Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-11-19
Wben the Mist
Cleared
BY Kate NJ. Clearly
Copyright. 1904. by Kate NJ. Cleary


with him would be Il shock. but she
had trusted TO the hope that, being
forewarncd. she would also be fore
armed. And she felt helplessly furious
10 realize that she had growp cold and
white the instant he stood before her.
She had been crossing to the parlor
from the dining room after luncheon
when Roy Cameron had come along
the hail.
Isabel he exclaimed. his voice low
and significant. Isabel
She WIS more beautiful than the girl
he had wooed She had bloomed out in
the atmosphere of luxury and in the
assured social position that had come
to her with her marriage. And he
found this new charm immensely at
tractive. He rejoiced that the hand
she gave him an instant trembled in
/ his own. But his eyes, that dwelt as If
in Fascination upon her face. were dark
with unutterable reproach.
Her first words were piteOusly defen-
sive.
1T was all in the papers," she fall
! terrell Every one believed it. Your
own mother accepted the news of your
death as true
Il wish TO God that it had been" he
said passionately. when later | read
OF your marriage hated those
who pulled tue Spanish knife out of my
side.''
She shuddered. Der sweet lips paling.
But you look quite well: quite like
your old SELF she said anXiously
oh. | got over that hurt all right.
It's the other l can't get over Put on
your hat and come down on the beach,
Isabel-that is. if your husband doesn't
object" he added. with slight sarcas-
tic curl of his handsome lip.
She drew herself up proudly.
My husband" she said coldly, Job
jccts To nothing that l do. l will go
with you for short walk"
And she told herself the while she
flung on her golf cape and crushed a
little scarlet Tam o Shanter down on
her dark hair with hands that still
shook that this was the only time she
would speak with him alone. She
owed him an explanation. and he
should have It, He must not be per-
mitted To- construe her emotion at sight
of him into belief that she still har-
! bored a romantic attachment toward
him.
Towering cliffs hid them from the
sprawling. fashionable town. The roar
of the surf came up to them in Il low,
booming. thunderous monotone Ahead,
behind. over the vistas of sand and
vast surges of the ocean, hung Il fog.
dense. illusory. silvery. mysterious. In
its riffs phantom ships were visible,
dipping and courtesying on their noise
less course.
ITS all very harmonious" said Roy
Cameron grimly. Might have been
made TO order as q setting for our lit
tie comedy. Ell? Nothing around us
but vague obscurity = and We three
the most hopeless of all the ghosts that
walk
Eve three? she repeated, not COM
pretending.
vanished happinessw he said.
"Oh-' she murmured. Then for a
little while they walked on in silence.
Isabel" he asked suddenly. bending
forward to look into her averted face.
why did you marry that rich manT'
Her wifely pride rose instantly in
arms at the insinuation.
A. DAh
were rich man only" she said in
dignantly. He is a good mana wise
and honorable man."
But you did not love him." Cameron
went OH mercilessly. And you were
engaged to me-"
They told me you were dead in the
Philippines" she burst out. harassed
and eager to have the talk over. MY
brother Frank was in tremendous mon
etary difficulties. There was disgrace
of some sort ahead for him. Mother
was breaking her heart over the whole
matter And then-then Robert asked
me to be his wife. | knew he could
fix up everything. Besides. was very
fond of him. l always admired him
very much.' she ended defiantly.
"Ah" he said quietly-too quietly.
THAT was the way. was it!'
They had walked rapidly. quite out
stripping all the others sauntering in
! the same direction. Isabel was breath
less from haste. The hulk of an old
boat drawn high on the beach offered
shelter from the rising wind and the
too insistent clamor of the waves.
Mrs. Graeme sat down on an embank-
ment of sand some children had made
in the shadow of the boat.
81 sha.l rest a few minutes. Then
we will 80 back" she said.
She was wholly unprepared for the
violence with which he broke into
speech.
Back! You would go back to him ?
When it is l. Isabel. who have the
best. first. real right to you. If II
were not for that accused blunder
about my death you would have been
waiting for me STILL"
White. stricken. shocked. she sat
there while he raved on. She had new
er imagined such madness nor such
selfishnesS, for II was all of himself he