Amador ledger., 1906-03-02

ing gave way taking them both with it.
and leaving him on the broken edge,
SAFE"
She covered her face with her hands.
"Cl." she murmured. l didn know.
What have l done?"
''IIe told NE once," he went on, "that
it had left him with the feeling that
fire would never touch him, but that
to think of anyone he cared for being
IN ire maze him-well, what you
saw"
They were silent for an instant
"Hulloi" he said suddenly, they've
got the curtain down."
The two stood UP. Firemen and po.
! licercn were everywhere.
"l1o dangerl No danger!"
The words passed from mouth to
mouth, and though they were not strict
ly true, the effect of the lowered cur
tain was magical. The crowd was pre-
ceptibly thinner, noticeably calmer, but
round each exit were gruesome proofs
Of the violence Of the panic.
Elizabeth"
They looked at each ether. ''It's
John," she said family.
"Yes," he said, and his smile was
bitter, "It's John. Goodbye. Forget
it all, Elizabeth. Do you llnow'-he
looked at his watoh--"it's all hap
pened in less than ten minutes?"
Really" she said. at can't be pos
sible." But her eyes were searching
for her husband.
The other Man noticed IL. "Eliza
BETH" he said, half shamefacedly.
"Yes," she answered, her eyes search
ing the crowd.
"You are going to make Up to him
somehow for-for saying that to
him?"
Her eyes softened and she held out
her hand "That was nice of you," she
said gently. Eyes, am going to make
up to him. I pray God, he will never
know what I thought"
Elizabeth" He had found her at
last. The Other Man slipped away.
"I've found a way" he exclaimed
breathlessly. "Come along"
"Oh," she cried, you've hurt your
hand; it's bleeding"
He held out the other to her. mo
no; it's nothing. had rather bother
with the doors and windows. That's
why I've been so long"
She followed him silently.
When they were in their carriage ard
on their way home there was an awl1
ward silence Elizabeth had just
cnished bandaging his hand with the
aid of both their handkerchiefs.
Dear" he said at last, would you
mind telling me why you-you asked
me to go away?"
She looked at him reproachful
pout. "Must you inquire into all your
wife's wealnesses?" she asked
81 only wondered"
"Of course" she interrupted, ST knew
YOU would, and I meant to tell you.
But you'll despise me. You've got a
very unheroic wife. John. When !
asked you to go l was-she went on
steadily-"I was nearly dead with
fright, and I couldn't bear to have you
to see it; so 1 said the first thing I
thought of to get rid of you while l
got over it; What did I say?-I
didn't know what l was saying, John.
Butt did get over it,
His face cleared and he bent and
Kissed her. His voice was very tender.
Elizabeth, my wife" he said. "Do
YOU know"-he laughed light-heart-
edly-"I've been worrying like every
thing about it. I fancied you thought
was in funk about myself. IL
thought you meant that
She stared at him, then burst out
laughing Historically and threw her
arms round his neck. "Oh, you dear,
darling old stupid" she cried.
"Don't you know yet that women
never mean what they seem to mean?''
He made a mock gesture of despair.
$50 now that you seem to mean you
are-well, rather fond Of me, Eliza.
beth, what do you really mean?'
She smiled up at him swiftly. ''That
I consider you just perfect" she whis-
pered.
Upstairs in their own room, when
he had gone down to give some orders
to the servants, Elizabeth wandered to
the window. Her eyes were troubled.
Suddenly she knelt down and buried
her face in her hands. "God grant, u
she supplicated, that he will never
know do love him. 1 have al
ways loved him-hut that I should
have thought him afraid" Sketch.