Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-10-31
Tom S Wife
BY A. n DAVIES OGDEN
Copyright, 1905. by L. C. PARCELS


Down in the street sudden bursting
of bombs announced an extra" aud
the sick man lying OIL the bed in the
little hotel room stirred wearily and
opened his eyes. A touch Of ''chuchu"
had taken strength AMI vitality, and
an intense depression weighed like a
stone on body and soul. There could be
no news In tits South American repub-
lie that interested him. Tie president
had probably made a speech; the
weekly steamship from England had
arrived. At the thought n sob surged
up into his throat England, his coun-
try, how far away and how dear!
Resting there, motionless, passive,
picture after picture began to fit
through his brain-the trim little coun-
try houses, covered with vines and
with trees where the rocks cawed eter.
nally; the narrow, honeysuckle hedged
lanes. And Tom-dear old Tom. The
mans face softened. And Alice. He
moved rest!essly and strOve to think Of
other things, of his life In the ten
years since he had watched the white
cliffs of the Needles fading into the dis
lance Sheep raising, farming, mining
he had tried his hand at them all.
And now, Ill and forlOrn, he lay alone
in this room in Buenos Ayres. 1t was
time for his medicine. The doctor had
hidden him be particular about it, but
Rockhill frowned. What was the use
of getting well ? he mused listlessIy. No
body cared; there was nobody to care.
The thoughts Of England came throng.
Ing back, strong. insistent, refusing to
be suppressed. Rockhill. weak physical
" aud mentally, let himself drift on
the tide. What had become Of Tom
Tom, with his brave blue eyes, his
glorious voice? He could not remem-
Der the time when he and Tom had
not been sworn companions, robbing
the orchards, whipping the pools TO-
gether. To ROckhill, lonely boy liv-
ing with a stern old uncle, the COM
panionship Of the other lad had been
the brilliant web woven against the
dull woof Of home life. And the golden
thread worked into the pattern, giving
it the final touch Of beauty and pre-
ciOusness-ah that had been Alice!
Closing his eyes, the man saw again
the sweet, girlish face surrounded by
It's tangle Of gold brown hair. How
joyously they all had lived and frolick-
ed together until the time when Rock
hill, eager and ambitious, had departed
for college.
The man OH the bed shivered, the
memory of that return from college
was yet so poignant. In one night the
hope Of a life had been undone. 1t
was then that he had left England.
And from that day he had heard no
word of those behind. Were they hap
DIV. those two? That Alice and Tom
were long since married he never
doubted. Did they ever speak of him.
wonder about his abrupt disappear
ance? He brooded over 1t wistfully
Had they cared?
Still browsing in the grip Of old
memories, Rockhill lay, as the daylight
faded, half dreaming, half awake.
when suddenly the sound Of voice In
the next room brought him up with o
start. A man was singing softly below
his breath, but still quite distinguish
ably. Rockhill, clutching the bed
clothes with shaking hands, tried to
reason with himself. 1t was a dream,
an Illusion conjured up by fancy and
fever. But the voice kept steadily on.
There was no mistaking those clear.
mellow tones. 1t was Toms voice.
Tom himself was singing In the next
room.
Rockhllls dry lips tried to form q
word. "Tom," he breathed, Tom
But no sound came. A sudden unrea-
soning despair seized him. Tom was
there, close to him, and he could not
call him, could not attract his atten-
ton. He would 60 and Rockhill would
be left alone again, this time forever.
He must make Tom hear, he must.
And then slowly, carefully, his voice
breaking ON the feeble notes. the man
on the bed began to sing. Weak, bare
ly audible, In phrasing and intonatioD
the notes were yet recognizable imi-
tation Of Tom singing his favorite
song rs he had sung it so often In
those old days.
There was stir in the next room,
then the sound of the hasty opening
and shutting Of door. The next mo-
ment Rockhill's own door flew open
and OIL the threshold stood a man. tall.
eager faced. with clear blue eyes.
"Tomw cried Rockhill. TOM! And
he tainted. When he recovered con.
sciousness Tom, his eyes suspiciously
bright, was kneeling by the bedside.
He held Rockhill's two wasted hands
tightly clasped in his own.
"Gilbert, old fellow" he was saying.
colbert, where have you kept yourself
all these years?" he pursued. and his
voice was tenderly reproachful. How
could you run off that way"
Gilbert smiled In pure content at
hearing the well known voice.
T-oh, never mind me" he answered.
81 was all right till I was taken III In
this confounded hole. But you, Tom
you," as IL famished for news-"how
did you come here and your wife,
his voice faltering on the word.
But Tom did not notice.
Eyes, my wife is with me-" he said
cheerily. "But how did you know that
1 was married? Oh. guessed" as the
other nodded. "You must know, too,
then, that am now celebrity" with
mock seriousness. "No? You hadn't
guessed that? Well, at least you We're
aware that I had taken up singing as
my profession. Therefore let myself
be persuaded into coming to South
America for series Of concerts. And
so here | am" Struggling an amused