The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
-No. he can't: but 0 NAV rem.u

FLUSHED clear to her hair when she seed
me. What! Now don't be takin' no
onense whar none's meant. George.
Well, hev it yer own way"
George Cottle, with an angry retort,
had called to his dog. started the hogs
and was striding off on the trail, leav.
ing Nelson staring after him.
He was angry with his neighbor for
what he had said, and repeated to him
self again and again that he would pay
no attention to such idle talk.
But where was she going with os-
bcsn" he asked himself. Again and
again he urged on the tired hogs, but
never had a herd seemed to move SO
slowly. Cottle, despite his efforts to
put aside the suspicious aroused by his
neighbours gossip, was uneasy as he
neared the clearing on which stood the
cabin.
What a fool to worry this way
Wien | know Annals waiting for me
with supper in the cabin" he said, as
he came out of the redwoods at the
clearing.
The last words choked him and a
chilling fear, a presentiment of evil.
seemed to grip him at the heart,
Instead of a smoking chimney and
cheerful light cleaning from the win
dow, as usual. the cabin was dark and
without a sign of life.
Forgetting the hogs he ran across
the clearing. He struck a match at the
cabin door and his heart chilled with
dread.
The door was latched on the outside.
He paused for half a minute, afraid
to lift the latch; then tore it open and
went in. The cabin was empty.
He lighted a lamp and looked round.
The table was set for supper, but there
was only one plate, n cup, n knife
and fork.
my God, what has h~appened?" he
cried In agony, picking up from the
plate a piece Of torn newspaper on the
margin of which were scrubbed a few
words. He stepped closer to the light
and read:
Dear George have gone with Mr..
Osborn. | just couldn't stand 1t any
longer. I was so lonely, and you don't
love me any more, so you won't care.
Forgive me II you can. ANNA.
"P. S.-Your supper is in the oven"
"Ill follow them, though 1t be 10000
miles, and kill them both," he cried,
starting for the door. Before he
crossed the threshold he turned back,
dropped into a chair and with the pitt
full little note spread between his
trembling fingers read his wife's mes.
sage again and again.
His anger softened as he read. He
began to understand what was written
between the lines as plainly as the
pencil scrawl itself.
Poor child, poor child" he NUT.
tered. "She couldn't stand 1t any Ion.
ger. She thought I didn't love her.
Oh, II she could only know how | do
really love her. Poor. misguided child,
I didn't understand her loneliness.
God forgive me-"
Rain began to pelt upon the roof and
a faint gray square showed between
the black outlines of the window. but
George Cottle heard nothing, felt moth
ing, realized nothing but the bitter scr.
row and regret that were in his heart.
The light grew stronger, the rain
stopped and the sun came out warm
and bright. Cottle looked up from the
table.
christmas morning." he said. with
a catch in his throat. Christmas
morning-how can l get through this
day."
Hark! Was that the sound OF buggy
wheels or was he mad? Voices. too!
He stepped to the door and flung II
open.
Outside we're his wife and Glenn i)s
borne.
you, Anna, you have come back"
he cried, dazedly. The girl on the
doorstep looked white and care worn.
Il have come, of course, George" she
said, with a tremor In her voice.
Haven't you forgiven me? I'm so
sorry. Don't you want me back?"
"Do you love him?" he asked.
Love who? George, dear, what has
Are you mad?"
"But you ran away, eloped. found
your note. I don't understand. Why
are you here?"
Glen Osborn came up In time to hear
the last words.
"What's all this nonsense. Cottle?"
he asked, Mrs. Cottle and I have been
In S~mithall's dance. We'd have been
back sooner, but the bridge is down
over the creek. That warm rain last
night has brought the thaw with a ven
and the SHOWS half gone al
-eady. Mrs. Cottie's wet and ~
He never finished the sentence.
George, you didn't think -" cried
, little woman throwing herself at
;eorge Cottle's feet.
anna. mi darling, I did. Forgive 1
ne, forgive me. | thought you had ]
zone"
He raised her in his arms and {
stepped into the cabin.
1T strikes me-" said Osborn, clos I
ng the door softly behind them, that Z
his is an excellent morning for a deer
unit and that three are n too many ]
n that cabin just now" :
There was many a Christmas dinner !
n california that day more elaborate !
ba. the one on Bald mountain at !
ybich smoked pork took the place Of :
urkey. but you would have needed to 9
earch the state from Siskiyou to San
to have found q happier. mora