The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-04-10

place. Lord, l was countln shore on
you bcin pleased cause | tuck up for
you that away an now YOU don't
think | ort "A done il! Pear like can't
nothin | do please you. LourcSy. an
ever time | try TO do somrthin for you
| seem to make Il mess of it,
Sims voice WAS SO pathetic and his
disappointment 50 evident that. in spite
OF her i'll humOr. Louisa was touched
She looked ut him, and there was an
expression of pity aud something like
sympathy in her eyes. Slowly and
sadly she said:
"Sim, it Is n sad thing to say. and
you may think it cruel, but Goo knows
1t is true. 1t would have been better
for us both If we had never met"
"Loucesy!" Sim exclaimed frarfully,
starting TO his feet. all in Il trcmblc.
"What is that you say2 Surely you
don't mean them words"
Il do, and what | say is true. 1t
would have been far better for us both
If we had never, never met"
He stared at her Il long time In ST.
lcnce. and he noticed that her face was
painfully white and drawn. His. too.
he knew, bore the marks Of a great
dread and fear.
"LoueeSy," he said, his voice husky
and scarcely audible, "for Gods sake,
don't say that! Remember, you are
my wife. Please take back them
words. Say they're not So"
IL cannot. Sim. | cannot. for | would
only be lying If | did"
She folded her arms on the table and
dropped her head on them and began to
sob. Sim stood watching her, a sick
ening dread stealing over him. I'm,
certainly he hesitatcd for a moment,
then went to her and put out his hand
and began to stroke her hair. She drew
away from him, and Il cold Shudder ran
ovcr her. He stood aloof and looked
on her. his face painfully white and
drawn and q hard. tense sensation
clutching at his heart.
"L.ouecSy." he said presently, what
does this mean? Why do you treat me
like thatT
She made no reply, but continued tc
sob. lie cached out his hand AGAR
and placed it gently on her head. ant
again she Shrank from him as though
his touch were poison. Her action Gu
him deep, and a pain, sharp and poign
ant, passed through his soul. Whcl
he spoke again, his voice vas low ant
husky.
"LouccSy,' he said, lis it true, a:
Mary Mann says, that you don't love
me none?'
She did not answer, and when he hat
waited a m he repeated his Ques
ton. This time she looked slowly ui
until her eyes met his. From that mo
ment there was no need for her T.
speak. In her eyes he only too piainl,
read her answer to his question. Slow
lN, as one in n dream. he turned 4
leave the room. There was Il Qucc
sensation Of emptiness about his head
and everything around him bore
strange air of unrcality. at the doc
he stopped and put his hand up to hi
forehead and for n full minute stoo
like one dazcd. Then, turning his eye
once more OF his wife. he said:
"My God. LouccSy. you are KILN me
You hay" hrnknn NV heart. Oh, please
r'."~~ tell me It Is not true. that look
saw in your eyes. and that you do low
me"
She did not raise her head. but be
tween her sobs he heard her murmur.
Il can't. can't. for | don't love your
Without another word he pnSSrt
from the room and went staggering un
certainly down the walk To the street
lie felt that he had received Il death
blow. and in reality he had receive,
mat which WAS far worse. for dealt
would have brought an end to pain an,
suffering, and this brought pain an,
Suffering only.
At the yard gate he stopped. and
leaning heavily against Il post. he look
ed back at the house. Through tn,
window he saw his wife sitting rs h
had left her. and Il great ycarming cam
over him to take her in his arms an,
hold her To his bosom and kiss her. Blu
the next moment he remembered tn,
words she had spoken and the look Sh,
had given him. and, laying his hca,
against his arm. he said sadly:
but she is not mine. She is no
minc."