.
Jacks favorite flowers" she muir
nured. II wonder will he notice
hem? He said he would be here
romptly ut eight" The clock pointed
0 quarter of eight. How slowly the
minutes dragged along; eight o'clock
I last. Then Eve minutes past. then
en-.
"0h, II he does not come, she
oaned. A rustic at the door attract ]
her attention; she few to II, throw.
& Il wide open. Was that her hue ,
md, that shrunken, haggard man, ,
Ith furtive, hunted eyes. and the
lastly pallOr, she wondered. IA he
epped past her without a glance of |
cognition at her. /
She followed him into the parlor,
nging to throw her arms around
m, but not daring to do so. He ,
oke:
You are frightened; you don't rec
nize your husband" and he smiled