The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-04-15

Nlu me nNlore the nrc. Ihrn no touCh
ed q bell.
rs Mrs, Wharton at homer" he ask
ed the man who answered his ring. am
his voice trembled In spite Of his Of
forts to steady Il.
The man eyed him curlously. 'No
SIR" he said respectfully. "Mrs
Wharton and Master Edward AS beer
gone, sir, some days"
"Mrs. Wharton left n note and ther,
Is other mail" no added, placing |
sheaf Of letters on the table and retir
Ing with bow.
My master tore open the small square
envelope on top, and his face Wen
asben gray. II have warned and pray
od and entreated," he read duly, IAN,
now have gone where shall at least
DO spared the insult OF your presence,
You have ruined my life and your own,
but the boy shall be saved"
Under the small square envelope was
long white one Her lawyers" he
repeated monotonously, opening Il and
stumbling mechanically through Its 10.
gal phrasing
Then he threw himself In II chair
and buried his face in his arms on the
table.
"Oh. my Cod" he sobbed brokenly.
"0h. my God"
After that night | did not see the
master for many months: then one
evening he came into the library, look.
Ing older and sterner, with deep lines
In his face After that he spent near
ly all his evenings In the library. some
times with friends. but ortcncr alone.
reading or just staring straight ahead
into the fire So the days rolled into
weeks and the weeks into months aud
years until one evening the master
came and stood for long time look
Ing at the picture OF woman aud Il
boy on the mantel, Three years TO.
night" he said slowly; three long
years"
The curtains Of the doorway parted,
and woman came forward part way
into the room, slender, graceful WON
an who carried her head hnughtily, nj.
though her lips quIvered with nervous.
ness.
The master turned abruptly.
"Ellzabethv' he cried.
You are surprised TO see me here"
elizabeth" he said again In dazed
astonishment, then: THE boy? What
Is wrong with the boyi" he cried
sharply.
She flushed painfully. ut Is because
of him | am here. He has some claim
on you still, even though l-have none.
She stopped abruptly and walked
over to the fireplace. then turned and
looked at him with proud, appealing
eyes.
II have not money enough to educate
the boy properly" she said simply,
"and there is no one could come TO
but youths father"
He did NOT answer her, but with one
quick step forward took her hands In
his.
elizabeth he said almost dercely,
II love you! | want you"
Trembling, she leaned against the Ia
Bile.
Love me? After all did--the d.
vorce--the boy
"The fault was mine. loved you
through it all. | have always loved
you. love you now
He looked searchingly at the sweet.
averted face then, with q quick, happy
drew her close.
"It was not until afterward that |
knew how dearly | loved you," she
said, with a little catch like sob In
her voice.
That was the dawn Of new era.
The old silence is gone, and laughter
and the soft sound Of happy voices
echo through the house. | am fond OF
them all the master with his merry
laugh, the mistress with her soft dark
eyes and gracious ways, the boy who
brings in troops Of his admiring friends
to see me.
II | sometimes long for the days Of
my youth-for the silence Of the tenn
pie and the prayers Of the faithful
what would you?
Allah alone Is perfect.