The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-09-02

ger boy brought her note from MIN.
Have gone away. You will not be
sorry 1t has been in the wind some
time. l should liked to have kissed
the children goodby. Harry"
How long it was she sat there with
the brief little note in her hands, be-
fore frightened imperative little fin
gers tugged and pulled her back to
semi-conscicusness Honoria Keller
never knew. The weight on her heart
did not lift or ease. 1t seemed TO
crush and choke her. The queer,
metallic voice that answered the chu-
dren's wondering questions was not
her voice. She did not wonder it terri
fed the Tiny One. "You isn't ike
mammal wants papa!" he walled.
"He has gone away-you will not
be sorry" repeated Honoria stiltedly.
ut has been in the wind some time.
He was sorry not to kiss the chill"
| She caught her breath as the row OF
scared little faces imprinted itself on
her staring retinas. A sudden wave
of keen. pitiless consciousness swept
over her like a flood. 1t was all SO
plain now! The kindly mist had lifted
from her mind.
That day somehow lived itself out,
and then the next. Somehow, for the
children, Honoria lived. The throb
and smart of her hurt were all she
realized at first. Small things made
no impression on her mind. Years
afterward she wondered whether on
those first days the sun had shone, or
it had rained. 1t was a chance re-
mark she overheard that aroused her
from her lethargy. Some one outside
in the corridor made the remark to
some on eles. "The woman in that
room there-No. 21-'s been de-
serted" the strange voice said IN
wha. was meant for an under
| tone. Eyes, sir. deserted! Sounds
like a novel. don't it? An the chill
dren's there too, all right. Just lit out
an left 'em. as I'm sinner"
CAS- he's a sinner!" growled the
other voice Indignantly. "It's brutes
do things like that They amt men"
There was sympathy in both rough
voices, but Honoria did not heed The
words, not the tones. burnt into her
brain. Was that it? Was Harry a
brute? Dear Lord in Heaven, was she
deserted?
"No! Harry would not do that"
she cried in anguish. HE went away
we were angry with each other. He
thought l would not be sorry. Not
sorry!" She sprang to the floor and
paced to and fro. till the frightened
children crept away by themselves.
But the days that went by grew into
, weeks. and he did not come. And 81
/, last the kind-hearted hotel proprietor
was driven to take the step he had
been dreading. He went uD to Num-
7, Der 81 one evening and knocked
: gently.
! Come in," a weary voice said.
= "Ah-good evening, Mrs. Keller
good evening"" he said nervously. 81
;, that is, I've-er-called on terribly
: embarrassing errand. I've put 1t of
:, and put it off. hoping he-that is. Mr.
. Keller-would show up again. l wan
= you to believe it was an awful jol
= for me to come uD here tonight ant
= say it. but. Mrs. Keller.-that is
9 He caught out his handkerchief ant
= mopped his face There's a bill
:, against your husband for three
!, months board" he blurted out des
= perately.
~ Honoria sat looking at him steadily
: letting this new disgrace filter int
her brain. She did not finch befor
- it.
IS "You mean" she said quietly, afte
t a minute or two. chat Har-that m
.r husband owes you good deal c
la money for our board. his and min
s. and the children?"
r. Eyes, that is-er-a modicum, q
I'd modicum."
re "And that we must go away
a once? Of course l see that. But
but" for the first time her swee
# voice broke. "but have no money
Mt pay the bill. Wait! please don't sa
vs. a word. Please go away and let m
OF think. l must think. You will CIV
he me time to Think"
ed But how to think? Honoria wrestie
ng all night with her problem. One thir
as was definitely clear. She must pa
m the bill before she went away. A wa