The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-10-20

my nedrt winch L COul0 not put lntO
words. OF course there was no
gainsaying Elvira's wisdom and I
had to seem satisfied with her
choice, which l was not in my own
heart. did not love the man.
Something in my heart recoiled
from him at first. felt that he was
indolent, self-indulged and con-
ceited.
Four months after this incident
took place l was married to Gerald
Mathews and Elvira was in her ele
ment
One early spring afternoon Ger
aid drove out from the city in great
haste. He called me into his library
and stood facing one of the win
dows with a dark, angry glare in
his eyes.
What is the matter, Gerald" l
faltered.
do you know that you are a
beggar from this hour, madam"
he said, hurting the words at me.
Surely, it is not so bad as that"
ventured, trying to soothe him.
Bad" he Knocked, with an un.
pleasant smile about his thin lips.
at is about as bad as it can be.
Two months before my father died
ourqfamily fortune was utterly ex-
hausted. I thought by marrying
you to keep up appearances and
gain something from your plebeian
brother-in-law, as he, too. is in
terested in this same banking con-
Germ that has just closed"
caught my breath for moment
and then cried, Surely, you do not
mean to say that you married me
for money"
What else do you suppose l mar
ried you for? Did you think it was
merely your pretty face? l admit
that it was an agreeable concomi-
tant, but l had sense enough to
know that we could not live without
half a million or so to back it up,
This is no time for sentiment"
Gradually the shock of the loss of
our small fortune wore away, and
we began to dispose of our posses
sions. While this latter proceeding
was under way Gerald left home
one day and sent me brief note in
which he admitted that he had not
the courage to face the change in
his position, and he had concluded
to go to Europe to try all over
again. AS for me, | was just as well
off without as with him, although
he would not forget the claim his
wife held on him, he said.
This vast the last ever heard of
him until four years afterwards. A
former classmate of Gerald's sought
me out in the little village in which
was teaching school and informed
me that he had attended my hus-
band in his last moments in a little
town in Germany.
DR.. Graham West, for this was
the name of the man who brought
the tidings, was spending the sum,
mer in neighboring town He
came to see me frequently and was
very kind in every way. That fall
he left, but returned just when the
apple blossoms were carpeting the
meadows and the earth bloomed
afresh. One day as he sat reading
to me sudden fancy struck me.
ut seems to me that have seen
you somewhere long time ago"
His whole fact lighted as a smile
forced its way. "You are right. Do
you remember long time ago as
you reached the door of a picture
gallery on Broadway"
Remember! Only to well. ''Poor
child" he had called me. How it
all came back. Then the doctor told
me why he had voiced his thoughts,
but it required no explanation. l
had learned it by experience.
Better than all he told me of his
love and asked me to share his lot
in life. AS he spoke some of the lost
dreams of my girlhood came back
to me. The force of this strong
mans love about me, sheltering and
blessing my life as had never been
sheltered and blest. caused feeling
within me that | had never felt I'M
til then. and he obtained the prom
Use that he asked, that | would be
his wife.