The Washington times., 1903-08-02

And you have found" he asked. hold
ing her hand for moment. "the things
you sought for?"
Il have learned wisdom she answer
ed II have learned how much 10 ex-
pect-"
He fancied that she hurried him away.
As he left the door. broughsm drovs
up and a young man alighted-a yoens
man Of the type he knew nothing Of
immaculate IN dress and person. good
looking. languid. MarwoOd went back
to the country that night.
Yet he delayed his answer. though old
Sheppard grew more and more impatient
every day. Marwood passed through n
curious phase Of his emotional life Mary
Sheppard was pretty in her way. and
waited only for him to speak Yet he
hung back with something OF the feel
Ing Of man called upon 20 sign his
own death warrant. An impending sense
OF the fnality OF life seemed to him 20
be inevitably coupled with the decision
which the old man and the girl were now
awaiting with almost obvious eagerness.
Re had NO great aspirations. nothing
which could rank as ambitions. Yet be-
hind the trend OF his daily life. his or
binary. well-performed tasks and simple
pleasures. he felt at times the dim. un-
realized presence OF greater things. a
more Quickenlng and satisfying life.
Sometimes. in the night. he sat I'D in
bed and stretched out HIS arms-for what
he scarcely knew. He wandered up on
he
Some shadow of a far-distant. inpossibIe
dream seemed 10 stIll torment him WITH
intangible and unsatisfying lonsinss
And all the time the old man and thu
girl waited. in the end they had their
way.
She came into his little oflce-a curl
ously iDeongruous presence IN her fash
ionable clothes. bringing with her tho
subtle air OF the city and OF all the nams-
less things the presence Of which had 20
estrsnged him on his last visit to her.
But this time he had no consciousness
them, for she looked into his eyes and "
was the look for which he had prayed so
often.
MY friend" she murmured. you
were right. I am weary Of it ALL When
you came 70 me l was brutal | owe
you so much. and I wanted 20 escape
the debt. / have come to pay It. II
can"
Her hands had stolen into his II was.
after all, like a dream-a beautiful
dream poignant with unutterable bitter
ness.
Come out with me-" she murmured
4 want you TO take me through the
meadows and up the hill where We
watched the respers VIII you Gomez
He let fall her hands and a great sob
rose TO his throat.
4 cannot he said
fear stole into her eyes.
Don't tell me that you have chang
ed"' she pleaded. =
Il have never changed" he answer
ed. gravely; but am married to Mary
Sheppard. II was her fathers last wish,
and 1t seemed TO matter so little"
She laughed-a curious. dry. mirthlesS
laugh.
Il hope that you will be happy" she
said. Somehow. l never thought OF
this And. after all. my coming was only
a within. l must act tonight, and to-
morrow, and all the days of my life
He heard the rustling of her gown
as she left him. He heard the Office
door swing TO and close. He sat on his
hard chair. and once more he looked
steadily with fixed sightless eyes into
that long shaft OF golden dust Then
his head sank lower and loweT-inte
bis hands. He leaned forward upon the
desk Before him stretched the long
level vista OF weary days-the thread
mill OF an unlived life. Someone shouted
10 him from the top OF the stairs. II
vas like the sentence OF his doom
stephen. are you coming up 20 dinner
pr are you not? Everything win be
odd
He rose slowly and assembled ths
,raFrs