Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1906-05-11
The After-GI0W.
ay STELLA MAY COFFIN.

turned the brook to a golden tracery
on an emerald background; slowly
crept over the gentle slopes of the
golf ground and peeped into the rustic
summer house Then they danced in
an coquetted with" the woman sitting
on the bench till growing holder they
turned her hair to FURNISHED copper.
The light and shade cast by the lat
tice played Enthusiastically over her face
and figure and threw dark shadows
around the feet OF the man beside her.
The two sat in silence for several
moments; the mans voice breaking
the drowsy stiffness called the
woman's gaze away from the sky line
of the distant hills.
why should we care what the
world says? It's code of ethics is
warped and Inconsistent The modi-
flying circumstances of an act de-
termine its moral character. Those
circumstances the world seldom
knows and. even should 1t know, would
not care to understand. When the
evidence is all In and the Great Judge
prepares to bring in His verdict of
Guilty" or mot Guilty" l feel sure
that He will take into account all the
extenuating circumstances Is your
loveless marriage sanctified in the
eyes of God simply because 1t has
been legalized in the eyes of man?
Your husband knows only the desire
of possession: I love you with the
complete trinity of body, mind and
soul. Am l SHINING because l love a
woman who has made misstep? Does
God brand her a criminal because she
returns that love? For one mistake
will He forever shut us from Already :?
No! No! Such belief would be a
libel ON the goodness of God"
His voice had risen in the intensity
Of his appeal, but the last words end
Z ed almost in a sob.
you are sacrificing your self-re-
spect. Do not high ideals count for
anything? Where are yours? Trailed
In the mire of soul-shrivelling sen.
sualism, created and fostered by the
races. the gaming table and the COM
partnership of dissolute men and
women. To me, you are an inspiration;
my Pillar of Fire. Together we shall
begin anew; the best and noblest shall
be ours. You are the one woman
mia carissima!"
He fingered over. the words of en-
dearment; his very tone an involun-
tary caress, but in no way did he try
to play. on the emotional side of the
woman's nature. He was just advo-
cate seeking to present his case from
an ethical standpoint.
"You say your husband refuses to
divorce YOU. My yacht lies in the
harbor; at a word from you she shall
spread her wings. We"
On the threshold stood little lad
simultaneously their eyes wandered
from the tangled curls down over the
ridiculously short expanse of bare
sun-browned legs and stopped at the
dusty socks wrinkled down over the
tiny sandals. He held huge bunch
Of daisies In his arm. Entirely UNI
abashed, he returned their look of sur
prise steadily.
81 was sure l would find you here,
ne began. 81 followed you over the
fields and brought you these daisies
because you have no little boy; l was
sorry for you"
The woman caught the child in hel
arms and strained him to her yearn
lngly. His dusty little feet strayed al
will over the skirt of her green liner
gown.
THANK you," she said simply, one
Of the rare smiles reserved for chill
dren illumining her face But tel
me, dear, why you were sorry fol
me-"
Last night" the child began, nest
ling contentedly into the curve of he
arm, 81 heard father and mother talk
ing of you, after had gone to bed.
couldn't hear all they said, but
understood mother to say you ha,
hurt yourself. Did you bump you
head? with a sudden inspiration
cause If you did. I know just hoy
horrid you feel. l bumped mine ono
and 1t hurt and hurt ever so man
nights. After it stopped hurting tn
ugly scar stayed just the same
.'The scar, john" the woman's hea
dropped lower and lower; a painfu
silence fell on the little company. TIL
lad slipped down, and, kissing he
hand, sped away over the hills. TIL
child's quick intuition had perceive
the strain of the situation.
The man rose and raised tn
woman's averted face to his, unit
their ewes met He was the first I
break the spell which held them.
God sends revelations even In thes
days. We have entertained one of Hi
angels unawares." His voice was tel
der and strangely softened "Weighe
In the balance and almost found wan
Ing. The Grey Gull shall sail to-mo
row and II must be her only pa
senger. Forgive me. dear. 4 did NJ
think about the scar