Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-09-04
An EPISODE--IN PASTE.

i tnlnk II she had really loved him
she would have been willing to accept
his past without any questions" she
said.
would your he asked.
"Why, yes-if loved him. But"
suddenly facing about-'I don't believe
In one privilege for man and none
for q woman. II q woman takes Z
mans past without question then he
has no right to stir up her ghosts, you
know. l believe In fair play at any
rate"
After a moment he reached out and
drew her closer Sweetheart" he said
In a low voice, I'VE have no questions
to ask, no ghost to walk about; we can
safely take each others 'pasts,' SO let's
be happy In our present"
.
They had been married Q month or
two and no day that passed. had flown
by burdened with q record Of "Ques-
TONS" They had really been an un.
usual couple, and each felt rather
proud, In the depths Of his and her
secret soul, that such had been the
case.
Tonight they were both quiet; he
looking over her head into the Goals
that glowed and flashed and nlckered
like the moods of q human soul; she,
with her elbow on his knee, and her
eyes half shut behind her open palm.
"You are 50 still, DEAR" be said,
what Is it?"
Nothing" she said, without NOV
Ing, II must have been far away, for
l cannot recall Of what was thinking.
l daresay l wasn't thinking at all.
But you-of what were you thinkingl
You were just as still as l."
II was not far away" he answered,
at all odds. was Just wondering
how l could be good enough for you,"
and he lifted her up to his knee and
smothered back the soft curls Of her
hair.
She turned her face down on his
shoulder. Don't" she said; l pray
really do-every day, that you will
always believe I am good. l am not
half the woman ought to be-no, not
half" and then she began to cry.
"You foolish little woman" he said,
pattlng her shoulder, as II she were Z
fretful baby, las II there were an hour
Of your life that you need to live over
for repentance sake"
III there were, you would never for
give me-" she said, drying her eyes and
lifting her head to look into bis face.
The bare shadow Of frown passed
over the brow of the man. knowing
there Is no possibility that shall ever
be called on to forgive" he said, II
don't see why we need discuss the
probability Of such a thing-do you"
She did not answer, and after a lit
tie she slipped from his knee and went
behind his chair, softly stroklng his
head and looking down into the fire
into which he had resumed his gazing.
By and by she said, little timidly, II
almost wish, DEAR there was some
thing l could forgive you"
He reached over little impatiently
and poked the CRATE; then he stood up
and faced her with dark flush on
his face. II heard he said, that a
woman was never satisfied unless a
man had some blot on his life; never
expected, however, that you would find
fault with clean escutcheon."
1t was the first tone she had ever
heard him address to her that had not
a caress; she grew pale and dropped
over the chair back like some suddenly
stricken creature.
In an instant he was beside her, all
repentance. Il was brute, dear" he
said. Now you have something to
forgive"
An hour later, after the gas was
lighted and they had read a little and
talked little upon Indifferent sub
jects, she, with her mental equipoise
fully restored, quoted softly: LET him
that thlnketh he standeth take heed
lest he fall-dear, I am afraid we came
dangerously near to our 'pasts' to-
night"
The man looked sober and said:
"That's enough" but when the wom-
an, now thoroughly mistress Of the sit
uation laughed and teasingly asked:
"Who was the woman, dearY he was
wise enough simply to kiss her up
turned face, and since they have both
been wise enough to let sleeping ghosts
~ No., Wall, Cyontuu World