The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-04-12
A Pearl Necklace.
" EDITH REDE BUCKLEY.

and she wondered jealously If some
! thing else had marked his face, too.
Sne had looked at him when she could
without observation The house was
fu.i of guests; many of them were his
relatives who had come to welcome him
home. She had not had five minutes
alone with him since his return. She
buried her face in both hands. "Yes,
at any risk" she cried to herself, 81
must ask his forgiveness, beg him for
pity, If love be dead" She repeated
"If love be dead" God help her then
the words out loud again and again
If love be dead and she rad killed it.
She had denied him love, denied him
everything. Might he not have taken
her at her word and put her out of his
| life altogether? She had played with
edged tools, and her fingers were bleed
ing. She had juggled with her own
fate, and the car had passed over her
self. God help me if his love is dead"
She got up and paced round the room.
Tomorrow. this very morrow, she
would beg for an interview and tell him
everything, and ask him If she had
come too late; beg him on her knees
for a crumb of love, she to whom rich
feast had been offered. And now,"
she cried, Il would rather he struck me
than ignore me; | would rather he
were cruel than any one else in the
wide earth were kind. Oh, love is a
terrible thing when it comes like this"
She wore no rings but her wedding
ring, and as she glanced down at her
clenched white hand she thought what
a mockery it was to wear that She
sank back again in the chair and
swayed herself to and fro; tonight her
heart felt breaking. She had learned to
love her husband before he went away,
but those two years of sickening anx-
iety had magnified her love till 1t had
grown beyond all bounds. 1t was like
the seed in the Bible parable that had
brought forth fruit a hundred-fold.
There was a knock at her door. She
thought it was the maid whom she had
dismissed returning for something, and
without raising her head she said,
Come in" The door opened and was
closed again. and a step that was not
Natalie's crossed the room to her side.
The color famed up into her cheeks
when she looked up and saw her hus-
band. He was looking unusually hand
some tonight, and there was a tender
light in his eyes as he glanced down
at her quickly lowered head. He car
ried blue velvet case in his hand. He
took up his position with his back to
the fireplace quite close to her. and
looked down In silence for some min
utes-looked down on her bowed head,
thinking that it was bent in cold in
difference, little guessing the passion
ate longing that was surging within
her heart. She wondered If he could
hear her heart beat it seemed almost
that he must in the absolute stiffness.
The little carriage clock ticked a coal
fell upon the hearth. She clenched
her hands together, but she dared not
look up. At last he spoke.
Mabel, thought you would forgive
me for coming to your room so late,
but l remembered it was your birth
day tomorrow and wanted you to ac-
cept my present when we were alone
and we never are alone, are we? Not
for five minutes since | came back"
There as a ring of almost entreaty in
sc mind ~
Mind? Oh, no."
Her voice sounded cold even to her
SELF but she could scarcely control it
from trembling. 1T is so good of you
to remember" she added lamely.
"Good?"
He opened the case and displayed a
row of the most exquisite pearls with
diamond clasp lying on pale blue
velvet lining.
She got up and stood close beside
him to examine the necklace; her eyes
we're clouded and lump was rising in
her throat that almost choked her.
She put out her hand and touched the
pearls with little caressing touch for
the mere Joy of knowing that he was
holding the case.
By a great effort she controlled her
voice.
The tears were binding her; she
dared not look up
"Mab!" he had never called her Nab
since their ill-starred wedding day
NAB, will you let me put it on?"
There was a tremor in his voice. she
was afraid he would see her tears.
YES" 1t was only whisper.
He moved to lay the jewel case on
the dressing table. She had turned and
faced the fire, and looking into the
glass above the mantelpiece she could
see his figure reflected, and she watched
him take the necklace in his strong
brown hands and then press it to his
lips, never realizing that she could see
him. Then he stepped back to the fire.