The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-04

loosened and passed away Memory was faithful artist, for he recalled every expression of her face Every wavering lfghtN and shadow of her glorious eyes came to him in the long winter evenings. when he sat alone with his pipe and the waiIfng wind outside for company The wonder and awe of her beauty became lost to him. The turing sweetness of her smile no longer stirred his heart. Her caress- ing voice left him cold. unInoved His pulses ceased to leap at memory Of her kiss. At last he knew, with re- lief, that it was over.
 Then the thought of Haskell re- turned. The old bitterness was dying out--slowly. but none the less surely. Since love for his wife had left him, he no longer grudged Haskell her de- votion. He realized, with vague sense of mystery that she was not what he thought her. That her beau tiful face was a mask which covered more than he had ever dreamed. That back of her smile lay things which he was glad to not have seen. He pictured HaskelK at her side and he felt a sudden quick sorrow for the friend of his past
 Spring came with it's bustling hurry. its long hours of toll and weariness, its disappoiltmepts and it's despair. He worked constantly with but one purpose to shut out the past. And because he had no desire for the wealth men covet; because Fate, who is possessed of a distorted humorous seRse, likes to turn her favors into the laps of those who have ceased to care for them; because of these and many more reasons perhaps Jordan was one of the few successful seekers.
 &
 The coffee on the fire boiled up and over It's burning fumes filled the room with with a sharp, acrid smell. He sat quiet oblivious to everything. There was a light tap on the door, a soft, tentative tap as of one uncer- tain of welcome. The door slowly, wideped and someone stood in it's shadow. Jordan rose heavily to his feet He was mortally tired. Ills legs felt like lead as he lifted them. He looked up and stopped The si- lence was dead.
 "Cld man, I've come back Has kelPs voice was tremulous. His heart had failed him at the last moment He had told himself repeatedly that Jor- dan would let it all so when he knew. but tlfs Jordan of his memory was not this gloomy, silence-stricken man. He locked as though he would never forgive--as though he would hate to the last hour, His gaze left Jordan's lined face and looked beyond him in to the future,
 rye made mistake,r he said huskily, but TIT go I want to tell you though"--he was tugging at his pocket. drawing out paper that showed marks of age and wear He held it toward Jordan with his finger at certain paragraph, and Jordan read. almost unconsciously, We have the pleasure to chronicle the culmina- tion of a rather sensational scandal which kept San Francisco society on the qui-vive for few weeks last year. Tho strange feature of the affair is that the fortunate bridegroom is not the Don Juan mentioned in certain papers connected with the case, There followed details and surmises-- the ordinary society jargon. Jordan dropped the paper and 1t fell away from him on the floor, He stared at it euriousIy. Ii had not stirred him. this voice from the past Its echoes left him unmoved.
 Haskell stirred uneasily. T never meant--s1e said you abused her. struck her"-he began brokenIy.
 Man, didn't you know me better than that?'
 "I know" replied. Haskell remores- fully, ''but l was mad over her-stark, staring madi"
 Don't 1 know?"' "'Jordan covered his eyes in bitterness at the memory. Haskell was noting the changes that the months had worn in the face be- fore him.
 Haskell reached for the coffee bot mechanically and rescued it from the fire. Jordan went unconsciouly to the shelf and took down two cups, rude And worn of comon tin, and placed them on the table. The action was involuntary. Haskell noted it with a auicks throb of the heart It meant so much to him. He also had suffered. The silvered hair on his temples attested that fact He was hungry for the old-time friendship. the warm sympathy that had been the bond of their union,
 He sat down at the rough table watching every movement as the course food was placed before him.
 Jordan comenced turning the cof- fee. There's no sugar. he apologized as he raised the cup to pass 1t.
 Never did like sugar. remarked Haskell nonchalently His old ease of manner had returned to him.
 Jordan gave him a, long look. Then he spoke again slowly. heavily as he had come to speak from his long ab- stinence.
 Suppose we let sleeping dogs lie,", he said.
 .fFaskeIrs ayes were humid with feeling. wen try to belive that