Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1905-03-03
her for a moment-at her white, set face,

h's NySo tudb NV " ooi''h ~ 81 -
as his glance met hers. Then a proud.
boyish rage entered his heart. II She
could 90. If she could leave him, then,
indeed, she did not. never hid, loved
him.
"You will please yourself. Of course"
he answered, but whether You remain
with me or leave me, you are still my
wifc-you are still bound to me, be good
enough not to forget that"
He scarcely saw his way as he crossed
the room and left hcr-left her with q
great anger in his heart against her.
"She never loved me-" he said TO him.
self, never. never: let her go!"
He found his way to his study, sat
down, staring blankly before him for
awhile, and scattered his papers heed.
lessly on the floor. Then his head
dropped upon his hands, and his eyei
were wet.
AS the door closed after him Mary
tremblcd. So he had accepted the situa.
ton! Then, indeed, he did not love
her. She had expected pleading. pro
iestations; She had meant to forgive
him; she had thought. indeed. they
might begin again.
He never loved me" she said to her.
self. Il did not mean TO leave him.
! shall 20 now; ! owe It 90 my pride
to 20 now"
She dragged her steps 20 hey FoOm.
she must put her things together. Whore
she should 20 she did not know-ard
did it. matter? If she was not with him
she did not care where she was. There
was plenty Of hotels, buG how lonely shg
would be!
She opened thc wardrobe and .lunt
dress after dress upon the floor, Size
must take something with her; 1t didn't
matter what. Wherever she was he
would not be there to see her.
The light was growing gray outside;
the room seemed cold. She wondered
what he was doing. lie had aUt gona
from the house; he was waiting TO sec
her off. perhaps-wondcring why she
was so long. Could she have looked a.
him then she would have seen him Sit.
ting with a miniature in his hand, look.
ing at the pretty face with tear dImme1
eyes-would have heard his words: MY
little wife!"-scer him life it 10 hi
lips.
She had taken out all the dresses now.
There was still something at the back
Of the Notwithstanding soft. She
took II down, drew it out. and a s~ IN
rush Of color swept her face.
In her hands she held an old velvet
smoking coat: but the sight Of it brought
back a Hood Of memories. She rcmem.
bered so well he had strollCd over TO her
fathers house wearing It. he had found
her in the conservatory, tending the
plants; he had told her then that he
loved her, had taken her for the first
time In his arms. kissed her, gained hci
promise that she would be his wife.
As sh" stood with the coat in her hand
she remembered che mad been 50 happy;
she could recall each word he had said,
each kiss he had given; and his arms,
his dear arms, how tcndcrly, how close
ly. how fondly they had held her!
She sank into a chair, the coat pressed
now close against her breast. A littla
sob rose in her throat, tears came into
her eyes. 1t was all over all over
His arms would never hold her again, hi.
lips would never kiss her more!
Outside Is growing darker still. She
felt sad, lonely, and she must 20 soon.
She had cut the ground under her feet,
burned her boats behind her; he would
be wondering why she did not go.
If only he would come 40 her, After
all he did love her: she knew that we'll
They had been foolish-proud. n only
he would come!
She lifted the coat. Then. while IN
the scmidarkncss tho color burned in
her face, she threw it around hcr-Grcw
the arms right across her. A faint smell
of smoke clung to H. yet. She could nj.
most fancy she was in his arms, that
their quarrel was n dream, that she was
not leaving his home and hers for.
ever.
He had laughed at her often for keep.
ing the old coat, for loving II almost az
though It were something human. Sho
would take it away with ncr; he would
nevcr miss II.
And then, quietly. she began 10 cry,
her soft cheek pressed to the old velvet
sometimes her quiycring lips. " only
he would come to her! How could shs
go away?
How long che cried. quietly but bitter.
ly-how soon, utterly exhausted. she
dropped to slcep-she did not know.
Tho opening OF the door aroused her;
the switching on OF the electric light,
And once more husband and wlfe-al-
most children bOth-lOokcd at one an
other.