The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1903-09-26

III I'm, AiDer:! the tone was no
angry and the tears which fell now il
perfect torrent betokened how deeI
was the wound his words had given.
Margaret" The tenderness in hi.
voice almost won her, but the thoughl
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
fiicked 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 thought
would leave tonight for Boston that
1 might spend the interim with
mother"
II will order the carriage. Shall we
say goodby now?"
She noted his flushed cheeks and the
reckless glitter in his eyes and hest
tated.
"Not now" she answered, gently. 81
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.
1t is difficult matter to laugh and
discuss ordinary things when the
heart is breaking. But the hardest
moment for him was after they had re-
paired to the drawing room and he
knew the hour had come to part.
at is time" he said, and held out
his hand.
Margaret came forward and stood
before him looking into his eyes.
"A week is such a little WHILE" she
said, when compared to the years
that-are to come. / have a PROPOSE.
ton to make. Perhaps you will think
it strange one under the circum-
stances; anyway, don't hesitate to re-
fuse if you feel the least desire to dc
So"
II shall have no desire to refuse"
I'VE 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. i did not give so
much time to music, either, nor did /
untii-wel1, never mind that now. NV
proposition is this: Now don't laugh:
II is too serious"
'Why, Margaret, you know 1 could
not laugh at anything you did or said"
THANK you. l 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 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 a
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 saw Coodby-foreyer."
She was looking at him anxiously:
too aDxiously to note that he was
trembling and making mighty effort
to control himself. She only won
dcred why he hesitated before he said !
gently:
"Shall 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
MS neck. wondering how it was that |
he could be so good an actor, and gave
herself up, unrestrainedly, to his ca.
-esses.
After breakfast week later Mar.
yaret beckoned her husband into the
lrawing room. A strange sadness had
'ervaded her since her waking mo-
nent and Albert regarded her anx-
ously.
"The week is up" she said, without
preface.
swell, suppose it is" he answered.
I'VE must say goodby, now"
HAS it been pleasant week to you
yes" She was afraid to say more.
"Then have proposition to make"
'e cried, exultingly. She looked at
i'm breathlessly. "Let us keen on
wing that way, sweetheart, ALWAYS.
orever. Shall we?'
"Oh, If we only could" she breatbed.
athcr than spoke, SO fearful was she
hat the scene was not real.
I'VE WILL" he said, earnestly. M
hink we have both learned the value
I life and love-"