The San Francisco call., 1904-12-07
ABSEN MINDED
MARIA
BY CATHERINE BURGESS.

in orderly piles beside them. The
clink of silver came from the room
across the hall.
Looting the place, by Jove!" the
doctor whispered. He half arose, but
at the sound of returning steps he
sank back, his eye at the curtain part
ing.
or all things in heaven and earthi'
Instead of leaping out, he drew the
edges closer. "A womanI"
woman it was who had entered the
adjoining room. and who proceeded,
with business-like air, to store an
armful of silver in one of the yawning
trunks. Doctor Jardine watched her,
amazed. Her back was toward him,
and he noted its graceful lines, as she
lifted and bestowed her booty. She
looked a lady. Gradually he began To
feel like a peeping Tom rather than an
outraged householder How should he
announce his presence? Would she
faint? What should he do with her?
W nat would Maria say?
AT last she lifted the little shaded
lamp and turned straight toward him.
Not four feet from him she put the
lamp down and sighed, like tired
enid. He wondered afterward how he
lived through that moment. That she
the woman he still loved, who bore his
name, who had forsaken hin-could
she have become a common thief? In
credible. 1t was a nightmare. The
curtains stifled him. He tore them
apart. The woman saw a pale, gasping
face fronting her, the eyes horror
struck as of one looking on a ghost. An
instant her own matched 1t, then she
tainted.
Molly" he cried, and sprang to her.
She revived readily; he remembered
she had never been a fainting woman.
She clung to him.
Robert" she whispered, that hor-
rible mani"
Then, watching his face, she let go
her hold.
Robert! Were you he?"
He nodded, unable to speak.
What did you do it for? 1t was
too dreadful! l thought it was
burglar! How did you find me?"
Find you? opened my eyes and
saw you"
"Of course, but how did you know I
was here?"
What do you mean? How did you
know 1 was here?'' he demanded.
Are you trying to make a joke of
it?" she cried. You creep into my
rooms like thief
"A thief" he echoed. Your rooms!
Aren't they mine? They knew my
name downstairs"
You are more ungenerous than
could have expected" she interrupted.
Whose name could I bear but yours g?
You are strangely forgetfuli"
NO." he answered. mo, Molly,
never forget. If only 1 couldI I shall
go mad some day. remembering.
Then, pulling himself together, For
give this business, Molly. It's queer
enough, but it's some mistake of
Maria's. She has taken a new apart
ment, and-and. evidently this is not
it. l thought it was. Maybe 1 made
a mistake myself, L was dead tired.
Anyhow, I'll get out. l can go some
where, of course"
1T is hardly worth WHILE" she re-
piled. 1T will soon be morning. any
how. Jenny and have been packing
all night, or rather 1 have, since she
fell asleep taking down pictures. We
sail tomorrow on the Oceanic"
He did not answer. The excitement
had faded from his face and left it
white and haggard. She came closer.
Robert l would never have gone
to you. / had injured you too much.
/ know now 1t was my own fault
my own jealousy. But that does not
matter. We shall soon be separated,
perhaps forever. Fate-or God-has
brought us together for a moment
first. Forgive me!'
Two hours later there was a knock
at the door. Doctor Jardine and his
wife looked at each other with eyes
in which laughter and panic mingled.
And you are respectable widow"
he Knocked.
But it was only old Jenny who ap-
peared upon the threshold. Her hands
and eyes went up in happy gesticu-
lation.
Thank the Lawdl" she cried, "the
two stubborneS folks in the void
have done come together again! An
Mis- Molly, the's a telephone fer the
doctah from the horspital. Mis- Jar
dimes jest raisin' New Yawk because
he amt come home, an
But 1 have come home!" cried
Doctor Jardlne. Where's the tele-
phone, Jinny?"
In a moment he returned, laughing.
This is 19 East, isn't it?" he in
quired well, my sister Maria Jest
natcherly,' as jimmy would say, wrote
East when she meant West. I never
thought 1 should live to bless the alb
sent-rpindedness of Maria, but heaven
knows L do now. with all my heart
and SOUL"
And, though Molly was silent, she
felt for the first time that she truly
loved her sister-in-law.
Copyright, 1904, by Catherine
Burgess)