Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-01-04
Tom S Wife
By A. NJ. DAVIES OGDEN
Copyright, 1905, by E. c. PARCELS

an intense depression weighed like a
stone ON body and soul. There could be
no news in this South American repub-
lie that interested him. The president
had probably made a speech; the
weekly steamship from England had
arrived. At the thought sob surged
up into his throat England, his coun-
try, how far away and how dear.
Resting there, motionless, passive
picture after picture began TO fit
through his brain-the trim little coun-
try houses, covered with vines and
with trees where the rocks cawed eter-
nally; the narrow, honeysuckle hedged
lanes. And Tom-dear old Tom. The
mans face softened. And Alice. He
moved restlessly and strove to think of
other things, of his life in the ten
years since he had watched the white
cliffs of the Needles fading into the dis
tance. Sheep raising, farming, mining,
he had tried his hand at them ALL
And now, i'll and forlorn, he lay alone
in this room in Buenos Ayres. 1t. was
time for his medicine. The doctor had
hidden him be particular about It, but
Rockhill frowned. What was the use
of getting well? he mused listlessly No
body cared; there was nobody to care.
The thoughts of England came throng-
ing back, strong, insistent, refusing to
be suppressed. Rockhill weak physical
ly and mentally, let himself drift on
the tide. What had become of Tom
Tom, with his brave blue eyes, his
glorious voice? He could not remem-
Der the time when he and Tom had
not been sworn companions, robbing
the orchards, whipping the pools to-
gether To Rockhill, lonely boy liv
ing with stern old uncle, 1.-The COM
panionship of the other lad had been
the brilliant web woven against the
dull woof Of home life. And the golden
thread worked into the pattern, giving
it the final touch of beauty and pre-
clousness-ah, that had been Alice!
Closing his eyes, the man saw again
the sweet, girlish face surrounded by
its tangle Of gold brown hair. How
joyously they all had lived and frolick-
ed together until the time when Rock
hill, eager and ambitious, had departed
for college.
The man on the bed shivered, the
memory of that return from college
was yet so poignant. In one night the
hope Of a life had been undone. 1t
was then that he had left England.
And from that day he had heard no
word of those behind. Were they hap
py, those two? That Alice and Tom
were long since married he never
doubted. Did they ever speak of him,
wonder about his abrupt disappear
ance? He brooded over it wistfully
Had they cared?
Still browsing In the grip Of old
memories, Rockhill lay, as the daylight
faded, half dreaming, half awake,
when suddenly the sound of voice in
the next room brought him up with
start A man was singing softly below
his breath, but still quite distinguish
ably. Rockhill elutching the bed
clothes with shaking hands, tried to
reason with himself 1t was a dream,
an illusion conjured up by fancy and
fever But the voice kept steadily on.
There was no mistaking those clear
mellow tones. 1t was Tam's voice.
Tom himself was singing in the next
room.
Rockhilrs dry lips tried to form a
word 'Tom," he breathed, Tom
But no sound came. A sudden unrea
soning despair seized him. Tom was
there close to him, and lie could not
call him, could not attract his atten-
ton, He would go and Rockhill would
be left alone again, this time forever.
He must make Tom hear, he must.
And then slowly, carefully, his voice
breaking on the feeble notes, the man
on the bed began 10 sing. Weak, bare
ly audible, in phrasing and intonatiop
the notes were yet Il recognizable imi-
tation of Tom singing his favorite
song as he had sung it so often in
those old days.
There was a stir i'll the next room,
then the sound of the hasty opening
and shutting Of door. The next mo-
ment Rockhill's own door flew open
and on the threshold stood man, tall,
eager faced, with clear blue eyes.
'Tom" cried Rockhilf. "Tom!" And,
he tainted. When he recovered con-
sciousness Tom, his eyes suspioiously
bright, was kneeiing by the bedside.
He held Rockhill's two wasted hands
tightly clasped in his own.
Gilbert, old fellow" he was saying,
colbert, where have you kept yourself
all these years?' he pursued, and his
voice was tenderly reproachful. How
could you run off that way?"
Gilbert smiled in pure content at
hearing the well known voice.
"I-oh, never mind me-" he answered.
this confounded hole. But you, Tom
rou," as If famished for news-"how
did you come here and your wife,
his voice faltering On the word,
But Tom did not notice,
Yes, my wife Is with me-" hH said
cheeriiy, "But how did Won know that
W"' mar ii. Oh, guessed" as the
,er nodded. "You must know, too,
then. that l am now q celebrity" with
mock seriousness. mo? You hadn't
guessed that? Well, at least you were
aware that / had taken up singing as
nv profession. Therefore l let myself
De persuaded into coming to South
America for q series of concerts. And
so here l am" Struggling an amused
shoulder. But now you must tell me
about yourself" he went on, his tone
suddenly changing. why did you slip
off 50, Gilbert? Was 1t kind to leave
us all these years without wordF
The sick man hesitated. What he
had done suddenly seemed to him small
and foolish. But at twenty-one heroics
are sometimes strong in their appeal.
And he had tried to do his best. 1t
was all over now, though. The truth
could do no harm now. He looked up
into Toms face.
"Do you remember the night after
my return from college," he began
slowly-"how we sat in your room and
talked? 1 had come home feeling that
at last l had accomplished something;
that | was nearing the goal ON which
my eyes had been set since could re-
member seeing anything. And them
| he paused again-''that night you told
| me of your love for Alice" he said
quietly. And in that moment l re-
nounced my dream. Oh, don't mind"
he added hastily as the other started.
/ 1T is all ended long ago. l should not