The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-21
LOVE AND LOYALTY.

Priscilla stirred the cranberries with
hands that trembled from some inward
emotion. Somehow her heart did not
seem to be in it today. the anniversary
d1nner-herS and Jim Shat had al
ways been her culinary joy and pride.
Her thoughts kept travelling back to
that day-her wedding day-just five
years ago. when their happiness seemed,
indeed, almost too full to last in this
life.
A squirrel scampered out on the limb
OF 4 sycamore near the kitchen window
and regarded her with his head on one
! side, as though wondering what it was
that made Priscilla sad Just then the
little cuckoo clock in the dining room,
Jinn's present on her last birthday,
struck the noon hour, rousing Priscilla
from her reVerie. She got up hurriedly,
and taking down a long agate spoon
from hook commenced to basic the
turkey.
From time to time she glanced half
expectantly, half anxiOusly, through the
narrow little window for some sign of
her husband. He generally came about
that time for dinner, but the minutes
dragged themselves slowly by, and 1
O'Clock chimed; still no welcoming face
from the doorway. What could it
mean?
Half an hour later the potatoes were
ready for peeling and the rolls had
Drowned to a faultless crust. Jim's
wife could not repress the quick thrill
or PRIDE that went through her as she
took snowy cloth from the neat pine
linen shelf and started toward the coy
dining room to spread the table for
three.
She found 'Lisbeth curled up fast
asleep in the middle Of the old fashion
ed lounge that had come to ner from
her grandmother. a tiny yellow kitten
with big eyes pressed close to her club
by cheek.
The mothers eyes alight with the
JOY that is greater than all Others rest
ed fOndly upon the sleeping child for
an instant. Then she went closer and
knelt down by her darling-t1e minia-
ture of Jim--and kissed the smooth,
flushed face.
Afr the table had been put in order
and set agleam with white and gold
china and the best silver" Priscilla
went back to the kitchen to put the I'm
tshing touches to the array of appetiz-
ing dishes spread here and there about
the range to keep warm She waited
another Is minutes. but still Jim did
not come. She was not a Jealous or
suspicious wife. but how could she help
remembering at this time the preoccu-
pied manner he had worn for the past
few Weeks-the broken. disturbed SEN
fences of his dreams-and more than all,
the bits of torn paper she had found in
the pocket of one of his old coats while
mending this agitation when she
showed them to him?
The fire needed repleniShing, and she
started toward the WoOdshed for stick
!
tears that kept coming to her eyes. But
somehow they wouldn't stop, and she
seemed to walk without seeing. as one
in a dream. She selected a stout log to
fit the range, and turned slowly to re-
trace her steps. AS she passed the corn
crib voices from the vicinity of the
summer house beyond came distinctly
to her sharpened ears. and she halted
enough, ana the other. unmistaka bly,
that of a woman!
''Don't-don't cry" he was saying,
half-pityingly, half-tenderly; it's hard
enough as it is-but to see you like this
Priscilla did not wait to hear more.
Her great dark eyes had grown black
with indignation, and pain marked ivid
streaks across her face. With a sudden, (
crazed impulse. she turned quickly and
ran toward the house.
Once only she turned her head over
her shoulder to glance back. Her hand
went to her breast in the little gesture
of despair that women employ when all
the light seems to die out Of their life at
once. She did not even stop to think, buc
sped on-on as fast as her feet coulu
carry her, 10 the old fashioned lounge IN |
the dining room where 'Lisbeth still
slept her pure sleep.
The woman's breath came in quick, /
dry sobs, and for the first time she broke /
down. as she bent over the child. She /
paused WaVering The next minute /
Jin's false eyes looked up into her own
through the baby,s guileless ones, ana
her resolution was taken.
For moment she closed her eyes to
shut out all the happy past forever, and |
a prayer for the future-fOr strength |
endurance-went up to the God she had
worshiped in hours Of ease as well as III /
those of pain. Then she locked her |
white Inns determinedly and crossed the /
hall to her own little bedroom
It was the work Of an instant to snatch /
up hat and wrap for herself and some |
thing for the child; to find the little pile
she had laid aside for a rainy day-for
her and Jim and the baby-and pass out
alone into the world.
some irresistible thing seemed to im-
pei her to take the path that led around |
back Of the vine-screened summer house I
and to look for the last time, unnoticed, /
upon the face Of him who had been her
world-her very Hfe-now irrevocably
/ lost to her.
As she nearer the familiar spot, some
thing seemed to clutch at her throat, and