The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-09-05

happy anticipation, hurried him home
ward.
There! that's the corner of the cot.
tage roof! there is the east window
where the little willow chair and
work basket stand, and where she al
ways watches for his coming. She
will be sure to wear the blue dress he
likes SO welh with white ribbons at
throat and wrist and bunch of pink
roses in the belt. How pale and sad
and sweet she will look. How he
will take her in his arms and kiss
away all the trouble.
Yes, there she stands at the win
dow. No! it is only a tall begonia
The door is wide open, but through
the screen he catches no vision of
blue. How deserted the place looked!
What If Nettie should not be in the
house or anywhere! God forgive him!
He never could forgive himself. His
hand trembles as he pushes open the
parlor door. Hark, voices! He leans
forward in the direction whence come
the sounds.
You're just the dearest mani"
That happy. girlish voice he knows
so we'll. His face pales with the sud
den revulsion of feeling. every muscle
stiffens and his hair begins to rise
from his head. A more TERRIBLE fear
has seized him. He steps farther into
the room and looks through the low
window out onto the veranda. A
dainty table set for two, and as the
light drapery floats back and is
caught and held in no uncertain
grasp. he beholds the blue-robed fig
ure of his dreams. white ribbons.
pink roses and all. with it's arms
about the neck of u handsome young
man. who seems to enjoy it hugely.
Just the dearest man." and the fig.
ure stands on tip-toe to whisper the
rest of this daring speech.
A pretty tableau. but vision OF
purgatory to the quiet witness in the
sladowy parlor.
Didn't expect me so SOON" he nut.
tired, with all attempt at a sarcastic
smile.
At this crisis the handsome stranger
became conscious of the threatening
presence half-hidden by the window
drapery, and with remarkable pres
ence OF mind. released himself from
the fair arms, spoke a few words in a
low voice. lifted his hat, with half
glance toward the window, and beat
rather lively retreat.
Prescott Howland's fear turned to
rage as he gazed. lie stepped back
with darkened brow and clenched
hands, striving to hold in check his
surging passion. Nettie! Nettie, his
wife. was false.
The fair. false one turned with a
happy. half troubled sigh, then spy
ing the masculine outline through the
window, her face broke into smiles
again; tripping lightly across the
veranda. clearing the window ledge
with birdlike dip. she flew into her
husbands arms. The tense muscles
did not relax nor the clenched hands
open
oh. Prescott. | am SO glad you
have come. ! want to tell you how
sorry ] am for my foolishness last
night. Say YOU forgive me, dear, and
promise never. never to be SO
naughty again. Isn't this the loveliest
evening? You can't guess-why,
Prescott. what is the'matter? What
stand back. will you. have had
about enough Of this sort of thing"
Mrs. Nettie looked up with flutter-
ing eyelids, the color coming and go.
ing in her cheeks
"Oh, Prescott, you're angry still
Don't be angry any more. If you
knew how miserable have been!
Don't go. wait till ] tell you. You
must wait till tell YOU all about it.
II was SO unhappy-till Maurice
came. Don't shake me off, he patient
just little. | was so unhappy did
not want to live any longer. thought
you would never love me any more
and couldn't live without your love.
Then Maurice came; he couldn't
help seeing something was wrong, and
l told him. What made you start so?
Did you hear anything? He scolded
me and comforted ME and explained
everything"
us this-this Maurice, a minister?"
"Oh, dear, no; but he ought to be.
He said if had been considerate and
spoken kindly, you would have come
to see where you were wrong, after
awhile"
Maurice, Maurice-I don't seem to
remember"
"Why, don't remember Cousin Mau
rice that l have told you SO much
about, that lives in California? And
never knew he was coming. He's
just the dearest man in the world
excepting you, of course" with an up.
ward demure look, land l told him so.
He wouldn't wait till you came; he
knew we would prefer to be alone to.
night. He's coming again."
"Nettie. I'm q fool"
"Oh. Prescott. l am so glad!" and
Mrs. Nettie flew into her husbands
arms, this time with more success