The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-05-15

Her eyes were intensely bright. /
Raymond" she said, "you hav
: lavished your wealth upon me, but 20,
have denied me everything"
"Denied you everythlng?" he crict
almost angrily.
, L" Yes. you have denied me tina
which is everything to wlfe--thc love
of her husband. That ls everything
Raymond"
She arose slowly and crossed the
room. Under the portiere she pauscc
and glanced back at the man sitting
with his chin resting in his hand ano
gazing at the dying embcrs on the
hearth.
"I-I-do not blame you, dear,'
she said, with sob. g l'crhaps--per-
haps--I would not--miEd, lf--if-~-I
loved you less"
| When her husband entered, Agnes
gave startled cry.
con, Raymond" she exclaimed,
"Raymond, dear, what has happened?''
His face was ashen; his eyes were
dull and lstlcss; his hands were trcm
bling. Hclplessly he staggered to chair
and covered his face with his hands
while she stood beside him, terror in
her eyes, her lips dumb. {" 1t is all
gone!" the man groaned. 4" 1t is all
gone, Agnes-all goneW
All gomez" she asked. You
mean -------'
lie clutched the arms of his chair
desperately.
"The corner" he cried. "l tried
to protect it; tried to head them off
but | couldn't. The bottom fell out,
Agnes, and--and- Godl"
lie sprang to his feet and strobe
across the room. Then he turned
suddenly.
Agnes,' he cried, "we are beg
gars; we are penniless. Everything
is gonel"
No, dear" she replied, almost
cheeriully, "not everything. My
money is yours, dear all yours"
He turned away his head and grew
still palcr. His lips parted and he
tried to speak, but he could not. lie
held out his hands to her as one who
Is cropping in the darkness.
1t is gone," he groancd, at last.
" God, Agnes, forgive me, but l tried
tried to save myself, and used your
money, too. And it is gone--all gonc!"
His hands dropped to his side in alb
solute helplcssncss. The woman put her
silk of her tresses agal net his che elk.
" No, dear" she whispered, (" all
is not gone, for my love for you
remains, and--~----'
" But you are penniless,' he said
"you have nothing.'
Ono, have uothins," she said very
slowly, very sadly. I" have nothing,
not not even~--your love. But | will
not complain. am--your wife,
Raymond, and l will help. We can
rent some of our rooms; will take
pupils in music and you--you can
certainly do something"
"I can do something; will do
something's he cried, rcsolutely.
"l-l--God bless you, AgncsI"
The man sank INTO. Il chair and
watched his wife as she walked to a
small table in the corner OF the room
and commenced arranging some roses
in a vase. :.
AS she bent over the flowers, The
glow of the electric light gistcncd
softly upon the wonderful gold of her
hair
And the man DAT immovable, fascna-
ted by the bcautcous picture. She
turned her head slightly and he saw
the soft glcam Of her cheek and the
shadows playing around her dimpic.
A thrill swept through hlm and he
leaned forward and bowed his head in
silent worship. Then he raised his
head again and she, unconscious of his
newly awakened devotion, smiled at
the roacs in her hand and hummed a
love song, soft and tender,
lmpuslvcly the man caught her hand
II his and pressed her finger tips to his
lps. She turned and faced him in
wonder, and he took her in his arm,
and tangled his fingers in the gold OF
her trcsscS.
She tried to speak but he folded hcI
arms around hls neck and covered he
, lace with kisses. Then he smile,
, down into her eyes. lier lips parted
but she could not speak. For q mo
mcnt she gazcd INTO his earnest face
the light of ineilablc happiness shining
in her eyes. Anl then
90 Little swccthcar," he cncd, {"
love you; love yonl"
And then-hcr arms tiyhtcne,
around his neck; her head sank upor
his shoulder like Il chlld's and he heart
her crying softly to herself.