Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-09-24
An Anniversary

De Narville, standing at the door.
saw her. He fastened to her, holding
out his hand
Are you here alone?' he questioned,
surprised.
For the moment" she answered. 81
am expecting a friend. He was to
meet me here at g."
Glancipg up at a giant gilt clock,
whose hands moved with annoying
slowness: at is not quite that yet,
she reflected, impatiently.
De Narville smiled down upon her.
MAY 1 sit here opposite your? he
asked, drawing out the chair, until he
comesT'
Certainly" she replied, and he took
the chair.
He observed her admiringly.
"You are looking beautiful tonight,
Jessica," he began. "How dainty your
white is, and that touch of rose in your
hat. Old-fashiened roses they are,
aren't they? On a new-fashioned wom-
an. And your little fingers glittering
with just enough diamonds. not too
many Just enough. There are some
who make the mistake Of wearing dia-
monds to the knuckles. but you. neverl
Dear me! The last time I saw you,
Jessica, you were in tears"
YES" encouragingly.
you and he had just separated 1t
was very sad. 1 was not surprised at
your tears. One must weep a little for
any husband, worthy or unworthy. 1t
10 in fba n t11ro IF woman RI1t I said
to myself, then, In a couple of weeks
or three she will be over it. She will
have entirely recovered And I must
say that my prophecy has been full
filed even sooner than 1 expected, Jes-
sica. How long has it been? Three
weeks?' After a moment employed
in rapid mental calculation, "Three
weeksl And here you are, beaming
more beautiful than 1 have ever seen
you, and waiting for a friend"
Half closing his eyes quizzically, he
bent toward her.
''It is safe to say" he whispered,
that this is not a woman friend for
whom you are so impatiently watching
the hands of the clock with whom you
are to dine"
A laugh commenced at Jessicas eyes
and finished at her lips.
Hardly" she replied.
at thought not" declared De Mar
Vile. "And why should it be? Why
not go out at once with your friends
Must you make a recluse of yourself,
while he has all the enjoyment posi-
BILE? He goes where Le pleases. 1 am
certain of that. In fact, l have seen
people who saw him dining here, there
and everywhere, with his acquaint-
ances, man or woman, as 1t suits him.
Here he paused for an interval, In
order to observe the effect. 1t was
rather disappointing than otherwise
Jessica sitting under fire, composed as
monument and quite as calm. He by
and by continued:
"As a matter Of fact, Jessica, you
and he were never suited, you were
never intended for one another. Some
unkind fate"
> Fate, you call It," repeated Jessica
Then, delicately defining the differ
2 ence: "When it is unkind, it is fate
When it is kind, it is Providence. And
you call it fate?'
Some unkind fate" went on Dc
Narville stolidly, threw you together
You were too much alike in the frs
place. Both of intensely nervous tenn
peraments, excitable, high-strung, i
was not in the nature of things tina
you could live together longer than {
year Indeed, many predicted sep
sration at the end of six months. or, a
/. the very least, seven. But it has beer
year, hasn't it?'
Tonight" said Jessica, softly. 81
L the anniversary of our wedding.
: De Narville laughed.
"And here you are" presently. "cele
r brating it by dining out with friend
You are nothing, Jessica, II not up t
:. date. You are more. You are unique
unusual All your friends say that
= They say you are quite right in making
the thing final. You are so superior t
him In every way. You have wasted
year of your life on him."
Jessica shrugged her shoulders eve
Q 20 slightly.
"And what do they say of him7' sh
y question. This. That he has waste
q year of his life on mev'
,r De Narville frowned.