The southern sentinel., 1903-09-18


the day come, however. when you pre-
fer such request l shall, OF course
make no opposition"
81? Oh, Albert" the tone was not
angry and the tears which fell now In
a perfect torrent betokened how deep
was the wound his words had given.
margaret" The tenderness in his
voice almost won her, but the thought
of the long hours she had spent alone,
the miles she had traversed while pa
cling the floor waiting for him to re-
turn from his pleasures, intruded It
self, and she walked to the window
without noticing the outstretched
hands. He shrugged his shoulders,
ficked piece of dust from his sleeve
and said, in matter-of-fact way:
"You have made the decision. When
do you intend to start for Europe?"
"a week from to-day, but I thought
I would leave tonight for Boston that
1 might spend the interim with
mother"
"I will order the carriage. Shall we
say goodby now?"
She noted his flushed cheeks and the
reckless glitter in his eyes and hesi-
tated
"Not now," she answered, gently. II
don't leave until eight o'clock. Will
you not have dinner with me here at
home. We can say goodby after
wards"
"As you WILL" he said. and left the
room without looking at her.
She sat in the chair by the window,
into which she had dropped when he
left the house, until she heard his
latchkey in the door just before the
dinner hour. Then she few to her
dressing room.
Dinner was an ordeal for them both.
It is a difficult matter to laugh and
discuss ordinary things when the
heart is breaking. But the hardes:
moment for him was after they had re-
paired to the drawing room and he
knew the hour had come to part.
''It is time," he said, and held out
his hand.
Margaret came forward and stood
before him looking into his eyes.
"a week is such little WHILE" she
said, "when compared to the years
that are to come. I have PROPOSE
ton to make. Perhaps you will think
it a strange one under the circum-
stances; anyway, don't hesitate to re-
fuse if you feel the least desire to do
So"
81 shall have no desire to refuse"
1--WE were happy, Albert, the first
year of our married life. You did not
spend so much time away then, and
you cared for me. No, don't say any
thing yet, please. did not give so
much time to music, either, nor did ]
until-well, never mind that now. My
proposition is this: Now don't laugh;
it is too serious"
why, Margaret. you know 1 could
not laugh at anything you did or said"
"Thank you. I wish, instead of
going to mothers. to stay here, with
you, and for that short time to play we
were spending our honeymoon again.
Is it asking too much?"
margaret" There was a whole VOL
ume in his tone, if she had not been too
much occupied with her proposition to
read it.
"Just little week. think you will
not miss it, and, because you used to
love me, and caress me, and be tender
to me, think, perhaps, it will not be
hard for you to do it again, just for
few days. Then we will forget that we
played at being lovers and we will take
up life where we left it off before that,
and say goodby-forever."
She was looking at him anxiously;
too anxiously to note that he was
trembling and making mighty effort
to control himself. She only WON
dered why he hesitated before he said
gently:
AShall we begin now?"
IF you please" she answered.
Sweetheart" he murmured, as he
folded her In an embrace that almost
crushed her. She laid her arms about
his neck, wondering how it was that
he could be so good an actor, and gave
herself up, unrestrainedly, to his ca
resses.
After breakfast a week later Mar
garet beckoned her husband into the
drawing room. A strange sadness had
pervaded her since her waking mo-
ment and. Albert regarded her anx-
iously.
"The week is up" she said, without
preface.
swell, suppose 1t Is, !" he answered.
I'VE must say goodby. now"
Has it been a pleasant week to you.
Margaret?"
"Yes." She was afraid to say more.
"Then have proposition to make"
he cried, exultingly. She looked At
him breathlessly. "Let us keep on
living that way, sweetheart; always.
forever. Shall we2"
"Oh, If we only could" she breathed,
rather than spoke, so fearful was she
that the scene was not real.
I'VE WILL" he said, earnestly. "I
think we have both learned the value
Of life and love-"
Then on to the walnut shaded nook
Where fha ~t& ~,