The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-05-27

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He scarcely saw his way as he
. crossed the room and left her-left her
with great anger in his heart against
her.
"she never loved me-" he said to
himself, never, never; let her gov' b
He found his way to his study, sat
down, staring blankly before him for
a while, and scattering his papers
heedlessiy 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 stu
ationi Then, indeed, he did not love
her She had expected pleading
protestattons; she had meant to for
give him; she had thought, indeed,
they might begin again.
He never loved me-" she said to
herself. II did not mean to leave
him. shall 60 now; 1 owe it to my
pride to go now"
She dragged her steps to her room;
she must put her things together.
Where she would 60 she did not know
and did 1t matter? Ii she was not
with him she did not care where she
was. There were plenty of hotels, but
how lonely she would be!
I She opened her wardrobe and flung
dress after dress upon the 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 out.
sider the room seemed cold, She won
dered what he was doing. He had not
gone from the house: he was waiting
to see her of, perhaps-wonderiug
why she was so long. Could she have
looked at him then she, would have
seen him sitting with a miniature in
his hand, looking at the pretty face
with tear-dimmed eyes-wouId 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
back OF the Notwithstanding soft.
She took 1t down, drew 1t 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 food of memories. She
remembered so we'll he had strolled
over to her fathers house wearing it;
ne 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 ten.
DERBY, bow closely, how fondly they
had held her!
She sank into a chair, the coat 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, his
lips would never kiss her more!
Outside 1t grew darker still, She
Ieit sad lonely and she must 20 soon.
She had cut the ground under her feet.
burned her boats behind her; he would
be wondering why she did not 20.
II only he would come to her! After
all he did love her; she knew that well
They had been foolish-proud If only
he would come.
She lifted the coat. Then, while in
the semi-darkness the color burned in
her face, she threw 1t around her
drew the arms right across her. A
faint smell Of smoke chung 10 it vet.
She could almost fancy she was in his
arms, that their quarrel was a dream,
that che was not leaving his home and
hers forever.
He had laughed at her often for
keeping the old coat, for loving it al
most as thought it were something HUI
man. She would take 1t away with
her; he would never miss it.
And then, quietly, she began to cry,
her soft cheek pressed to the old vest,
sometimes her quivering lips. If only
he would come to her! How could she
go away?
How long she cried, quietly but bit
terly-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-almost children both
looked at one another
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 under
stood. flush swept his face. Then.
with one swife stride. wife and coat
all were taken into n passionate en-
brace. words Of love and forgiveness
stumbled across their lips, and parting
was something that would never come
while life should laSt.-Chlcago Trib-
NnA