Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-10-10
The Return
BY Nellie Cravey Gilmore
Copyright, 1903, by Daily story Pub. Coz


Copyright, 1898, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
MFRS. Darlington paced the length
iNI of the veTanda and back again
hall a dozen times, sat down for a rest
less moment; then rose and Began
taking short turns up and down in
front of the short fight of steps that
led down to winding path of gravel.
Every now and then she paused,
with hand on one of the polished
ratings. to peer anNiously-perhaps a
trihe eaEerly-through the thick-laced
tree branches sladowiug the lawn
Her hair, a heap of shredded copper,
tumbled picturesQuely over the
smooth. white forehead. just relieving
1t OF sternness begoUen by the
deeply grave eyes beneath
! A half hour passed and the sound of
familiar footstep brought the blood
In rush of scarlet to the woman's
face; in an instant it had recedeG,
leaving her almost IS pale as the lie
Marque rose az her throat
&theridge fastened the gate careful
3ly behind him and came rapidly up
she walk. hicdng the flowers on either
side with a nervous cane.
Mrs. Darlington extended both hands
at once. Toni" she said, her voice
subdued that he might not catch its
trembling. I'm half afraid" she con
tinued, clinging to him with cold.
shaking fingers.
Etheridge stopped and touched her
face Nightly with his lips with me?"
no asked
The element of reproach in his
question forced back her self-control.
',Uf course not dear. was foolish,
q trine Observation-Disclosures all"
eve haven't any too much time,
Mona" he reminded, pulling out his
watch and glancing apprehensively at
the minute hand; "a half hour at the
outside"
She whitened and caught her breath
at his words but collected herself inn
mediately and left him for a moment
returning cloaked and hated for the
Journey WED better take this side
street" she suggested as they left the
house; "he usually comes the other
way"
Dusk was falling rapidly, so thai
they we're not likely to be recognized
as they walked on with swift, nervous
footsteps, past all the familiar land
marks and down the wide clay road
that led to where the team was wait.
ing.
Few words were exchanged Once
Etheridge glanced furtively into the
woman's averted profile. a shock run
ming through him at its bitterness anC
pallor r.~
Presently they came in sight of the
long, white-picketed fence that en-
closed the village cemetery. Mrs. Car
rington held her face resolutely to
ward other things as long as sh,
could, but her composure suddenl,
broke and the hand that had cluns
desperately to Etheridge's arm looset
its clasp and dropped Imply. Sh
looked up into his face with mute
hunted eyes.
''Well?" The mans voice bore a not
Of uneasiness, despite his effort to APP
pear natural. He took her cold fin
gers in his own and pressed then
gently.
''Wait for me just a moment" sh
SdIu, WITH QulNeIlAS lips. want Z
go-there, for the last time, Tom.
Her eyes, strained with a dry misery
looked toward the cleaning shaft
pointing skyward in the distance
Etheridge released her mechanically
turning away to hide a gatherin
frown.
Mrs. Darlington lifted her skirts /
one hand and sped swiftly across tn
long, sun-rusted grass, through
small, revolving gate and on down {
the tiny, violet-bloomed grave, wit
its simple cross Of white marble.
Within ten feet of the grave sh
paused, the sound of mans voice an
that Of a woman breaking sharply O
her ears. To the left was a viii
bench, screened from observation b
a dense clump of shrubbery. She s;
down out OF breath, instructive,
drawing the dark veil closer about h,
face.
There's hardly any need of discu
xing It further" the man was sayir