The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-01-03
The Journals
Daily Short Story.

let Graeme get divorce Tor GeSer-
ton. Then they could be married and
leave this part Of the world he knew
" good opening in Havana. bis
owe should make recompense TO her.
Size found her voice there.
tovew she repeated Lover And
he quailed little before the grave
scorn in her eyes.
you would have me break my
pledged vows. degrade my loyalty.
bankrupt my life-for what?" She
paused. shGken by the revulsion Of
feeling that overwhelmed her. Was
this Ler ideal lover? Was this man
peeyish, passionate, wearisomely per-
sistent-the hero size had eEshrined in
her heart?
"oh. hushw she said broIzenly.
Hush
He thought she spoke thus because
Of the approach of others. Two men
were 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 it were not for a certain knOwl-
edge possessed. Travis" he was say
ing, 81 would not have urged the child
to be my wife, long and dearly though
/ had loved her. 1t was not even that
could help her family out of dire
difficulty We're | one of them nor yet
wholly because l was aware Of the
unstable character of the man for
whom she had, understood; girlish
preference. 1t was chiefly because l
knew could not live long. I've heart
trouble-of an incurable kind, my doc
tors tell me. She does not suspect, of
course. She is all that is sweet and
pure and womanly. But it does me
good to know that one of these days
when she is free again she will have
the protection of my name, even
though / am no longer with her. She
will be still young and beautiful wo-
man and a very wealthy one. You
understand, l am only telling this to
you in confidence, because you are
such an old friend, and l could not
bear to have you doubt my motives.
Shall we walk on?"
They went back toward the town,
oblivious of the two in the shadow of
the boat.
Isabel rose quickly and looked out
over the tuInultu0us waste of waters.
A fuctuant color was hot in her cheek.
Her eyes were full of a brooding bril-
lance Cameron had never, seen in
them before
"You heard?s she asked him. "You
knew that was my husband who
spoken
He nodded, misunderstanding her
emotion. ''If what he said is true.
Isabel, Twill wait"
She flared out on him then. He
would wait. he was not fit to brush
the shoes Of that other man whom he
fioutedi That other man whom she
honored-whom she loved! She spoke
in no uncertain terms. He quivered
with the merited sting of her disdain.
But he understood at last. And when
she had flung away from him. and was
walking rapidly back alone he follow
ed and caught up with her.
'I'll go away tonight Forgive me if
you can. See, the mist is clearing Off"
The silvery veil was rolling up like
a scroll from the tossing, peevish bill
lows, and the sun was shining forth,
dazzling, resplendent
THE mist has quite cleared" she
said. And then lower, Thank Godw
That night Robert Graeme, marvel
ing at her greater gentleness Of words,
the new tenderness of her smile, thrill
ed to think that perhaps his one wild
dream was coming true after all and
that he might win the love he so
crayed.
Dear" she said to him, at is such
a beautiful world. l am finding out
that-I am'happyr'
He bowed his head over her hand
that she might not see the rapture in
his eyes. And both found the silence
sweet.