Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1905-12-21

things. With any luck she might meet
another man. She-oh. dash every
thingI I'm certain I amt It,"
On the last day Of his leave Mary
took the man who would never betray
70 the place where they had frst kissed
not in the brother and sister manner.
The poor child was on the verge Of
q breakdown. Only very strong WILL
effort kept away q great burst OF weep
ing. Harry was touched and ashamed
and full Of self pity. They stood 81
lently for q minute or two looking into
the deep, swift stream. spanned by q
rustic bridge declared to be unsafe.
The world was full OF music.
"Good-by." whispered Mary.
"Good-by." said Harry. taking her In
his arms. you will-write ofteni .
. Whatf"
by every mail. And your"
"Of course"
A tremendous wave OF sympathy
came over him, and he kissed her with
something Of the old boyish fre.
Instantly she flung her arms around
his neck and told him. incoherently,
with tears and laughter. what he was
to her, what he had always been. what
he would always be. II am one OF
those queer people," she said, who.
having made an idol. could never see
It shattered and live. II you forgot
me. Harry-forgive me. darling. for
suggesting such an absolutely absurd
thing-I should throw myself into this
river and drown"
II don't believe you" said Harry,
trying to speak lightly.
"As God IL In Heaven" said Mary.
Not strangely-there IL nothing
strange In this world. as we all know
love took Editha Tarporley to India,
too. And until his leave came round
again-a matter Of some dozens OF
and Harry waved aside
the rules of the game.
Remembering the horrible solemnity
and determination In Mary's voice as
they stood by the river, Harry, hero,
continued to write by almost every
mail to the girl he was to marry, hop
Ing always, In Q feeble kind OF way.
that another man would come along
with whom she would fall In love,
knowing that she would never In her
life love anyone except himself.
It cannot be said that Harry was
happy. Mary was. Wasn't she to mar.
~ the man who would never bstray?
Two days before he left India he
swore to be true to Editha, and she
hung round his neck much as Mary had
done. telling him that she was not
afraid. He would wait till she was
free, she knew. think I said that
his nose was straighr, that his nous
tach was fine. and that he stood six
loot one in his socks.
A wire was handed to him on board.
Il ran in this way: Henry has passed
away. Cable Just arrived. am
broken hearted. Come back soon to
Editha." And the words danced In his
brain all the way home to the little
village outside Gloucester.
His father found In him q man he
didn't know. A little startled. but not
without pleasure, pride and excitement,
he began at once to cultivate his sons
The major knew the
climate Of India. and put the change
down to that. Mary welcomed him
quietly and the Canon and her father
noticed for the first time that she, too,
had changed. Here was woman who
had been q child.
There was much laughter with tea.
The two oldish men We'd with each
,ther In saying slightly cynical things.
With an air about them Of knowing q
man Of the world when they saw him.
Mary only looked her remarks.
Presently they found themselves,
Mary and Harry, going instinctively
10 the river.
For some time, while the sun set.
hey talked commonplaces, but with
IN obvious strain. Then suddenly, %
shough she could stand It no longer.
Nary got up and ran to the middle Of
he bridge. Its rotten planks creaked
horribly.
"Nary," cried Harry, come back!"
30 made q plunge at the bridge to
AXE her into safety.
III you come on the bridge, too, II
Will break and shall fall In"
why stand there?" he cried fran
5 ally.
Mary spoke very quietly. as though
aging something she had carefully re-
learsed.
"A week before you came homo I re-
,eived letter from an old school-fel-
ow who 10 In India. She IL married to
man In your regiment and knows
1ou."
"oh!" said Harry. BE quick. It's
,racking!"
"She's o woman I have never known
% tell an untruth. She warns me
igainst you. and tells me that you
Ind . Mrs. Tarporley-am I to believe
HAITI You know why I am standing
lere. I told you what I should do.
lave you and Mrs. Tarporley-"
For an instant Dlnton hesitated: II
10 said yes, there would be no obstacle
n his way to prevent marriage with