Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1904-01-22

leaned his arms on the desk and his
head against them.
The woman moved to him softly. A
light, serene and holy. She laid a
gentle hand on his bright, thick hair.
DON'T" he cried, harshly. Then,
in a half whisper. Help me-, Marah."
The woma started back. Her face
grew gray with "A sudden pallor, blush
shadows crcpt about her lips. Help
you!' she cried, gaily, for his face VAS
hidden. How can | help you?"
Help me to give you up"
A silence fell about the room. Down
In the street an organ was grinding
out Paradise Alley" She wondered
crowded race-mcet and n sweet girl
face framed in red hair that looked in
to hers, while a voice sang to the
measure. The flies buzzed heavily. A
spider dipped from the roof on his
slender thread, touched her hair, then
ran nimbly up again.
Then the woman called Marah
spoke. Her voice was full of laugh
ter. as that all?" she asked, paily,
what a tO-do about nothing! Why,
of course I'll help you. Are you going
to tell me such a light thing as this has
SO completely upset you? You, a man
of from"
He lifted his face and looked at her.
The cynic's smile crept about his eyes.
The pallor had beer swept from her
cheeks by Il vivid flush. Her eyes
burned.
eff | thought you'd take it so light
ly," he said, grimly, "Id have spared
myself some suffering. Egad, one
never understands m They are
about as constant as the winds"
Maybe they are" she said, cheer
lily, as his head dropped upon his arms
again, and maybe that is one of our
cOmpensatiOns, for we have to suffer
much-but never mind these things.
Tell me why you have come to this
mind. Have /" her voice broke for
the first time, have | offended you in
any way by any solecism? | know how
fastidious, how particular you are"
He shrank a little. knowing her for
the perfect gentlewoman she was; II
shamed him to be thought caddish and
unappreciative.
Not that, not that at ALL" he said
in n mul,led voice. "Oh, cant you
see? Didn't you see? Won't you hell
me, Marah?"
| think 1t was hen that her hear
broke. Something surely snapped II
her being and went from her forever
But still she smiled. It was n stiff
smile, as If the muscles had set tina
way and she could not change them
She still spoke heartily, though he
voice took tcndcrer tones.
Didn't o know that ! only wan
your happiness" she said, slowly an'
gently, ''and indeed" this quite stout
ly, 81 was getting n little tired myself
There is so much work in the worl'
that there is not much time left fo
love. shall write the article ol
platOnics from a different and NOR
healthy point of view,' she added,
trife bitterly.
He said not a word.
In the silence another foot pattere'
along the passage. There came
knock on the glass door, and the won
an walked slowly to It,. A boy stoo'
waiting.
ANY copy ready" he asked, hur
riedly. Mr.. Brock sent me for some
Said you had an editorial or sumfin'.
1T will be ready in an hour or SC
Jim said the woman, speaking soft
ly. "Ill talk to Mr.. Brock down tn
tube. Don't you come back, you
only interrupt me. Mr.. Brock will civ
final directions about IT,"
She walked to the tube and whistlet
- rs that Mr.. Brock? Mr.. Brocl
would You mind putin" Mr.. Todc G
Bert LisIe on to my WORK tonight
feel done up with "A headache. and L
/, like to go home"
"H'm well, III see what | can d.
Miss Tennard. but ii you could mar
age that special I'd be glad. We'r
short-handed just now, you know
Lisle Is out west on that murder cas-
and Todd's on the law courts. Nevt
mind your assignments, but get OF
that article II you can. Wish you
told me you were III sooner, and l
, have kept one of the boys in. HOI
you'll be all right tomorrow"
"Thanks-Ill do the best ! can" Ii
voice tOOk n weary n The wOma
|, walked over towards the man. i
still sat with his head leaning on h
= arms lie miphi have fallen aSlef