Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-11-18
THE ATONEMENT.

cal, half tentative way, as though un-
consciously pleading for encouragement.
| | waited a second before | spoke.
And | am at loss to understand
why you haven't told me before, consid-
cring what good friends we've always
been"
There are some things that friendship
doesn't touch at all, he responded, grave
ly.
True enough. And on the other hand,
there are many thngs-nlost things, |
may say--that demand
"Thc solace of friendship" he inter
rupted little satirically.
"The necessity of it."
Il fail to make any application in my
particular case"
AT any rate, now that you've told
some one, you are bound to admit that
you feel better
Remington shook his head obviously.
Il couldn't swear to that" he returned
with a faint smile. "As long as the
! thing was a secret, it was mine to guard
! to cherish as"
Yes; to hug to your breast like a vul-
ture, eating the very vitals out of you"
And do you think it is any the less so
howe he asked, somewhat cynically
I'VE shall see.'
| regarded him almost hopelessly. !
had never seen fellow change So Up
to the time of his marriage, fly: or six
years before, he was the joliest, most
oVcn hearted. ingenious boy / had ever
Known. The wedding took place in Ire,
LARD. and to an Irish girl She was re-
,,,t, Ia, L., Il
was beautiful They lived together Just
three months. After the separation
Remington was never the same.
No one ever knew the real cause OF the
rupture. Neither vouchsafed any ex-
PLANTATION, and the public was too wise,
for once, to invent one.
When he came back home everything
he said to me was:
Don't ask me any questions, Tom.
| loved her-and I'm a broken hearted
man"
Today, for the first time, he had given
me his confidence.
II think | can sympathize with YOU
better than any one else" | told him.
Il appreciate your temperament thor
oughly, and then-I am married myself.
! know what il means to love a worlau
as You did that one"
and it is your opinion that | was
entirely blameless in the matter?"
Absolutely"
'AIightn't there have leen extenuat-
ing"
Il don't admit anything of the sort"
1T was the one trans ression."
Il don't take much notice of arguments
of that kind. In all probability the ac
ton was merely text to her whole
character"
Remington whitened at this, but said
nothing. Then, after a pause
"She was young-very young. | didn't
give her a chance-not even half
chance. | don't believe she was guilty,
after all!' he broke out suddenly. But
perhaps you are right" he added pres
emily, in dull tone.
l looked at him closely. The expression
on his face showed me that he had suf
fered, and would continue to suffer as
few men do.
Il can almost believe that YOU are still
in love with the woman" l reflected,
after n silence.
Remington, toe, was silent for time.
AT least he remarked finally, Il shall
never care for any other"
Yet you divorced her." | observed
curiou>y.
My entire course was marked out by
mpuse-ierce passionate Had | loved
her less things might have been-dif-
fcrent.'
With your quiNotic notions, you ought
to nave lived several centuries ago"
Remington made no reply, but sat for
long time, gazing with strange eyes into
the bed of pink and purple Goals.
Have YOU picture of your-of herr"
| asked, presently.
Not one; | burned them all-then."
rs he spoke, he pulled out his watch,
and started to his feet with a little ges.
turc Of surprise.
You mustn't think of leaving without
seeing my wife" | objected. LAYING a
protesting hand on his arm. Il want YOU
to meet her; | want you to see what adj
mirahle taste | have in selecting COM
panion. "We'vc been married lust one
year, and | think | can truthfullv saw
that She has proven my ideal of a perfect
woman
Remington smiled and passed a re-
Elective hand across his forehead.
It's easy enough to see how the wind
is blowing in your household" he laughed.
We smoked away in silence for several
minutes, and presently the door opened
and my wife softly entered the room.
She wore dinner gown of pretty pale
yellow stuff that fell about her in grace,
tul seollops and made a faint, musical
swish as She moved In the semi.dark
ncr hare shoulders cleaned like snow
and the pendant OF her necklace rose and
tell almost impwccptibly on her white
bosom with each gently taken breath.
As she came further into the light
toward us, Remington stood up and ne
Snowledged my introduction with low
how. When he lifted his face it was
the color OF ashes. and the man seemed
to have aged ten years. in the abostIy
glare of the fire.
My wife had left the room to give some
order about the dinner, and Remington
urned to me with an abrupt excuse for