Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-02-15
CHAPTER xxxIv.-CoNr1SuEp.


"Oh, you are not to be rid of me so
easily" answered Angie, lightly, land
IL you want to be, you can't, either
wouldn't marry Martin or the best
man that ever lived, and desert you
now"
But Aunt Comfort only smiled again,
serene in her faith of what must in
evitably happen.
/ For little while the two remained
silent, each absorbed in her widely
divergent line of reflection, while the
tall clock licked on, the evening breeze
rustled the brown leaves about the
house, and the fire burned low. At
last Aunt Comfort, still smiling, be-
gan to doze, and Angie was alone with
her thoughts.
And then back to the old days Of
her girlhood they sped in spite of all
resolutions, and once again the old
memories returned. They were only
fond recollections now, for he who had
inspired them had passed out of her
life for good, and could not now be
allowed admission again. He must
never even know she retained them.
Her path of duty was clear, and beside
the good motherly soul who had been
all in all to her so long-beside her
and for her she must and would live
until the patient hands were folded at
last and the wrinkled face would smile
no more.
1t was duty of love and gratitude.
ten times stronger than all the silly
impulses once inspired by Martin and
now sought to be renewed by him.
True he was manly and tender, and
somehow, absent, now was nearer to
her than when present He had shown
repentance for his old-time neglect
which. after all. was not surprising;
and had almost begged for tacit for
giveness and reinstatement in her IA
vor. She recognized that to live alone
and without mans protection was
not easy. for any woman, and yet so
she had resolved and for reason that
seemed sacred.
Then she fell to wondering what
kept him so long in the wilderness and
why 1t was that unique birch-bark let
ter, scrawled with charred stick, had
been sent in an envelope directed by
some one else. She had opened it with
eagerness, and tried again and again
to decipher words impossible to read
1t contained naught except what all
might read without question, if they
could, and yet no missive ever re-
ceived by her had been valued more.
His movements and plans in life
were not her concern, of course, and
not likely to be. She had renowned
him for good and all now, and if he
returned and pleaded his love, as she
imagined he might, it would avail not
Her resolve was made and final-ant
yet Martin absent was stronger thar
Martin present, and the old sweet illu.
sion hard to eradicate
There are turning points in life
when to choose the path of duty bring.
heartache. and such one now con
fronted Angie, yet she faltered not
and the gray head with its white cal
and wrinkled face, now nodding JUS
across the table, still seemed he
shrine of duty.
And yet-and yet
The fire had burned quite out-onl,
one tiny coal still glowed among tn
white ashes. the tall clock kept say
fng, "Never-never-never," the nigh
wind still rustled the dead leaves il
the dooryard, and life to Angie SCENE,
like the clocks solemn voice.
Suddenly Aunt Comfort woke up an,
looked at her companion.
why. Angie" she said. you've bel
cryin'!"