The Colfax chronicle., 1903-10-31

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him; his attentions annoy her; his
Establishments disgust her. With the
full realization that she is tied for life
to man with whom she has nothing in
common, she grows melancholy, in time,
Ill. She longs to get away from this
daily life of pretense. One day she slips
away to q quiet summer hotel by lake
in the mountains. She is happy Just TO
| be free. She feels sure she will not live
long--an inherited heart trouble gives
her reason TO hope for release. and her
only positive desire is to die before she
Is found; before she must say to the
world that she can never go back to q
man whom the law says she must own.
but who in her spirit is not her hus-
band"
And the mani"
''It is sad for him. There are many
worse men. He loves in his way. and
he has consciously done nothing to Of
fend. am sorry for the man."
Good night" she said, rising.
Good night" he answered, absently.
and sat on smoking.
The season was over. Guests had been
leaving every day, till the house was de-
serted, the parlors cold and gloomy. Still
they stayed-he and she. She had grown
more fragile, and the sharp rain at her
heart came often, though she did not let
him know. The autumn frosts were
painting her pale cheeks with an un-
natural flush, that, man-like, he failed
to understand.
Then the day came when they were
the only guests in the great hotel and
they were told that the house was to
be closed for the winter. This brought
the first realization that an end must
come, and like startled children just
awakened, they looked into each others
eyes, read life's meaning and looked
away again.
II will not go for walk this morn
ing" she said. falteringly, and turned
from him and passed up the broad stairs.
He hesitated-a moment, then started
off alone.
She ascended the stairs, entered her
lOOn anu CiOocQ luc ucu Su0
sat on the edge of the bed, shivering.
And so the end had come-and they
must go away. Strange the way life held
on! She coughed and drew her cape
closely about her. She wished there
was fire, that she might be comfortable
on this last day in the mountains-with
him. A sudden new desire came to her
a desire to tell him. before they should
part. of her great love- She would write
it, 'all-and then slip away before he
should return. In feyerish haste she
opened the desk and took up her pen.
How should she address him? They had
given each other no names; but one
word came to her.
my husband!" The words once writ
ten unlocked the full flow of her con-
fession. This will startle you." she
wrote on. you cannot know all the
fullness in that word to me. have never
used it before, but oh. you are my hus-
band! my all! my own! Have you
thought me cold, feelingless? How little
Tou know a woman's heart! How little
you read nature such as mine, for
am weak and human and we have been
30 happy together. say have been
for have already put you out of my life
and you seem so far away, you and those
days of long talks, of long walks, of
Icng silences. Oh, my husband! You are
my Prince! You are my King! There
Is none other! And yet must go alone
the long, long way. But you will come,
my own, and you will find this after
am gone. and you will know-you will
know. What will you do when am
gone forever from you, my own, Will
you often think of me? Will yor re-
the long walks, and the long
talks and the long silences?
4" My husband! how like to say IT.
hose words have spoken in my heart |
to no other man"
The pen trailed off In a scrawl. She
ell weakly back on the bed, letting the
oose sheets fall about her. The maid
.apped. bringing tray of luncheon.
she told the girl to place it on the table,
she would eat directly, but the tea
cooled. forgotten.
II will rest little longer" she said to |
lerself, family, "then / must finish my |
CO." She looked down |
It the white pages. There was so much |
more to be said, SO much--so much-but |
he would feel stronger after awhile. She |
lrew the covering more closely around |
Ter; she shivered from head to foot; |
hen she lay very still.
There came a rap at the door, the knob |
urned. and man stepped inside. He |
night have been a merchant or stock |
,roker and he was not young. He paused |
bruptly and gazed at the sleeper.
Margaret" He spoke sharply, but |
here was no answer. He drew nearer
nd looked closely at the white face on
he pillow. 1t was the sleep of death.
Margaret" he repeated in strained.
Metallic voice, in which there was no
orrow, no tenderness. Then his eye fell
N the loose sheets Of paper still grasped |
q her hand. He drew them away and
cad. The papers fell to the floor; he
ropped beside the still form and clasping
t closely in his arms wept aloud.
my little wife," he cried broke enly.
True at the last-true to your hus-
and"
An all tn blood twas nakins