The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-30

Copyright 1903, by Daily Story Pub Co
Mrs. Darlington paced the length Of
the veranda and back again half
dozen times, sat down for a restless
moment; then rose and began taking
short turns up and down in front of
the short flight of steps that led down
to widening path of gravel.
Every now and then she paused,
with hand on one of the polished
ratings, to peer anXiously-perhapS a
trif1e agerly-through the thick laced
tree branches Shadowing the lawn.
Her hair, heap of shredded copper,
tumbled picturesquely over the
smooth. white forehead just relieving
it of a sternness begotten by the deep
ly grave eyes beneath.
A half hour passed and the sound of
a familiar footstep brought the blood
in q rush of scarlet to the woman'S
face; in an instant it had receded,
leaving her almost as pale as the LIE
Marque rose at her throat.
Etheridge fastened the gate carefully
behind him and came rapidly up the
walk. flicking the flowers on either side
with 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, cIinging to him with cold, shak-
ing fingers.
Etheridge stopped and touched her
face lightly with his lips. With me-"
he asked.
The element of reproach in his ques-
ton forced back her self-contrOl
"Of course not, dear. l was foolish,
a trife Observation-Disclosures all"
I'VE 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 i'm
mediately and left him for moment,
returned cloaked and hated for the
journey. Wed better take this side
street." she suggested as they left the
house; she usually comes the other
way"
Dusk was falling rapidly, so that
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. 5
Few words were exchanged Once
Etheridge glanced furtively into the
womans averted profile. shock run
ming through him at it's bitterness and
pallor.
Presently they came in sight of the
long. white picketed fence that in
closed the village cemetery Mrs. car
rington held her face resolutely to-
ward other things as long as she could.
but her composure suddenly broke and
the hand that had chung desperately
to Etheridge's arm loosed its clasp and
dropped Imply. She looked up into
his face with mute. hunted eyes.
"Well ~ and the mans voice bore a
note of uneasiness, despite his effort
to appear natural He took her cold
fingers in his own and pressed them
gently.
Wait for. me. Just a moment" she
said, with quivering lips. Il want to
go-there for the last time Tom" Her
eyes. strained with dry misery. looked
toward the cleaning shafts pointing
skyward in the distance.
Etheridge released her mechanical
Iy, turning away to hide a gathering
froWn.
Mrs. Darlington lifted her skirts in
one hand and sped swiftly across the
long, sun-rusted grass, through a
small, revolving gate. and on down to
the tiny, violet bloomed grave. with its
simple cross of white marble.
Within ten feet of the grave she
paused. the sound of mans voice
and that of woman breaking sharply
on her ears. To the left was wire
bench. screened from observation by
a dense clump of shrubbery. She sat
down out of breath. instinctiyeiy