Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1906-11-29
The Mystic Shrine.
BY KATHERINE MCCORMACK


side before a desk in an elegantly
furnished Office. The waning light OF
a gorgeous autumn sunset filtered
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 never-ending stream.
10 the two people sitting so quietly
IN that room the noise was no dis
turblng element, for hand in hand
they had set sail for the beautiful
Land OF There Is, leaving behind the
torturlng and Outlines despairins
Land of Might Have Been.
The dull red glow from the dying
sunset lighted up both drawn tense
races with glow almost superhu-
man, and showed that a 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 ugliness, but
lighted from within with that mystic
light which the knowing would in.
1erpret as coming from a spirit unsat.
lshed, 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 it was given to few to know
MIN 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
or afduence, she knew no denial OF
anything, and it was with a bitterly
reoelllous 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 in tor
rents to her face, said: Not tonight,
Miss Eleanor; tomorrow will do az
we'll for these"
Then l 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? I 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 ard perfectly legitimate, yet frank,
plaspre 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 ais preference. then the
gray of the gloomy day showed it's
mystical light when her mind would
persist in dwelling on what might
have been, until finally the agony OF
4 despair beyond alienation settled
its somber folds about her
lAC NcA1idl SAT SltCAl iot al lISl
then left her seat and began arrang-
ing the papers and letters on the desk,
preparatory to leaving. The man
whirled 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
commanded; you are mine in the
sight Of God and you know it, and you
shall stay here with me a few min
utes.'
AS she sank back in her chair, his
voice dropped to that peculiar tone
which was his most persuasive weap-
on, and he slid to his knees beside
her
Eleanor, my love, don't begrudge
me these few minutes now You
rouse all the savage in me when you
defy me this way. You love me and
you know it."
Your wife, my God, your wife!"
she questioned in whisper.
Il have no wife but you,' he flung
back. The woman who presides
over luy uOuS0 duu WuOSo UlllS pay
has not been my wife for ten years,
for years before you crossed my life.
Perhaps it would have been different
if little child had come into our
lives, but she would not have it so.
You are my wife, and none other do
want, or claim, or will l have"
Too dulled with pain, too glad with
the joy of being near him, to speak,
the woman silently smoothed the head
that lay against her side, and as he
knelt there with his arms about her
waist, she looked away to the fast
purpling hills from which she always
drew her strength.
Eleanor, I want to tell you story
! know
81 do not want to hear it."
But, dear, this is of two ship
wrecked people who found refuge on
q lonely island. They were the only
two that survived the wreck, and
they did not foolishly go to opposite
ends of the island and set up separate
establishments just because they had
INT