The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-01-10

must go away. ttalyf Oh, moi In his
present condition he needed an en-
vlrOnment that should serve as tonic
rather than weaken with emotional ex-
element Norway or Scotland? But
both were so far from MOllie! The
dear old Canadian woods it should be
the place where as boy he had
been wont to spend his summers.
Now that he had been there for
many months one memory in his part
ing from his wife still hurt him and
served as a sort of scourge. The final
words spoken between them had been
friendly enough Evelyn was too pa
trician for anything else). but his art
lists eye of unrelenting accuracy show
ed him that she looked smitten.
All, in the beginning how he had loved
her, his jewel eyed girl bride! "Cas-
kets of beryl, topaz and lapis lazuli,"
he had been heard TO call her eyes.
And how he had dreamed that the cool,
folded petals of her nature would one
day, under his skillful handling, un-
shrOud a latent, gorgeous blooming!
His skillful handling! Deft as his
fingers were with brushes how they
had bungled with this wOman's lot!
If there had come gradual hope to
Feltus' breast that Evelyn might re-
call him, gradually, too, 1t had gone.
Her silence was as cold as the Cana
dian winter. But just as the last
vestige Of hope seemed to have vanish
ed came a telegram:
"Mollie very i'll, Wants you Come
at once"
On the small white bed in the dim
room Mollie tossed wearily.
II want Taddy, Taddy, but he won't
tum. "Oh-h," pressing her little hand
to her stomach, "it hurts"
"Mollie-my baby!' Feltus bent over
her, his gaze blurred with tears. One
Of her quaint, beaIning little smiles
greeted him. Il jes' knowed you'd tum,
| Taddy" she cried
After the first long embrace fever
ish whim seized her. Il want tumble
tiss! Oh, you haven't fordotted, Tad
dy?" she cried in shrill tones Of dis
tress as a constrained silence ensued.
1--WE must humor her" murmured
Evelyn, with downcast eyes. Even
though it is a foolish game, we can pre-
tend"
Presently, with infinite content, the
child fell asleep. That Is what the ply
sicians had said she needed. Hereto
! fore her rest had all been uneasy dozes,
dominated by her unsatisfied wish for
her father.
The game" was over but Feltus
still kept his arm about Evelyn.
'She might waken, you know" he
explained, nodding down at the baby
cheeks on which the long lashes rested.
How still 1t was in the room! How
loudly the cable cars changed! Present
ly the man spoke again;
Don't you think-maybe-for Mol
lies sake 1t was then that Evelyn
broke in, irreverently, incoherently per-
haps, but he understood:
81 know now. 1t was the chain In the
painting. couldn't see till overheard
some one explaining 1t at an art exhi-
bitiOn. oh, ! was vulgar, common! |
thought
you did not understand me, sweet
heart. You never did," Feltus said sim
ply. But there was no hint Of reproach
in the big, protective gesture with
which he tightened his arm about her
"Will you try now, Evelyn" he added
gently.
Yes" she murmured "Yes, oh, yes,
Morrisw
And Mollie slept-a sound, refreshing
sleep. An incipient dimple showed in
her cheek and pretty smile on her
baby lips, as If in some fashion she
was conscious Of the worth of her min
istration.