The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-06
The JOY Of Returning.

drift down the stream Bit
1 obeyed willingly. for it was a warm
day, and I realized after an hour :
steady rowing that the charms of the
riverside could be better appreciated
when the hands were idle. Leaning
back in my cushions. I listened to the
drone of the bees and the musical lap
ping of the water against the sides or
the boat, watching meanwhile the va
rying expressions which fitted over
my companions face.
How sweet and peaceful 1T all is
here" she half unused. Just day Ior
condolences. Tell me, Rose. have 1
ever kept secret from you?"
mot to my knowledge" l returned.
''Well. there is one big secret which
] have always kept locked up in my
own heart, the only one, think, that L
ever refrained from confiding to you
long is it since first came to live with
your"
Two years." I answered somewhat
anxiously, land the happiest two years
of my life. Don't say you are thinking
of leaving me yet awhile"
did it never strike you as being a
strange thing for me to leave my home
and friends and come and bury myseI
in the country like thiS?"
II thought perhaps" began blum
deringly, that you might have had
some disappointment-tha is"
1 broke off in some confusion, and
under her long fringed eyelids.
You were quite right she said, the
smile dying away from her mouth ana
a shade passing over her face. You
thought there was a man in the case.
Well. there was"
Her voice sank as she made this con-
feSSion, and her eyes strayed away over
the water with the PARKWAY expression
which had become so familiar looked
at her silently, desperately curious, as
only a woman can be, and yet not car
ing to put any question.
Yes" she said softly. HE was the
cause of my going away. I loved him
too we'll to stay
but why?" 1 began impetuousIy, not
quite understanding this kind of affec-
ton. Didn't he care for your"
YES" she said. That was the rea-
son why I WENT
''Was-was he married?' I asked
nervously.
Yes she said bitterly. He was
less woman. a woman who cared for
nothing but the indulgence of her own
inordinate vanity. What he suffered
through her no one knows better than
myself. In six months she ran through
all his money, incurred debts which
We're impossible to pay and altogether
made his life a perfect misery. Rose,
Rose, there never was a greater curse
to man than a bad wife"
That must have been hard for you
to bear" I murmured sympathetically.
But not nearly so hard as for him"
And do you think he loved you?'
81 am sure of it, she returned do
you think my life these two years
would have been possible if I had not
known? 1t was that that gave me tile
courage to go away and to keep away
all through those terrible long months"
And now" / began anxiouSly,
staying the oars in their motion in the
water.
She dabbled her hands in the water
before
And now" she said, at am going to
see him again.
She saw the look of panied surprise
which came upon my face, but did not
heed it, and went on talking as il to
herself
Il am going to meet him in the city
tomorrow. He will be at the station
when my train comes in. haven't seen
him for two whole years-for two whole
years.
Then his wife is dead" made re-
mark.
NO; she is not. Women of that sort
do not die easily"
But demonstrated.
There are no butts about it," she
cried almost angrily. I'VE have suffered
enough, he and l, and we are going to
pretend that the other woman is dead.
We are going to forget all the misery of
the past. He is going to take me abroad
and we are going to start life over
again. 1t is the thought of this which
has kept me alive these years.
You are a foolish girl" said, with
some emotion. do you think happiness
will come at such cost? Think over it
all again or you will repent it bitterly.
You have had courage enough to keep
away so long, don't spoil it all now. I
am pleading now for his sake and
yours"
She shook her head obstinately, and
her eyes shone with a light which was
truly maddening to me. Knowing her
as did, this weakening change in her
character surprised me more than 1
dared to own. 1 looked at her silently
and met her glance of odd defiance with
a sorrowful thought of what she had
been to me for the last two years. Then
found my voice.
But she did not heed entreaties and sat
half smiling to herself as she played with
the steering ropes
I'VE are willing to risk everything" she
said when two people love each other
oS he and do, nothing else countS-noth-
ing else in the wo.1d."
But that Other woman" I cried. ''she
whom he promised to love and honor at
the altar2'
She leaned forward and caught my
hands in hers and burst into a light and
You stupid she said 81 am that 9TH
er woman. am his wife. Oh, Rose to
see him once more and to hear him for
give the folly of the past after this life
time of separation. Penny Pictorial Mag
azine.