The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1905-01-18
Wben the Mist
Cleared
BY Kate NJ. Clearly
Copyright, 1904, by Kate N. cIsary

She had been crossing to the parlOr
from the dining room after luncheon
when Roy Cameron had come along
the hall.
"ISabelr' he exclaimed. his voice low
and significant. "ISaEel"'
She was more beautiful than the girl
lie had wooed She had blOomed out in
the atmosphere of luxury and in the
assured social position that had come
to her with her marriage. And he
found this new charm Immensely at
tractive. He rejoiced that the hand
she gave him an instant trembled i'll
his own. But his eyes, that dwelt as if
in fascination upon her face. were dark
with unutterable reprOach.
Her first words were piteOusly defen-
siYe.
1T was all in the papers" she fall
tered. Every one believed it. Your
own mother accepted the news of your
death as true.
Il wish to God that it had been." he
said passionately. when later l read
of your marriage-well, l hated those
who pulled the Spanish knife out of lhy
slider
She shuddered. her sweet lips paling.
But YOU look quite well: quite like
your old self" she said anXiously.
.Oh. | got ovef that hurt all right.
It's the other L can't get over. Tut on
your hat and come down OH the beach,
Isabel-that is, if your husband doesn't
object" he added. with slight sarcas-
tic curl of his handsome lip.
She drew lie. self up proudly.
My husband" size said cody, OBJ
jects to nothing that | TO. l Will go
with you for IL short walk.
And she told herself the while she
flung on her golf cape and crushed
little scarlet Tam o Shanter down OH
her dark hair with hands that still
shook that this was the only time she
would speak with him alone. She
owed him an explanation, and he
should have it. He must not be per-
mftted to cOnstrue her emotion at sight
of him into belief that she still har-
bored a romantic attachment toward
him.
Towering cliffs hid them from the
sprawling. fashionable town. The roar
booming. thunderous monotone. Ahead,
behind, over the vistas of sand and
vast surges of the ocean, hung fog,
dense, illusory. silvery, mysterious. In
it's riffs phantom ships were visible,
dipping and courtesying on their noise
less course.
Its all very harmonious" said Roy
Cameron grimly. Might have been
made to order as a setting for our lit
tie comedy. Ell? Nothing around us
but vague Obscurity - and we three
the most hopeless of all the ghosts that
walk
'We-three?" she repeated, not COM
pretending.
You and land the ghost of our
vanished happiness!" he said.
"Ohr' she murmured. Then for n
little while they walked on in silence.
Isabel" he asked suddenly, bending
forward to look into her averted face,
why did you marry that rich manT
Her WHEY pride rose instantly in
arms at the insinuation.
You speak as though Robert Graeme
were a rich man only" she said i'll
dignantly. He is Il good mana wise
and honorable man."
But you did not love him." Cameron
went on mercilessly. And you were
engaged to me-"
They told me you were dead in the
Philippinesr' she burst out, harassed
and eager to have the talk over. My
brother Frank was in tremendous mon
etary difficulties. There was disgrace
of some sort ahead for him. Mother
was breaking her heart over the whole
matter And then-then Robert asked
me to be his wife. l knew he could
fix up everything. Besides, was very
fond of him. | always admired him
very muchr' she ended defiantly.
Abr he said quietly-too quietly.
THAT was the way, was it?''
They had walked rapidly, quite out
stripping all the others sauntering in
the same direction. Isabel was breath
less from haste The hulk of an old
boat drawn high on the beach offered
shelter from the rising wind and the
too insistent clamor of the waves.
Mrs. Graeme sat down on an embank-
ment of sand some children had made
in the shadow of the boat.
Il shall rest u few minutes. Then
we will go back" she said.
She was wholly unprepared for the
violence with which he broke into
speech.
Back! You would go back to him?
When it is 1, Isabel, who have the
best, first. real right to you! If 1t
were not for that accursed blunder
about my death you would have been
waiting for me still"
White. stricken. shocked, she sat
there while he raved on. She had new
or imagined such madness nor such
selfishneSs. for it was all of himself he
spoke-all for himself he cared. He
would miss her so. He had great pos
sibilities, which only she could inspire.
If she woull only go away for awhile
let Graeme get a divorce for deser
ton. Then they could be married and
leave this part of the world He knew
of Il good opening in Havana. His
love should make recompense to her
She found her voice there.
'T.ove" she repeated. Lover And
he quailed a little before the grave
seorn in her eyes.
You would have me break my
pledged vows, degrade my loyalty,
bankrupt my .life-for what?' She
paused, shaken by the revulsion of
feeling that overwhelmed her. Was
this her ideal lover? Was this man
peeyish, passionate, wearisomely per-
sistent-the hero she had enshrined in
her heart?
"Oh. hushr she said brokenly.
"Hushr'
He thought she spoke thus because
of the approach of others. Two men
We're leaning against the hulk of the
boat ON the farther side. But it was
only after she had spoken that she rec
ognized her husbands voice.
IF il were not for a certain knowl-