The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1904-09-30
He turned to his father With a bitter

He turned to his father With bitter
smile. Dorothy was always tidy
little SOUL" he said; "but it's extracr-
binary how illogical a woman can be. "
AS the day passed they noticed q
change in him. He had always been OF
an open, happy disposition, fond OF
companionshfp, and easily pleased. 1t
was in this mood that he had returned.
But their secret terror, the uncontroll-
able aversion of which they were so
much ashamed, told after awhile on
the mental atmosphere. Outwardly
they bore the tension Of his presence
pretty well. 1t is astonishing how soon
a horror becomes homely Only he,
who knew their voices and the little
saw that he was being treated as a
visitor.
Bertha came down to tea with an air
of determined placidity, which sat oddly
on her babyish face. But she still
! wore her black Dress She was careful
not to be left alone with her husband.
He was moody now and silent; but
think they found this less horrible than
his gayety had been. Once he said,
in tone that was almost sulky: For
reunited family we manage to con-
ceal her raptures pretty we'll"
Then Magdalen, the younger sister.
who had never loved him much, put on
an air of fierce cheerfulness, talking
and laughing loudly, but it did not con-
vince.
At dinner they were silent. and the
tone of his voice when e.spoke was re-
sentful. They all knew themselves to
be behaving crully-worse, awkward
ly; but any other conduct seemed inn
possible.
AS bed time approached they looked
at one another with new fear. To-
gether they were invulnerable; but each
dreaded the dark hours, and in the
faces of the others saw her own ter
ror. The girls were full of pity for
the bride, but they did not dare offer
their companionship.
AS the clock struck IL he got UP and
looked at. his wife. There came over
his face an expression which meant de-
termination and also great expectancy.
She rose, too, and went almost steadily
to the door. Her face was white and
her eyes stared curiously. They heard
her run upstairs withsa sudden scutter-
ing rush of frightened animal. Her
door closed sharply and the key was
turned in the lock-twice, in sort of
frenzy of haste In the room below
there was quietness for moment or two
and a feeling of unbearable suspense.
No one dared look at the bridegroom,
who had remained standing in the posi-
ton he took up when his wife rose from
her seat.
Presently he went and stood before
his father and spoke-without anger,
but in tone that suggested an unal-
terable loneliness.
Il must apologize, father, he said,
''for having annoyed you and the 9TH
ers like this. 1t was mistake-I had
not realized that grave could be so
quickly filled up. But you will soon
forget Eleven hours of reality are not
too much out of lifetime of illusion" !"
He went out, but stopped on the
threshold for an instant.
Persuade Bertha that / am not an
imagination" he said. "She is such q
nervous little thing"
In the morning they found that some
violent and disdainful hand had tossed
all the fading wreaths away from the
grave. 1t stared at them from the
trim green of the churehyard, brown
and desolate One card, detached from
its ribbon, lay, forlorn white patch,
amongst the sods. 1t was that which
Bertha had tied to her cross of lilies;
there was the inscription, just decipher-
able, though blurred by the wet earth:
''For my darling from his ever loving wife,
He is not lost, for we shall meet again. :"
-Chica0o Trihllne