The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-04

Copyright, 1901, by A. S. Richardson.
Walton Ford sprang forward as he caught
the flash OF bright autumn costume
was too late, however, for the graceful figure
stepped forward among the rustling leaves
1t was the woman's turn to be emoar-
rassed. She recovered quickly, and with a
naughty inclination of the head remarked:
pray don't imagine | was following you.
supposed you would remain with the rest
OF the party, and WANTED to be alone"
Precisely my predicament, and I've man
aged to get lost"
They stood silently regarding each other.
It is not the most pleasant situation imagi-
nable to find yourself alone in the bare,
autumnal woods with the man whom you are
quite sure you have ceased to love and from
whom you are about to secure a divorce.
Yet that was Eugene Ford's position. The
trouble had started with a trihe, and the
breach had widened steadily, until their be-
ing together at the Van Order house party
was rapidly developing into heart-sicken-
ing shame. Even the women had commenced
to gossip about the affair over their tea
cups, when Eugene was nursing headache
in her darkened room.
From the distance came family the sound
Of childrens voices. The strain was re-
lieved. Ford pushed aside the overhanging
branches and said:
If you will come with me perhaps these
children can point out a path"
Without answering she followed him
through the rustling leaves to a clearing,
where two children, a lad Of 10, manly
little chap, and pretty girl of perhaps 8
were busily sorting their afternoons harvest
of brown nuts. Both stood gazing shyly at
the 'city folks"
In response to the desired information,
given with remarkable clearness by the
bright-eyed boy, Ford tossed him a coin and
turned on his heel. His wife paused and
smiled into the uplifted face of the little girl.
What are you children doing here?" she
asked, pointing to elaborate diagrams formed
OF small stones.
Were playing house, responded the
child, encouraged by Eugenies evident inter-
est in their game. That's the parlor you're
standing in. The mans in the dining room.
This is the kitchen, and over there is our
room. The sticks are doors, and you push
EN- open. Didn't you ever play you were
married like that?''
The woman laughed bitterly
than rows of stones. One is bound in by
walls of conventionality."
The child Strengthened up.
"Does that make nice houses as ours
those walls-of-of-''
"They make prison, place from which
you must break out if you would see the
light Of day
Her heart was hot within her, and Eugene
did not realize that she was talking to the
child. She thought only Of the man watching
her curiously in the mellow autumn light.
The girls face fell.
''Oh, | thought it was some new game, you
know"
mo, it's old as the hills. Are you, too,
tired of your boy husband and married life,
and so soon?''
''Of course we're NOT protested the child.
."Are we, WilHe?" The boy shook his head
and dug the ground with his copper-toed
shoe. ''You see, we like new games once in
while, but we never get tired Of playing
we're married Why, when we get big
enough we're really going to be married for
all the time. Now we can only keep house
on Saturdays and after school,
Don't you ever QUARREL" Eugene was
becoming interested, and she forgot the man
| at her side.