The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-08-28

Silence a moment The mans voice,
quietly: "Ah, we'll! suppose no mans
life is just what he planned it to be.
He must do his duty as he sees It, and
let happiness take care of itself. have
tried to do that all these years. But
have always longed to know that you
were happy with the lot you had chos-
en- have tried hard not to blame YOU
or to harbor unknd thoughts of you,
thought it was a cruel blow, Dolly, a
cruel blow"
The wOman's voice, hot and bitter:
you talk of unlIind thoughts! You
talk Of cruel blow! think you have
forgotten who struck that blow"
The mans voice, firmly: ct was not
l, surely"
The woman's voice, as firmly: ct
certainly was not l."
The mans voice, excitedly: What
do you mean, Dolly? l don't under
stand. In Gods name, don't you call it
q cruel deed for you to have married
another man the day before I reached
home, after two years in Europe, when
you know how much | loved you, and
that l had worked hard those long
years, buoyed up by my faith in you,
and the thought that you were to be
my reward-my wife? Don't you call
that cruel blow. Don't? My God |
was nearly crazed!"
The woman's voice, frantic with
pain: stop, you shall not talk so to
me. 1t was you who were faithless. Do
you think l did not know of your let
ters and gifts to Kate Cakes? Every
one in our set knew, for she boosted of
your devotion to her. Oh, my heart
was broken, and my pride hurt beyond
endurance! And when Mr.. Van Ness
asked me to marry him, l was glad
glad although l did not love him-for
as his wife no one would ever know
how you had hurt me- And six months
later you married Kate"
Silence, broken only by a qr.verlng
sob.
The mans voice, slow and dazed:
my letters to Kate! My gifts to Kate!
There was a mistake somewhere. Why,
Dolly, surely Kate gave you all the let
ters and gifts sent her? You remem-
Der your father was displeased because
| would not study law, and when l
went to Germany to complete my
studies, he made us promise that we
would not write to each other during
my absence, hoping our love would
die of silence and separation. | kept
the letter of my promise, but not the
spirit; l could not write to you, but
did write to Kate for you. She was
such friend to us BOTH and she lnew
our situation. believed l could trust
-" A pause, then slowly: Dolly, Kate
is my WIFE"
A long silence, then the woman's
voice, sweet, tender, almost joyous:
DO you know, Jack, l love this bit
of rocky coast better than any other
spot on earth! Nowhere else in all the
world are the sunsets so beautiful. Just
look at the sky now! That perfect
glory of color would drive Turner Enad
with despair
DO you remember the first summer
you came down here with Tom? You
we're big, handsome college boy, and
l was a spoiled child, who would go
everywhere with you and Tom. You
were SO good to me always, and so pa
tient. Do you remember how we used
to fish from that level rock down close
to the sea? You used to carry me in
your arms over all the rough places.
you came here every summer aiser
that. The voice became low and sad:
And when Tom died. was sixteen
then-you came down here TO comfort
me; for had no one in all the world
but Tom. Pa was so cold and stern
that I coulo not love him. Do you re-
member how begged you to be my
brother in Toms placer"
Silence The woman's voice, clear
and happy: And two years after
came the best summer of all, wheo-
you know what happened, and we plan.