The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-23
She went quickly to the cottage

, She went quickly to the cottage
Job Stonor sat looking into the IRE. He
was wondering why he had % nearly be-
trayed his secret to Mrs. Harte. The past
had risen before him In such q vivid pic
ture: that night when he had come home
full Of health and joy to tell his wife. his
Lizzie. of the blessing that had come TO him
In his uncle's legacy. How much easier he
should now be able to make Lizzie's life:
He saw the house once more, without q
ray Of light in II. except in the kitchen
window. for hey had a servant in those
days. But when he let himself IN. how dark
II was. There was no light in tho room
where his wife usually sat reading. for
she had given up the habit she once had OF
welcoming him at the door.
He struck a l.ght: everything looked as
usual. but on the table was a letter adj
dressed to him by his wife-a letter which
had not been posted. There were only a
few words. He writhed now as he sat. and
tried not to remember them He could not.
however. forget their meaning. She said
she had left him forever. not for the sake
OF any other. but because she owed a duty
to her own mind. to the gifts given her.
gifts which she could never fully Develop
in her position as his wife. He had sought
to ind her-oh. how constantly he had
souRht.-and only when health and strength
failed him he gave up his quest and LEFT
London.
He groaned his anguish was 30 keen that
he did not hear the gate click as the wom-
an who hal spoken TO the rectors wife
Unattached IT.: she then knocked with her
fist at the cottage door. being too nervous.
she said afterwards. to ind out the small
black knocker. Breathlessly listening for
an answer. she heard the deep echoilg
cough. At this sound a wild panic seized
on her: fear for Job Stoner's life overcame
the nervous dread she had Of meeting his
eyes. She opened the door.
The freight glimmered through the glass
pane above the kitchen entrance. and
guided her rightly. When she opened the
bands pale. wasted face peer1ng forward
at the sound Of this unusual entrance For
a moment. shocked and crushed by the
change she saw. she shrank back Then.
as he rose and came toward her. his arms
ou;stretched. ard the light Of q long-for-
gotten JOY in his eyes. she tottered back
against the wall. covered her eyes with her
hands. and eobbed.
He had reached her now; his poor. thin
hands were on her shoulders. while she
strove for words that would not come.
Lizzie. my Lizzie" he said. tenderly, a.
n he were speaking to q child. won't you
kiss me-. dear?'
She ciasped both hands round one Of his.
raised II to her lips. and kissed 1t.
Il do not deserve you should be good to
me. Job: but then you always were. Can
you call me your Lizzie before you know
whether / deserve TIT"
He drew her forward. and placed her in
his own chair beside the IRE.
With his han still on her shoulder 'I
know you well enough to be sure Of that"
he said. with a quiet dignity that awed the
agitated woman; you would not have
come home else. You must always be my
wife. come what will between ra. Those
whom God hath Joined together you re-
member. dear. The u~nspeakable tons in his
words brought tears 20 her haI1 eyes. .
Coo help me-! I did not know you were
ILL.," she said humbly.
Il shall get well now. wife: It II only Q
cough. but summer will cure II. You are
tired. and hungry. too" he said in Q
changed tone. Come. come. SIT still my
girl. and I'll see what I can ind to cheer
you"
She was tired and hungry, too; out tbs
sight Of her thin. worn husband, aged and
grav-hai-rd long before nature would have
made MIN 80. reused the woman's better
feelings. She forgot her eclnshn.ss-the sell
fish vanity which had made her desert him
shs thought wifely duties bindered
her Intellectual development: she put her
strong arm round Stonor. and, kissing him,
she made him sit In his .hair.
Keep still. dear: I'm come home to b. q
wife to you. Job. not . visitor"