El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-04

his wife no hopes and plans ambf
| tons? Was her life so indissolubly
| linked with his that she was. individu.
| ally effaced? He had never asked him.
self this question before. 1t was time
| it was asked How supremacy selfish
| he had been. He had never recognized
the fact until now. He passed his hand
YEARLY over his forehead. He wasn't
well. He had the blues. He needed a
strong bracer. He went to the side
board and poured out half tumbler-
fnl of whisky in the little glass. He
picked it up. Then he pushed it back.
1t seemed cowardly. Why should he
be afraid of his thoughts? He remem-
bered, too. how reproachfully she al
ways looked at him when he drank.
He knew it was a temptation that he
ought to avoid. And yet her reproach-
full -glances never stopped him. He
would laugh at her and drink in n spir-
1t of bravado.
He went back to the big chair in the
library. What COMPOUNDED disagree
able companions q mans thoughts
weret They came unlimited and they
didn't have the grace to leave when
they found they were not welcome
plenty of time for it. Much more time
than he had. Did she look back as he
had been looking back? Did-tlid she
regret?
A great many people had admired
Nellie. All the men who knew of his
domestic affairs considered him a very
lucky man. He took their compliments
as n matter of course. He felt COM
a. 1t.
to his good taste and his admirable
home discipline. Fool,
There was one man in particular, his
friend. whom he had reason to believe
had loved Nellie and would have made
her his wife. He was a fine fellow, a
popular man. and he was worth a good
deal of money. He would have made
life easier, perhaps happier. for her.
He contrasted himself with this man.
Was there any possible balance in his
favor? And yet Nellie had preferred
him. Was it love or was it pique?
Did the occasional sight of this old ad-
mirer ever arouse regret?
He got up slowly and looked at the
clock. He had been doing and dream
ing for he knew not how long. 1t was
past midnight. He would go to bed.
She certainly wasn't coming home. Be
sides, she had her key.
He turned off the gas and went up
the stairs slowly and YEARLY. He
felt old. When he reached their room,
he did not light the gas. He knew
that almost every object in the apart
ment would remind him of her.
When he was in bed. he stretched his
arm slowly and tenderly across the va
cant place beside him and fell asleep.
He awoke with a subtle odor in his
nostrils. faint, yet pungent-a delicious
OdOr. He sat up quickly. 1t was broad
daylight, with the sun pouring through
the window, over which he had forgot
ten to draw the shade. He looked
about. No, Nellie hadn't come home.
John, John, you lazy boy! It's
o'clock, and the coffee is getting cold"
Was that her voice or was he dream
ing? Can you dream the odor of cof-
fee? He dressed in a wild hurry and
then added the finishing touches more
slowly.
She was at the foot of the stairs. her
face beaming, her eyes sparkling.
Hello. Johnnie" she cried
Hello" he answered and stopped to |
meet her kiss.
Miss me?'' |
Yes, a little"
That's right. Where did you get |
your dinnerT'
Dinner"
You great goose, 1 don't believe you |
had any! Did you miss me as much as
hat? But you'll enjoy your breakfast /
Ill the more. OF course you got nv
lOte?"
John started slightly.
''Of course
'Why. what's this by the bookcase?
Here's the note now. A puff of wind
must have blown it from the table
where You dropped it. There, there;
ut down. You'll find your butterfly
wife hasn't forgotten how to cook \
lows the coffee."
First Glass;" answered John. with
'reat gulp.
''Thank you, dear. You see, Mabel
ent for me in such a hurry 1 just had
ime to scribble that note and jump in
he carriage. And. oh, John, they've
OF the sweetest little girl baby there
on ever saw! And, John, do you
now. Mabel wouldn't let me out of
er sight for moment; just chung to
lie and didn't want anybody else to |
ONE near her; kept me holding tight
her hand for hours and hours It
'uched me deeply, John. never
reamed Mabel cared so much for me-"
He looked up. Her bright eyes were
Ill of tears.
Can you blame her?" he asked. with
lame attempt at popularity. Then he ,
1ded, Been up all night?"
Yes, she answered 81 couldn't get |