The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-25
Our Daily Short Stories
THE WOMAN Halter.
BY E. W. COOLEY.
fcnnxrirht 1901. by Authors. syndlcate.>

Arthur Benson glanced into tue uOOt
blue eyes looking roguishly into MS
from under the rim of the broad
brimmed hat. The ripples Of the ONO
river were spalshing against the rocks
at their feet behind them the turnpike
stretched beneath a cold. gray sky;
across the stream arose the grim hills
of Kentucky.
why do you make that request
he asked. why do you ask me 10 re-
veal the buried tragedy of my life?''
oh" she answered, gayly, 'trag-
edies always interest me. There is a
fascination about them l cannot resist.
And the older. the more deeply buried,
they are, the more interesting they be
come"
Really? Well. look yonder." He
pointed to a large, oval mound on the
bank of the river, from the top of
which grew a large sycamore tree.
THAT is an Indian mound. Deep with
in its bosom lie the skeletons of an I'M
known race. For centuries, probably.
they have rested there. Floods have
covered the mound and tempests have
ragged above il, but the unknown dead
sleep peacefully on. There is an album
dance of tragic history in that mound,
Miss Gilmore. Does it not interest yeu
more than the tragedy of which you
ask a revelation"
NO" she answered, heartlessly. THE
actors in that drama live only in le-
gends. and stories largely are imagin
AIRY. But in your case"-she paused,
and, picking up a pebble, cast it into
the water-"well you see, Mr.. Benson,
you are still in the flesh"
Il see," responded the man. THAT
mound. like the fossils in this rock.
represents only death, while the skele-
tons in my heart represent living
misery. Is that what you mean?"
Il am always more interested in liv-
ing things" she replied. smiling. even
though they be miseries."
Well, them" he said, this Woman
of the Past professed to return the
affection I bestowed upon her. The
day set for our wedding arrived and
she deserted me almost at the altar
deserted me to marry another. 1t was
his gold that attracted her, but her
life with him was unhappy. This /
learned and was foolish enough to
cherish a hope that some day" He
paused moment.
so / plunged into business in des-
perate frenzy, and my savings rapid
ly accumulated. One day her husband
died, and hope burned anew in my
breast. After the usual period of
mourning had expired, ] went to her.
She received me with open arms. She
. hot oil Of oil ltn
world she loved. Again a day was
set for our wedding, and I, mad with
joy and anxious to lay not only love
but ineXhaustible wealth at her feet.
grew reckless and lost everything
through an unwise investment.
stunned, but with full confidence
that a few short years would enable
me to regain my lost wealth, went
to her and offered to release her from
her engagement. So implicitly did
believe in her love that did not dream
she would consent to anything other
than postponement. But | was mis-
taken. She received me coldly; she
released me willingly: she laughed at
my sorrow"
Benson had been gazing intently
across the river during this recital
When he had finished. he glanced at
the woman beside him. She was dig
ging in the sand with the point of her
parasol and smiling family.
And after that?" she asked.
After that" he continued, II lost
faith in mankind"
In womankind," she corrected.
Well, yes" he said, Gin woman
kind"
Il have been told" she resumed.
laughing, that for years you have stu
diously avoided the society OF women;
that YOU destroyed everything in your
possession that would. in the slightest
degree, remind you of any woman:
that on one occasion you returned 10
your lodging rooms to find that your
landlady had placed an inoffensive lit
tie plaster of paris figure of a girl up
on your mantel. and you became so
angry that you dashed the image to
pieces on the floor"
She glanced at him, her eyes twin
Killing. Her glance, more than her
words. nettled him.
What of it?" he demanded; what
if | did do all those things?"
''Oh. nothing" she replied, careless
ly. only l wanted to know if what
l heard were true. Is it?"
1T certainly is" he responded.
Miss Gilmore sat few moments ST.
lently drawing figures in the sand
Then she turned an inquisitive face tC
his.
why, then" she asked. do YOU
consent to take these strolls with me?'
He hesitated a moment before re,
plying, a cloud covering his face.
Il will be frank with YOU" he said
at last. Il have consented only be.
cause you are my aunts guest"
The woman laughed merrily. "Ther
there is no danger of your falling il
love with me-" she said.
None in the least" he answered.
THAT is WE'LL she rejoined. grave.
ly "for I am already wooing another
lover most assiduously. and he is {