The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1905-06-09
M I S S I " C

ly disappeared five years ago and have
never since been heard from, yet !
have visited the place from which I
vanished; / have walked past the
house; 1 have looked In at the window.
A policeman who might have reaped a
large reward had he known me was
IDLY patrolllng his beat
| fed to escape from a man I was
about to marry. Chester Durham was
a refined gentleman, OF suitable ago for
me and doing an excellent business. /
was uncertain In my feelings when I
accepted him, but the more analysed
them the more became convinced
that did not love him. My conception
OF love was that II was n pleasurable
disease, II may be allowed the ex-
preston, the symptoms OF which were
wanting In my case. A repugnance not
to Chester Burnham, but 10 entering
into wedlock without this condition or
disease or what not, took possession of
me and drove me we'll nigh frantic. I
had permitted the affair to go so far
that dared not break II off, or, rather,
could not do SO and face either my
fiance or my friends.
The evening before the wedding I
was In a condition to do something des-
perato, and l did. 1 snatched up my
purse and my Jewels, walked out Of
the house, went to railway station,
took the first train that left and land
ed the next morning knew not where,
only that was in city many miles
from my home. bad nearly 500 and
Jewels worth several thousand.
or course I soon awoke to the fact
that had made a move idiotlc, wick
ed, irreparable, but had no thought OF
returning. examined my feelings for
the man from whom had fed, but
could detect no great change. I regret
ted having treated him 80 sbominably,
and as 1 thought over his traits 1t
seemed to me that he was far above
the average man. II was not long be-
fore I began to miss hts acts Of kind
ness, his attentions, even his eadear-
ments, yet this, at least to my mind,
was not love. l was girl OF nineteen,
with an analytical mind.
That was five years ago, and l am
still among the missing. have made
acquaintance and friends. have met
men, but none for whom I haYe fer
that subtle something which IS my
idea OF love. None Of them has seem-
ed in any way equal to Chester. How
often I have wished to sit down with
him and bear one OF hfa practical. COM
mon sense talks! How lucky he was
TO get rid OF me! wonder If he Is en-
gagged again or married.
Chester Burnbam has failed IN bust
ness, saw the announcement IN a
newspaper. I wish that 1 might see
him, comfort him. Comfort scorned
Of devils" What right would l have
to comfort him?
The desire to see him, IL only once,
was too strong to be resisted. From
my knowledge of him l was sure he
would bear his misfortune bravely.
Then / remembered that he was with
in a few years Of forty, and have
AtAlu l2AAll d man VIM DlCdho dOWh IA
business ut that age seldom RECEIVERS.
He will recover. He is all strength
and intellect.
arrived yesterday afternoon, and so
great was my impotence that l went
to the house where he had lived when
/ fed from him and loitered near,
thinking to see him when he came In
Just before dinner. A few minutes
after saw him coming. But, oh,
how changedl His hair, that had been
a glossy black. was almost white. In
stead OF the strength had expected
to see IN his face there was an express
sion OF infinite sadness.
What curious creatures we women
ara, even at times to ourselves! All
my feelings toward Chester Durham
had misinterpreted When he was
prosperous I fled from him When I
heard that he had failed I thought I
should be drawn to him at seeing him
override his misfortune. Now that ]
found a blight on hin-a blight which
had in part doubtless caused-I want
ed TO go to him and put'rny arms about
him.
How ] dared approach him I don't
know. could not help Ii, though I ex-
pected him to stab me. was thickly
yelled, and he could not see my face.
When he had passed me L turned and
few steps from his house stole up be
side him and put my hand within his
arm. He looked down at me surprised
and shook me off.
Pardon me-" he said cOldly. Il am
unaware to whom l am indebted for
this apparent friendllness."
ITO one" said In scarcely audible
voice, "who Is unworthy to touch you
with her finger"
I lifted my veil.
1t times there are events comprised
within few days, hours, sometimes
even minutes or seconds, that could
not be described or If they could be de-
scrlbed volumes would be required for
the purpose Chester and are recon-
| ciled. The sadness Of his expression
| z,... - c.o,,, bfo 20 fl,tvo lNtrf