The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1906-10-23

,
from far below rose aad ebbed the
noises OF the great pushing mass Of
humanity which passed and repassed
in a neyerending stream.
To the two people sitting so quietly
in that room the noise was no dis
tur5lag element, for hand in hand
they had set sail for the beautiful
Land OF There Is, leaving behind the
tortufing and ofttimes despairing
Land of Might Have Been.
The dull red glow from the dying
sunset lighted up both drawn tense
faces with glow almost superhu
man, ana showed that a mighty strug
gle was raging within each soul.
Tall and thin with a certain avh-
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 ugliness, 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 wom-
an beside him.
Fate had early turned an unrelent-
ing attention to her. Born in the lap
OF afiiuence, 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 a look In
his eyes that brought the blood liz tor
rents to her face, said; mot tonight,
Miss Eleanor; tomorrow will do as
we'll for these"
Then | will be going" she an
swered, with weary little catch in
her breath
No, 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 master 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
Whirled about in his chair and sprang |
1t her with an agony and longing in
lis face that brooked no interference.
You shall not, you shall not" he |
you are mine in the
sight of God and you know 1t, and you
shall stay here with me a few min.
ties"
As she sank back in her chair, his
voice 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
lefty me this way You love me and
'ou know it.
Your wife, my God, your wife!"
The questioned in whisper.
Il have no wife but you," he flung
Jack THE woman who presides
,ver my house and whose bills | pay
las not been my wife for ten years,
or years before you crossed my life
Perhaps it would have been different
( little child had come into our
ives. but she would not have 1t So
You are my wife, and none other do
want, or claim, or will | have"
Too dulled with pain, too glad with
he JOY of being near him, to speak,
he woman silently smoothed the head
hat lay against her side, and as he
melt there with his arms about her
waist she looked away to the fast
urpling hills from which she always
rev her strength
Eleanor, want to tell you story
know"
Il do not want to hear it"
But, dear, this is of two ship
wrecked people who found refuge on
lonely island. They were the only
wo that survived the wreck, and
hey did not foolishly 60 to opposite