Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1906-09-28

through the curtained windows, and
from far below rose and ebbed the
noises OF the great pushing mass OF
humanity which passed and repassed
In a neyerending stream.
| To the two people sittiag so quietly
In that room tie noise was no dis
turblng element. for hand In hand
they had set sail for the beautiful
Land OF There Is. leaving behind the
torturing and ofttlmes despairlng
Land of Might Have Been.
The duh red glow from the dying
sunset lighted up both drawn tense
faces with glow almost superhu-
man, and showed that mighty strug.
gle was raging within each soul.
Tall and thin. with a certain awk-
wardness. he was one OF those few
men who attract attention by their
utter difference from the common
herd. His was an uncommon face
uncommon almost to uglness. but
lighted from within with that mystic
light which the knowing would in
terpret as coming from spirit unsat-
isfied. but not undaunted, with what
the world had apportioned him. With
those who knew him casually he was
the perfection OF honor and courtli-
ness. but 1t was given to few to know
him beyond the mere outer surfacing
and one OF those few was the WON
an beside him.
Fate had early turned an unrelent-
Ing attention to her. Born In the lap
OF affiuence. she knew no denial OF
anything. and 1t was with a bitterly
rebellious spirit that, thrown on her
Own resources. she took her place in
the army OF women who toll for them
selves and others.
The man was mechanically signing
letters, and as he laid down his pen
and she reached for them. he laid his
hand over hers and with look In
hts eyes that brought the blood iR tor
rents to her face. said: mot tonight,
we'll for these"
Then | will be going" she an
swered. with a weary little catch in
her breath.
mo. dear. you'll stay a little while |
with me. for me. this evening. won't |
you? | want you very much"
Theirs had been peculiar acquaint- |
ance. On her part. sympathy for his
lonely life had played the major part
for two years, but as her eyes began
to open to the unresponsiveness and
Indifference of his wife and the guard
ed and perfectly legitimate. yet frank,
plasure he took In her own presence.
pity began to paint mast~r strokes on
the canvas of her life. AT first the
colors were all rosy with The pleasure
she felt in his preference. then the
gray of the gloomy day showed its
mystical light when her mind would
persist In dwelling on what might
have been. until finally the agony of
a despair beyond alienation settled
It's somber folds about her.
The woman sat silent for an instant.
then left her seat and began arrang-
ing the papers and letters on the desk,
to leaving. The man
whired about in his chair and sprang
at her with an agony and longing in ,
his face that brooked no interference. |
you shall not. you shall not" he
you are mine in the :
sight OF God and you know ii. and you {
shall stay here with me few min
ites." I
AS she sank back in her chair, his S
'oice dropped to that peculiar tone ,
which was his most persuasive weap-
on. and slid to his knees beside her. '
Eleanor. my love, don't begrudge
ne these few minutes now. You v
ouse all the savage in me when you
Lefty me this way. You love me and c
'ou know It." a
your wife. my God. your wifel" L
he questioned In a whisper. 4
II have no wife but you." he flung a
ack. The woman who presides D
yer my house and whose bills | pay e
as not been my wife for ten years. n
Or years before you crossed my life. 81
erhaps IL would have been different 1t
4 little child had come into our Il
yes. but she would not have 1t So 81
ou are my wife. and none other do fl
want. or claim. or will | have" in
Too dulled with pain. too glad with u
he JOY OF being near him. to speak. II
he woman silently smoothed the head lie
lat lay against her side. and as he Sc
melt there with his arms about her al
aist. she looked away to the fast q
nrplIng hills from which she always
rev her strength. m
Eleanor. | want to tell you story n
know" &C
II do not want 70 hear IT," ar
But, dear. this Is OF two ship ms
rocked people who found refuge on al
lonely island. They were the only lie
70 that survived the wreck, and ce