Evening journal., 1904-10-31

that night when ne nao roId ner good
by forever. He could almost hear him
self speaking the slow, fateful. reluct.
ant words, in which he had told her
that the bond between them must be
broken for reasons over which he had
no control-a half confidence that, I'm
he light Of present knowledge, he
knew 10 have been far more cruel,
more cowardly. than a silence that
would have left her the poor solace Of
believing him utterly unworthy.
He had scarcely thought OF her when
returning to the old town. lie had
made the move for political reasons,
and one hotel Is much like another TO
a man who had forgotten the meaning
Of home. Like one cropping through
the dark, picking up the tangled
thread Of a dropped web. John Brack-
ett threaded back through the mazes
Of fifteen years -hfteen
Brackets tread grew less resolute,
and his feet seemed to drag just a 1T.
tie as he turned into the well remem-
bered square and saw the white col
umns OF the Heath home among the
trees. Old Peter opened the door A
little grayer about the fringe Of wool,
little more stopped, but the same old
Peter, shufiling down the hall ahead
Of him.
The house was painfully familiar
There In the corner was the little set
tee among the palms where they had
sat that rainy day. He remembered
the shadows that shifted over the pale
blue gown that she had worn and felt
agnin the touch OF the soft hand in his
the hands that were like no other
hands In all the world.
Old Peters shufiing steps had died
away and the house was stiIfed. Then
he heard her step upon the stair and
down the hail. and Elizabeth stood be-
fore him. unchanged, except for the
graver lines about the firm, sweet
mouth ana a deeper light IN the dark
eyes Brackett grasped her hand with
an almost painful force.
"You have been quite a long while
claiming your old friends In Warn
neld Mr., Bracket"
II was a merely hanal greeting, but
the commonplace served 70 place Brac-
kett on the right footing.
"Most certainly. and yet l feel that
1 should apologize for this intrusion.
had not come 10 make apology for a
greater one that was made In my
name"
you allude TO Mr.. Stinson's cally
she laughed lightly. "Mr Stnson does
me the honor to consider me force
in the political situation. assure you
appreciate the compliment, as the
president Of the Hypatia. But as
Elizabeth Heath. | must beg to decline
IT,"
Brackett made slight movement
toward her. IL beg you TO consider
the man and his total ignorance as tC
the enormity Of what he was doing
. II was a distinct shock TO me to heal
. your name upon his lips. andn-
81 understand" she replied quickly
: Believe me, I did not connect yol
with It IN the least. In fact, when h
mentioned that you would call TO dis
!. cuss the matter was very certain tina
you were entirely innocent OF a
knowledge Of his errand here"
Z Bracket flushed darkly.
e II trust you win treat this incidef
's rs II It had never happened, and {
3 course there need be no question (
IS your support In n political sense"
Here they both laughed uneasily.
q $50 much so" she responded, "thl
will use every effort TO further III
ause Of Governor Bracket"
Bracket sprang to his feet, his dar
ace aglow. "Elizabethw
e Miss Heath held up warning hant
D Mr. Bracket. fifteen years have com
), nd gone since any man has held th
ight TO call me by that name. W
e yere speaking Of politics"
4, Brackett submitted mutely as she le
he talk around TO other questions q
ne day lightly and easily, giving hit
: ime to find himself in the talk Of ol
friends and places.
"And the general, how is he and you
=. motherg"
She looked at him wonderlngly. 81
! It possible that with all OF Mr.. StlI
! sons information he did not tell 20
chat / am living here alone with onl
Aunt Jane? Father and mother die
: within one month Of each other te
fears ago"
Bracket turned abruptly and wake
o the window. He understood man
!, hings now. all the loneliness and III
= Ieautiful truth Of this woman, VIII
= lad lived her life so bravely. The SUI
light in the square was binding Pc
caps that was why his eyes were W,
4 rs ne walked swiftly down the Ion
= 'oom and drew her hands into his.
elizabeth, there was fate IN Stii
!. ,on's CALL the fate that has watcho
IS both through all these years. Thei
we're ghosts that knocked and wake
ny starved heart last night, ghos
hat would not be sllenced. l was
= oward then. a coward not bray
= ,nough to humble my pride and q
~ ou OF the burden that lay between u
= nd when death removed that burds
= = was too late, thought but | n
lere now 70 plead my case afresh, he
. { your mercy. We are older now, al
here is little youth left us, and Z
, iod's sake don't let pride stand L
. .ween us and that little. VIII the pre-
dent Of the Hypatin work for me