The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1904-03-19
The Worr,an's
Part
By NELLIE cRAvEY GILMORE
Copyright. isas. BY Daily Story Pub. Coz


IT WAS a poor little house in itself, t.
j be sure-once white with green blind.
the paint now almost faded out by the
rains and suns of decade. But the trim
box hedge that enclosed garden of scar
let creeper, snapdragons, hollyhock:
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 II in one minute from absolute
plainness, TRANSPORTING it the next into
positive beauty.
Presently man rode hastily up 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 briskly up the walk.
At the foot of the steps the woman met
him with outstretched arms.
"Oh, Dick" she cried, flinging them
about his neck, 'the waiting has been
an intolerable pain. | could almost cry
for JOY now that you've come, even IL
II it isn't true, after all. Is it true?''
She Gained suddenly and held him from
her tensely. her eyes clinging to his in
a sudden agony of questioning.
1T is true" he replied, and his glance
fell away from hers abruptly.
Her arms dropped in limp, nerveless
fashion to her sides. For the moment
the power to move seemed to desert her.
But in little while. she pulled herself
together, and beautiful smile, such a
one as Harrington had never beforeseen
on a woman's face, crossed her features,
changing, rejuvenating, illumining
them.
A silence fell between them, and pres
emily she drew him after her to one of
the 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
Some months ago; he was hunting.
The shot that killed him was purely ac-
cidental."
And the man"
81 did not learn his name"
But you are sure-sure that it was
ne? There can be no mistake-no-noth-
ing?"
Il am as perfectly sure as you could
wish me to be, Alicia" he returned.
She glanced at him quickly. little
furtively, and some of the color faded
from her cheeks. why, Dick" she
cried. her voice breaking bit, you
don't seem glad, dear; not half glad
cnough-not. oh, not hundredth par.
as glad as L."
Harrington shifted his position
tribe; his arm went, with the old habit
of caress, about her shoulders. He bent
swiftly and kissed her.
MY darling" he said, gravely, words
are the poorest expression of ones feel
ings. 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. in spite of all, have we not?"
The man drew her closer, so that her |
head rested quite naturally in it's 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 Won
regret-nothing? she asked, tenta-
lively.
Nothing"
"Home-friends-no even your fam
ily?"
lie shook his head. "They do not
Know he said, after a pause, that am
: here. They think"
And IL they did known"
He started; the movement was quite
and in a moment he had
controlled himself. 1T would be all
the same--to me-" he answered, firmly.
Alicia sat perfectly still for long
time. her face alight, as though she were
drinking in some new joy. Then with
! happy little cry, she threw herself
suddenly into his arms. "Ob. Dick" she
1alf sobbed, IF should lose you at last.
liter all these years of waiting!"
Harrington's expression changed
it; he neither moved nor spoke for
ONE time. But presently he put her
rom him with q little hurried gesture
nd started to his feet.
4 was so taken up with-with being
ear you again" be explained, nerv-