Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1905-08-24

years ago tonight. Khe had lived-all
this time and still five years more"
She stood musing before the nre a.
though forsetful OF her intentions. then:
well, he 10 dead; and am going
grimly forth to attempt the gladdening
Of Others. because I see In II Q bare
chance Of getting some gladness into my
own hollow heart Just a. well tell my
self the truth, since II IL not likely that
m ever tell II 10 anyone else. Well. he
Il dead!" She crossed the room impa-
tiently swept aside q curtain. flung open
the glass door and stepped out upon the
porch. A man walking away resolutely
from the door stopped and turned back
eagerly. But the lonely woman had
grown singularly fearless from long liv-
Ing alone. Needless alike Of shadow
and substance. she stood In the stream
Of light studying the stormy skies.
There was self-rsliance. aye. self-sufn-
cheney In every point Of her poise. The
man swung on his heel. Then quota
ton slipped from het:
safe in the beautiful heaven" and
he wheeled again In time to catch the
pale fash Of her face In turning-those
lines of lip and brow that told Of silent
self-repression.
Had she suffered? People were fools
most Of them. Those tales they had
told him about her indifference and"
He, too. had had IL years In which to
school himself In seli-control, but his
voice shook In his turn when she her
self opened the door to his knocking.
II should not have intruded-at this
time-but saw you on the side
porch" The chords Of his throat
frightened and cut on his stammerins
speech.
There is IRE In my study" she rug
gested, oourteously, when he paused. II
was q reporter after STUFF about her last
book! He seemed to be new at the busl-
ness, she reflected, and would probably
give herself heavy half hour to hold.
but she would have been impatient with
Insolence had It spoken with that voice.
So she led the way down the dimly light
ed hall, speaking pleasantly OF the
weather, and by the time they reached
her study he had got back the mastery.
please don't turn up the lights on my
account" he begged. with touch Of
peremptoriness that soothed even while
It hurt.
'Well, II you don't mind" she agreed.
lightly. my eyes are bothering me a
bit"
"Your eyes! Why. what is the
trouble?"
And instead of resenting the solicitude
in his tone, II came to the woman In
swift fash of sweetness that she would
like to shed her blood for this unknown.
who had brought her into this echo from
her dear long-dead. She smiled at the
thought, but as she answered:
why. dare say the trouble with my
eyes Is merely matter Of over-driving.
One doesn't violate Natures laws with
out paying the penalty"
"Nor the laws Of man, either" he
supplemented, nervously.
1.-THE laws Of man? Deliver me. Give
me rather the Comedy Of Errors for q
code" She spoke lightly. He was plain
ly ratified, but then nothing short OF
brass itself could force an interview on
Christmas eve without being bit en-
barrassed. Her words, however, seemed
to have helped the man to better grip.
1.-THE law does make an occasional
mistake" he said. gravely.
II should say" she retorted dryly.
"Convicts hundreds Of men yearly for
crimes they never dreamed OF commit
ting"
The man leaned forward and held his
hand to the fire. as though conscious OF
sudden chilliness.
Reminds me Of O discussion over
heard on the car coming up. Seems that
the crime was committed several years
ago, but there Is still o doubt as to
whether 1t really was crime"
"Oh, there is generally doubt. don't
you know? Plenty Of innocent men die
on the gallows."
He took no notice Of the comment
"But It was q peculiar case. It seems
that the accused himself said frankly
that he didn't know whether he had
killed his friend, or whether his! friend
FIVE TILE NEWS.
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