Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-03-02

want to make things disagreeable for
you. And | shall go to-day"
He dropped her hands; ne looked at
her for amoment-ath her white. set face,
her eyes that did no. soften in the least
as his glance met hers. Then a proud,
boyish rage entered his heart II she
could go, if she could leave him. then,
indeed, she did not, never had, loved
him.
You will please yourself, of course"
he answered, but whether you remain
with me or leave me, you are still my
wife-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 her-left her with a
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 eyes
were wet.
AS the door closed after him Mary
trembled. So he had accepted the situa-
ton! Then. indeed, he did not love
her. She had expected pleading, pro-
t%estations; she had meant to forgive
him; she had thought, indeed, they
might begin again.
He never loved me-" she said to her
self. 81 did not mean to leave him.
l shall go now; l owe it to my prids
to go now"
She dragged her steps to her room;
she must put her things together. Where
she should go she did not know-and
did it matter? If she was not with him
she did not care where she was. There
was plenty of hotels, but how lonely she
would be!
She opened the wardrobe and flung
dress after dress upon tfe floor. She
must take something with her; it 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. He had not gone
from the house; he was waiting to see
her off, perhaps-wondering why she
was so long. Could she have looked al
him then she would have seen him sit
ting with a miniature in his hand, look
ing at the pretty face with tear diInmed
eyes-would have heard his words: my
little wife!"-seen him lift it to his
lips.
She had taken out all the dresses now
There was still something at the bach
of the Notwithstanding soft. Sht
took it down, drew it out, and a swift
rush of color swept her face.
In her hands she held an old velvet
smoking coat; but the sight of it brought
back a flood of memories. She remem.
bered so well he had strolled 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 her
promise that she would be his wife.
AS she stood with the coat in her hand
she remembered she had been so happy,
she could recall each word he had said
each kiss he had given; and his arms
his dear arms, how tenderly, how close.
ly, how fondly they had held her!
She sank into a chair, the coat pressed
now close against her breast. A little
sob rose in her throat, tears came into
her eyes. 1t was all overall 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 go soon
She had cut the ground under her feet
burned her boats behind her; he woulo
be wondering why she did not go.
If only he would come to her! After
all he did love her; she knew that well.
They had been foolish-proud, If only
ne would come!
She lifted the coat. Then, while in
the semidarkness the color burned in
her face, she threw it around her-drew
the arms right across her. Afaint smell
Of smoke chung to it yet, She could al
most fancy she was in his arms, that
their quarrel was a 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 it almost as
though it were something human. She
would take it away with her; he would
never miss it.
And then, quietly, she began to cry,
her soft cheek pressed to the old velvet
| sometimes her quivering lips. If only
he would come to her! How could she
go away?
How long she cried quietly but bitter
ly-how soon, utterly exhausted, she
dropped to ~sleep--she did not know
The opening of the door aroused her;
the switching on of the electric light.
And once more husband and wife-al-
most children both-looked at one an.
other.
Looked, and understood that parting
was impossible, the love was still there:
looked while, as his eyes fell upon the
old velvet coat, and he understood, a
flush swept her face. Then, with one
swift stride, wife and coat all were taken
into a passionate embrace, words of love
and forgiveness stumbled across their
lips, and parting was something thar
would never come while life should last.
: Chicago Tribune.
tlon are now $40 a month and board.