Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-06-20

wards him.
Il came down to tell you!" she said
in q low tone. "Vanslttart has been
dead two years. | am free again, and
q wealthy woman"
| She was looking straight into hls
eyes, and he gave q slight start. Utter
Ing sofe exclamation, she rose from
her seat and stood by his side.
"Yes, in those old days, Austin, you
loved mel" she cried quickly. "You
/ thought me heartless, but that wasn't
quite the right word. loved you, but
knew my temperament I wasn't born
to be the wife Of . struggling man;
poverty would have made me miserable;
we should both have been extremely
unhappy. did what you know-mar-
ried . rich man. Now I am free, |
come to you again; 1t isn't too late,
Austin-we are young STILL"
He passed q hand over hls forehead.
you would be willing to marry me-
have me live on your money!
She laid hand gently on his shoul-
der.
Money Is absolutely Of no conse-
quence to me; that part Of the arrange
ment would never cross my mind. We
may not love as we did, yet think what
1t would mean, Austin! I should have
the husband would have chosen-you
some Of your dreams realized. Every
thing that lies at rich mans hands
will be yours-you can leave this mar
row life forever"
He did not speak. The suddenness Of
the thing had sent his brain in whirl
III not love, an artistic comradeshlp!"
she said softly. In the days when we
were together you gave me your last
penny to satisfy my whim; now let me
show you the beauties Of the world-let
us enjoy them together. 1t Is not good
to see you here with all your amblaion
killed."
So she talked and he listened with
the blood throbblng through his veins
Presently she had to 60, and he accom-
panied her to the station. Then, when
the train had finally vanished from
sight, he turned and walked down to
the seashore. II he consented, he was
to go up to London tomorrow, they
were to be married and Immediately
to start for long tour through Italy.
He strobe up and down the lonely
sands, fighting the thing out. 1t was all
so curious, so unutterably strange, He
knew that the love he had once felt for
her was dead, stamped out-the mar
riage with Vanslttart had done that. He
might like her, he could never love her
again. But she did not ask that-she
was prepared to be satisfied with an
artistic comradeship"-she had said so
herself.
He made up his mind with q jerk.
and walked swiftly back to the little
house. He found Joan alone and a
sudden hesitation seemed to creep over
him.
JOAN" he said awkwardly, II am
going to London tomorrow-must leave
you!"
She bent over her book.
"For good?" she said In a quiet tone.
He gave little nervous laugh.
Eyes, for good, I'm afraid"
The giCl rose from her seat and mov-
ed to the door. She knew what had
happened--guessed instinctively who
the woman at the hotel was.
"You will like to get into the big
world again." she said with a brave
smile. II must tell aunt"
The next morning he took his de.
parture. Joan had somehow mistaken
the time, and was nowhere to be found
when he left the house. With q curious
feeling Of depression he made his way
to the station and took his seat in an
empty third-class compartment. Almost
as the the train was on the point Of
starting he saw a slight figure appear
on the platform. 1t was Joan, and she
came breathlessly up to the carriage.
"Good-bye," she faltered, holding out
her hand to him.
He reached out and grasplng 1t,
looked down on the upturned face. The
whistle sounded, and she withdrew her
hand gently.
II hope you will be happy" she
breathed tremulously. He saw the
gray eyes fill with tears, and suddenly,
as II curtain had been swept away
from his brain, he knew.
The train moved slowly from the
platform and he stood at the window,
gazing mutely at her. As the station
finally vanished from sight, he sank
down on the seat, daxed with his dis
covery.
- 80 -
II was near 9 the same evening, and
In the sitting room Of the little house,
Joan was sitting alone, very white, very
miserable. Presently the clock struck
the hour, and as the last chime died
away the door opened and a man enter
ed the room quietly. He looked tired
and pale, but quick light came into
his eyes as he saw the girl. He came
straight to her.
"There was no Joan in the big world!'
he said simply. "I only realized 1t this
morning."
She looked at him startled, then as
their eyes met in swift understandings
swift Joy ran through her.
"Your dreams?" she whispered.
"For the moment I was mad enough
to think | could realize them at the ex-
pense Of my self-respect!" he cried Bit
terly. Thank God. I awoke In time"
But the wonderful life you have al
ways longed for?" she murmured.
"An enemy shell, without the one
wonderful thing! Don't send me away,
JOAN" he whispered pleadlngly. LET
me succeed Just for once!"
She smiled back at him through her
mist Of tears. The man had not come
back in vain.