Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-01-18

huQLAAJA man. AfAAS N~~-t
thingl I'm certain amt 6t,"
On the last day Of his leave mary
took the man who would never betray
to the place where they had first Kissed
not ii the brother and sister manner.
The poor child was on the verge o.
a breakdown. Only very strong will
effort kept away great burst Of weep.
ing. Harry was touched and ashamed
and full OF self pity. They stood 81
lently for minute or two looking into
the deep, swift stream, spanned by
rustic bridge declared to be unsafe.
The world was full Of music.
eGood-by," whispered Mary.
"Good-by," said Harry, taking her in
his arms "You will-write often?
q. Whatf"
"By every mail. And your"
"Of course"
A tremendous wave Of sympathy
came over him, and he kissed her with
something Of the old boyish fire.
Instantly she flung her arms around
his neck and told him, incoherently,
with tears and laughter, what he was
to her, what he had always been, what
he would always be. Il am one OF
those queer people" she said, who,
having made an idol, could never sec
1t shattered and live. II you forgot
me, Harry-forgive me, darling, for
suggesting such an absolutely absurd
thing-I should throw myself into this
river and drown"
4 don't believe you" said Harry,
trying to speak lightly.
"As God is in Heaven" said Mary.
Not strangely-there is nothing
strange in this world, as we all know
love took Editha Tarporley to India,
too. And until his leave came round
again-a matter of some dozens Of
months-she and Harry waved aside
the rules of the game.
I Remembering the horrible solemnity
and determination in Mary's voice as
they stood by the river, Harry, hero
continued To write by almost every
mail to the girl he was to marry, hop
ing always, III a feeble kind Of way,
that another man would come along
with whom she would fall in love,
knowing that she would never In her
life love anyone except himself.
It cannot be said that Harry was
happy. Mary was. Wasn't she to mar
ry the man who would never betray?
Two days before he left India he
swore to be true to Editha, and she
hung round his neck much as Mary had
done, telling him that she was not
afraid. He would wait till she was
free. she knew. l think / said that
his nose was straighv, that his nous
tach was fine, and that he stood SIX
foot one in his socks.
| A wire was handed to him on board.
It ran in this way Henry has passed
away. Cable just arrived. am
broken-hearted. Come back soon ~
Editha." And the words danced in
brain all the way home til the lit 4
village outside Gloucester.
His father found in him . man re
didn't know. A little startled, but nor
without pleasure, pride and excitement
he began at once to cultivate bis sons
acquaintance. The major knew the
I climate of India, and put the change
down to that. Mary welcomed him
3 quietly and the Canon and her father
noticed for the first time that she, too
had changed. Here was wornanswh
had been a child;
There was much laughter with tea,
The two oldish men WED with each
other in saying slightly cynical things,
with an air about them Of knowing Z
man Of the world when they saw him,
Mary only looked her remarks.
Presently they found themselves,
Mary and Harry, going instinctively
to the river n
4 For some time, while the sun set,
they talked commonplaces, but with
an obvious strain. Then suddenly, as
though she could stand it no longer,
Mary got up and ran to the middle OF
the bridge. Its rotten planks creaked
horribly.
MARY" criedg Harry, come back!"
He made plunge at the bridge 70
take her into safety.
''If you come on the bridge, too, II
: will break and shall fall In"
'Why stand there?" he cried fran
tically.
Mary spoke very quietly, as though
saying something she had carefully re-
hearsed.
"A week before you came home re.
ceived letter from an old school-fel.
low who is in India. She is married to
q man in your regiment and knoWa
you"
"ohI" said Harry. "Be quick. It'a
crackingl"
@she's a woman l have never known
to tell an untruth. She warns me
against you. and tells me that you
and Mrs. TRrporley-am to believe
THAR You know why ! am standing
here. told you what I should DO,
Have you and Mrs. Tarporley--r
For an instant Dinton hesitated. 4
he said yes, there would be no obstacle
in his way to prevent marriage with