The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-05-14

Ihe young man did not move; he
did not glance up from his paper, al
though the woman coughed slightly,
very slightly, once or twice.
Finally she walked smilingly across
the room and pausing behind his char,
rested her arms upon his shoulders
and patted his checks. He glanced up
into her face aud her smile deepened,
showing a shade Wy dimple in her cheek.
"Hello, Agnes" he said, simply,
turning his eyes back TO his paper.
The woman removed her arms from
his shoulders and stood quite still and
erect, a thumb and finger toying with
a lock of his hair and usefulness
creeping into her eyes.
CT did not know you had come,
Raymond" she faltered.
81 have been here ten minutes ~ he
returned. "I did not think II neces-
sary to sound a trumpet when L ar
rived"
The color left the woman's face and
her lips trembled, but she did not re-
ply. After awhile she walked over to
q window and gazed out at the stars,
while the man turned his paper over
and continued his reading.
Once or twice the woman turned her
head and glanced at the man, but she
did not speak and he did not look up.
Then she pushed a footstool to the side
of his chair and sat down upon it,, let
ting her elbow rest upon his knee and
gazing at the Goals in the CRATE.
"Please put down your paper, dear"
she said. "I want to talk to you.''
The paper dropped from the mans
fingers and for a moment he gazed in
silence at the wOman's hair that glowed
like a golden crown in the bright glare
of the electric light. Just the sug-
gestion of a frown stole across his face
and he sighed softly.
Still the woman did not take her eyes
from the fire; she did not speak, and
the man took a cigar from his pocket
and, lighting il, threw the burning
match into the crate.
"Well2"h he asked, impatiently.
Raymond" she replied, very slow
ly, Z" did you realize that tomorrow is
the anniversary of III wedding2 We
have been married three years to.
morrow, Raymond"
Again a sigh escaped the man. 1t
was a very soft sigh, but the woman
heard 1t and glanced quickly, search
ingly into his face. He did not re-
turn her glance, but gazed silently
into the fire.
Sadly she turned her face again to-
wards the glowing Goals IN the CRATE
and sat in silence for a long time.
Well," repeated the man, finally,
what of it, Agnes2"
Raymond" she said, suddenly,
leaning forward and staring intently
into the fire, "you do not-you do
not love me any more, doyou?" There
was a sob in her voice and the man
moved uneasily.
"I love you as much as | ever did,"
he replied, resignedly.
AS much as you ever did2 Then
then, you never loved me, Raymond"
The other %hesitated, chewing stub.
bornly at the end of his cigar. Then
he replied, speaking softly, but de-
~hberately: "No Agnes. | never truly
loved you"
a sudden Cry escaped the woman in
spite of her efforts to control herself,
and the mans face darkened. But
when the woman spoke her voice was
calm and steady.
Why, then, did you marry me,
Raymond"
You know why / married you," he
replied. "You know the parents of
both Of us were anxious that we should
wed. Father never gave me a mo-
ment's peace until L agreed. He even
threatened to disinherit me if / refus-
ed. And so-and so-oh, we'll, / was
young and-I didn't much care"
"Then it was my money, and not
me, you married, Raymond2n
Well, yes, L suppose So" he To-
piled. blowing o cloud of smoke into
the air. Yes, | suppose it was on
account of your money that the folks
wanted me to marry you. But i didn't
care for your money, Agnes; you know
L didn't. / haven't touched a cent of it,"
He leaned forward and nicked the
ash from his cigar into the flames,
while the woman sat perfectly still,
watching the embers.
While 1 didn't care particularly for
YOU" he continued, patronizingly,
" there was no one else / loved and SO
1 didn't much care. Having a fortune
OF my own / thought that perhaps 1T
was proper that / should marry a wo-
man of means. The folks wanted it,
the world expected it,, and-L agreed"
81 see," said the woman quietly.
The man bent forward and rested his
hand upon the gold Of the woman's
hair.
81 have tried to be a good husband
to you, Agnes" he said. "Ihave en-.
deavored to provide you all the luxur-
les to which you have been acustomed.
l have never denied you anything /
thought would add to your happiness.
The woman looked up suddenly. !
Her eyes were intensely bright. A
bright rel spot glared on each check. Z
Raymond" she said, you have {
your wealth upon me, but you &
have denied me everything"
"Denied you everythlng2" he cried I
almost angrily. s
:" Yes. you have denied me that i
which is everything to a wife-the love !
Of her husband. That is everything, y
!
She arose slowly and crossed the s
Dom. Under the portiere she paused {;
md glanced back at the man sitting 6
With his chin resting In his hand and Q
sazing at the dying embers on the 4
q