The Washington times., 1905-10-01


: his hand. But the shock 10 HIM and
70 you." he said. .'Ycu are so changed
He looked at her with swift. mute ad-
miration. You are $3.50 very
changed.
She pushed past him. He must know
me- Johann. He is my father"
But your oress-yours face2"
My dress. Ny dress is black-he will
/ see nothing beyond that. AS for my
face. 1 can take of my haiti is my
hat that makes the difference With
shaking fingers she drew out her hat
pins.
Johann cleared his throat. But If he
doesn't know you?'
He must know me-
But if he doesr't?"
"WenY'' She threw her hat aside
You won't? 1t WON'T" In his
fear and anxiety for her he drew
nearer by a STEP
She had moved on into the shadows.
but she turned shortly "Oh. I'm not
! thinking of myself she said.
There was a moment Of strung sus-
r pense: then she moved forward and ths
door of the bedroom creaked-
E For an appreciable time Johann ana
a Anna stood side by side in the open
doorway. For an instant Johann shut
? his eyes, but for an instant only Inc
? fear of seeing was outweighed by the
fear of not seeing. He raised his Ids
: gradually, and stood with suspended
:; breath.
The light from the early day encircled
the whole room. There were no shadows
no dark corners suggestive Of suspense
To the dimmest eye all that there was
to see was seen at once-sharp, uncom-
PROMISING, and plain
Anna stood for an instant longer Her
head was at its highest, her resolution
strained almost TO defiance once
Johann heard her gasp; then. with
great rapidity. she moved straight for
ward and paused silently at the foot OF
the bed.
The wait that followed was moment-
ous. Solny raised himself, staring with
dim eyes The silence was dead in its
intensity. Tie remaining cards shd
one after the other from the coverlet
To the f1oor-each one dropping with the
sound of rain on a zinc roof. Johann
moistened his lips and looked toward
Anna She was still rigid, her eyes on
her fathers eyes.
soIny raised himself further his
worn face had a greentsh hne' nis
limbs shook; IN his glance there was
ouestion-question and nothing more
Anna,s Iips formed themselves tc
sneak: but all at once. as Ice might
break. light showed in the cid man''
face: it fiared for second, then the Ter
ribIe vague solemnity Of the features
suddenly relaxed With broker
sound that was neither cry nor en-
treaty. and vet partook OF both. he hel'
out his arms
.Zenia,' he said: my wife,"
Johann's feelings burst from him II
an inarticuIate word Anna made NJ
sound
solny's voice rose again. my wife.
he said. ..Zenia,'' His speech had
new ring: L carried and vfbrated wit
en infection that neither listener ha
heard before.
Still In silence Anna moved forward
Her face was drawn, but she moved on
her steps dragged. but never falterec
slowly she passed round the bed
Johann. by the door, felt lump rs
in his throat
solny still held out his arms. the ne'
light illumining his face My wnei
he said again.
There was a faint intervals fair
hesitation, as if all existence hung
wait. Above the bed q fly whizzed I
: cobweb; through the window cam
the hum of distant voices, the sound c
- carts on the cobbles Of Embury stree
'ou Anna hung back, swayed forward. the
m was caught in her fathers arms
set No one spoke, for there was no rool
ee; for speech; but very quietly, alno:
err reverentiy. Johann withdrew, closin
LED the door
yes At the same moment. sharp and IN
the perative, the shop Den rang III ous
the the house