The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1903-05-29

those unknown arms.
Has he been long like this?" she
asked. You ought to have told me
before"
He was never strong. as you may re
member" he answered coldly. He
does not take after my family; he pines
for warmth and sunshine. as you did.
| must remind you that you have never
given me reason to think you took any
particular interest in him. | was not
at all certain that you would come
now"
mot Gomez she exclaimed. Then she
remembered. Il beg your pardon" she
said humbly; you are quite right. 1t
is l who am to blame-I who am in the
wrong. But-but," her voice growing
husky II did not know he wanted me
so badly. l was SO young when l went
away am not very old now-and l
did not understand many things. Per
haps If you had reasoned with me-if
you had pointed out"
DO you think | wanted a captive in
stead of a wife?' he asked harshly. Il
saw how you fretted and pinned like n
Gagged creature; saw the hunted look
in your eyes; knew you would wear
your life out in a little If it went on"
1T was so dull-so dreary," she muir
mured land nobody wanted me, not
even you, think, after a little while
l interrupted your studies; l was rest
less and disturbed your routine, so when
my legacy came 1t seemed to open a
way of escape. l thought II was bet
ter for us to so our own road before
we learned to hate each other. l had
a gift only one, but 1t would not let
me rest until l had tried what it was
worth. l ought not TO have married"
mo doubt 1t was a mistake, but in
Justice l must say that that was more
my fault than yours. l was years old
err and took advantage of your youth
and ignorance to fasten a bond on you
of which you did not understand the
import No doubt you knew yourself
best You have the life that suits you;
you were free to go your own way"
LAS you yours"
GAS l mine" Something in the voice
made Denise move uneasily For six
years the man and the child had lived
here together; her husband, her child
For six years she had nearly forgotten
them both; not quite, though she had
tried to do so. The man and the child
had been growing old together-with-
out love or happlness-while she had
laughed and sung. There was nothing
young in the house-nOt even the little
form she held In her arms
A week had passed, and little Michael.
thinks (as the doctor plainly said to his
mothers devoted nursing and the in
terest she created In the child's mind,
was picking up his frall life again. He
was never tired of looking at her, or
admiring all the pretty things that gath
cred about her as matter Of course;
he had never seen so many flowers, so
much dainty luxury in his brief exist
ence.
"'You use these every day." he asked
in an awed voice, as he amused himself
with the silver pots and bottles on her
dressing table
Eyes, every day." she said with a gay
little laugh. do you think l am very
extravaganza"
Father hasn't anything pretty in his
room, like to be here best" he said,
lying back luxurlously among the
bright cushions which his mother had
ordered from the neighboring town. She
opened her lips to speak, but closed
them again without a word.
Denise was sitting alone one evening
in the faded drswing-room when her
husband came in. As a rule she saw
very little Of him; they seemed to avoid
each other by tactic consent
There is something l wish to say to
you when you are at leisure" he began
She thought how worn and gray he
looked though he was a man In the
prime of life, as he stood before her. the
hard light from the setting sun show
ing up the lines on his cold, stern face.
as 1t showed up the patches of damp
on the wall paper and the unlovellness
of the beautifully designed room. He
and 1t both seemed thrown away under
their present circumstances.
81 am quite at your service" she an
swered. Little Michael is in bed and
asleep and l have nothing to do"
1T is about him l wish to speak," he
said. as he sat down. HE Is almost
well again now"
HE is very delicate STILL" she said
, quickly. "He needs great deal of care
he could not stand much" Could he