The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-07

There for the room to be
gloomy with its rugs, its satin draperles
The color of green wood with the sun shining
through It, the half glimpsed mosaic of its book-lined
walls with the flicker of the embers on the jewel OF
Corot of the middle period, on the crescent OF
DIANA on the tell silver tripod holding what once
had been a great sheaf Of red roses But the roses
dropped dead and withered; one had changed
hem; had ordered the room to be left as 1t was
II there dust upon it, no matter; his life was
iust-dust and ashes.
He himself had laid the logs together for the nre
when he came in He had said he would have some
ssmblance Of cheer this the eve of what had been
won't a golden anniversary, the anniversary OF
their wedding day. Yet why he wanted such outside
cheer when there within he could not say
What little while ago it seemed now since the
irst evening they had spent in this delightful. room
day had given her the deed of the house. 1t
was her house, although she had left it. He would
have to be out of it soon of Well, that was
hardly of moment. With life shattered what signi-
fed the fate of the broken pieces?
He remembered that evening. They had stood at
the window, looking out at the space below before
the door where the sparrows had not yet taken all
the the single shrub that laden with
icicles sparked in radiant colors touched by the
More wedding gifts he had said, and they
had TESTED about the hidden treasures "There' he
had said. do you that ruby? as one OF the red
berries sparked in its icy sheath. The Maharajah OF
Poora1bad has sent it to the loveest woman of her
day
That's me-" she said gayly.
That's you," and he sealed 1t with kiss
And there. at The tip of that rght-hand Dough
do you see? That big diamond-no, 1t is a jeweled
order, all of old mine stones. The Car sends it to
the bravest man in America, the man who had tho
courage to marry me-" And then she went dancing
down the room, her white garments floating and
whirling about her. while she warbed like bird;
and he had called her his stem Of sacred cherry bios
SONS, mis- white chrysanthemum, his darling wife.
And they had lighted the fire upon the hearth them
seves-their first fire. And she had gone to the win
dow to pull down the shades.
Goodbye, dear moon' she had said, Sweet hon.
eymoon. Yop only line Of light when
married and started journey-soon, oh, how
soon now, you will go into eclipse"
NO, no. he had explained that honeymoon is go
ing to last long do
And as she sat in the great armchair, and he half
lay the rug, his head upon her knee, they drew
pictures of their future bright the glow Of the
fire, sweet the smell of the roses full Of all dear
possibilities and promises,
What had happened ths - honeymoon had gone
the way Of all moons, anG i gone so quickly? Had
it been his fault, hers? They still Dung
life before them. All had seemed and sweet.
And now-death itself had been better! His breath
was half sob; and then q sudden anger burned the
tears away. He rose, and scratched a match light
ing his cigar But the trail of thin blue smoke pres
emily died. and his hand hung listlessly over the
chair. He ceased thinking; he simply suffering.
funo1eal toll chimed with his sensations He was
lost; some men were lost before they dead The
clock struck again, tinkling silver bell in farther
room seemed to mock it. Yes, he said to himself.
stirring and his thoughts coming to the top again
but what had caused it? Was it he on the day when
he so admired the color Of that Titanesque womans
hair--Mrs Fairfax? But NO, Winfred had no jeal-
ousy at all He was the one who was jealous-jealous
Il the sun shone her, if the wind blew her. if
any looked at her too lingerngly. Was it when he
Bermudas? But he knew who and what they were
that party. He right then; certainly he was
right He would do it gain! She had pouted lit
tle but he took her into Tifany's that afternoon.
gave her string O. r,ctchless pearls that cost
almost much Melchiors yacht
She beautiful, bright so dainty in her
exquisite fowerlike grace and charm, that it was no
wonder all society made a darling of her. No. he
had not objected to that; he had enjoyed seeing her
all-but triumphal progress like that of fairy
queen in her procession when First went by the
milk-white steed, and syne went by the brown" It
might have been when he abruptly forbade her play
ing bridge for money
Why might as well go into nunnery!" she
lad cried.
Il had lief you would" he had answered
You would rather left you-left you! and went
into that terrible life the monotony and seclusion
and dreariness and deadlness of convent than that
/ should amuse myself"
Il don't want you to yourself with gam
bling" he had said.
Il don't care what you want" she cried in q little
fury. you are tyrant tyrant is always a mon
ster!"SAnd he had gone out of the room and slammed
The door behind him.
He was as angry now he was then. He was no
kngrier when. a few days afterward he met her on
Fifth avenue with little parcel in her hand. What
Is it?" he had asked rather amusedly having noted
something hestating in her manner, something sur
prised and furtive. Suddenly like taking a reso-
luton and long breath, she had the delicate
wrapping. and opening hid box had displayed a
pendant OF a big pearl and some diamonds.
why he exclaimed not too well pleased-for he
liked to give her such things hmself'I thought you
said yesterday that your check-book was empty and
your bank account. too.'
80 it is" she said gayly. This bought with yes
terday's bridge winnings"