Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-02-27
The Worr,an's
Part
BY NELLIE CRAvEY GILMORE
Copyright. 1905. by Daily Story Pub. Coz

1T WAS poor little house in itself. to
L be sure-once white with green blinds
the paint now almost faded out by the
rains and suns Of decade But the trim
box hedge that enclosed garden of scar
aet creeper, snapdragons, hollyhocks
and innumerable blooming roses: the
well-kept gravel walks with their pur-
pie and green border of violets; the
tiny pond. dappled with silver-white
ducks: and more than all. the sweet
faced woman who stood at the window
redeemed it in one minute from absolute
plaiureSs. tra' figuring If the next into
posi;i.c beauty.
Presently Il wan rode hastily mp to the
gate, threw The bride rein over the POM
mel OF the saddle. and dismounted. He
lifted the gate latch with impatient fin
gers. and passing hurriedly through
STROBE brisl ~ up the walk
At the foot of the steps the woman met
him with outstretched arms.
'Oh, Die :" she cried. fineing them
about his Leck, "the waiting has been
an in:olcrable pain | could almost cry
for JOY now that you've come. even if
81 t. isn't true, after all. Is il true?"
She Gained suddenly and held him from
her tensely, her eyes clinging to his in
q sudden agony of questioning
1T is true" he replied. and his glance
He'll away from hers abruptly.
| Her arms dropped in a limp. nerveiess
fsshion to her sides. For the moment
the power to move seemed to desert her
But In little while, she pulled herself
- nd f,,I
bne as Harrington had never before seen
IN a woman's face. crossed her features,
changing, rejuvenating, illumining
mem.
A silence fell between them, and pres
Sntly she drew him after her to one Of
hke twisted-oak benches that stood
here and there among the flowers. They
sat down, still in silence. the sun on
the grass making a dappled carpet Of
green and gold at their feet.
The woman was the first to speak.
when did It happen?" she asked, in a
vain attempt to appear calm.
Some months ago; he was hunting
The shot that killed him was purely ac-
cidental.'
"And the man"
L QlQ not learn MIS- name.
But you are sure-sure tina. It was
ne? There can be no mistake o-noth-
ing?"
II am as perfectly sure as you could
wish me to be. Alicia" he returned
She glanced at him quickly, a little
furtively, and some of the color faded
from her cheeks. ''Why, Dick" she
cried. her voice breaking a bit, you
don't seem glad, dear; not half glad
enough-not. oh. not hundredth part
rs glad as T."
Harrington shifted his position
trifle; his arm went, with the old habit
OF caress, about her shoulders. He bent
swiftly and kissed her.
MY darling" he said. sravely, words
are the poorest expression Of ones feel
fngs. Don't you know that?"
After he had spoken another silence
followed. Pink sunset faded into dusk.
and gradually the stars, million points
of blue steel. stippled the black back
ground Of sky above.
We've been very happy together.
dear. Ia spite of ALL have we not?"
The man drew her closer, so that her
head rested quite naturally in its old
position against his shoulder. Very.
very happy" he responded, his voice
low
Alicia stirred little uneasily, and
presently looked up into his face with
, sort of strained eagerness. DO you
fegret-nothing?" she asked. tenta-
lively.
Nothing"
hy?" ''"
He shook his head. They do not
Know he said, after a pause, that am
here. They thinl--"
And if they did know"
- ne started; the movement was quite