Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-12-27

not meant hurt or affront to anybody
at least not In the beginning. Duly
she wondered why her townsfolk would
not understand she had come back to
them because her interest lay among
them and had been eager to help in all
good works If only she had been per
mitted
But she held no her head and laughed
and jested till the latest Of her callers
took himself away. Then silently she
held out her hand to Billy. He under.
stood and announced an early wed
ding day.
It was q church wedding, with tie
house jammed to the last inch. After il
the newly married settled back into
their old ways, going pace that kept
them the talk of the tow.
They were very gay and desperately
unhappy. Edith could not get away
from a sense that Billy had married
her wholly out of chivalry. Billy? Billy
was old enough to know better, but he
was proving the adage that love, which
may make a fool wise man, may like
wise make wise man a fool. He tor
mented himself with the thought that
he had taken advantage of Edith's eX-
trem;ty. She must know he had loved
her from their very first meeting, but
she was shy and proud and high with
him, Notwithstanding she was his duti-
ful wife.
He left her much to herself and took
pains to make her know that she was
as free as ever Edith resented the
freedom. Billy ought to understand
that she wanted to obey him-make
him at least that poor recompense for
his sacrifice.
Thus they ate out their hearts in
cross purposes, cross miscomprehen-
sions, until Ashbel Clare came to visit
them. Ashbel was reputed a danger.
Gus person-tall and slight and hand
some, with deep seeing eyes. a glamour
of romance hung about him. After the
first day Eil.y wondered, with catching
breath, If he had been quite wise to
fling n man like Ashbel across Edith's
path.
She was clearly fascinated by him.
They We're forever walking about the
bic. scrubby garden or along the strip
Of lawn in full sight of passcrsby and
I'll the while absorbed in talA. Edith
vas brighter, too-Quite her old, Win
some self Ashbel seemed equally cap.
tivated. He reused himself as Billy
had not seen him since they were lads
together.
So the days went by, mounting into
weeks, at last into month, and Billy
was in torment. He had made a grim
and mannerly third for the most part
of the time. Still he was sure the two
had some secret understanding. lie
bad made up his mind to endure to the
end. There was no danger of diSholor.
Dishonor and Eiith could not come to-
.,ether in his mind. But when he was
quite suYc-if be were quite sure-ke
would find q way out of IT. His f.
ther had d:el OF heart disease. Thee
were ways OF ending yourself without
making scandal He would make an
end of himself gladly if only that way
lay Ediths happiness.
The first thing was TO make his viii.
Ashbel Clare surprised him at 1t. Billy
vas glad. He wanted Ashbel TO know,
70 understand how entirely he had
trusted his wife and his friend. SO he
thrust the paper Into Clare's hand, say
ing gruiny:
Read that! You see I've some de-
cent instincts If am half a savage"
81 see Everything, great or small,
TO your wife" Ash5el said, thea. with
whimsical. half dreamy smile. do
you know that she's the most fascnat
ting creature alive"
"Just what she says of you" Billy
growled, signing his name with a
blurred flourish.
! Ashbel bent over him. laughing
softly
"The perception does credit TO her
! mind" he said "As for her heart
Billy. you brute. that knows no better
than to belong to you wholly. and you
! won't see 1t, you blind, blind Dat!"
A soft, stifed sob, the patter of swift
light feet. sounded at the door. Billy
followed them. CAUGHT his wife In bis
arms and said. with his lips on her
forehead: Darling! Darling! If you
| really do love me-
| "Hush" Edith said, with her hand
over his lips You We're blind bat
Even Jealousy could Lat make yca
see"