Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-10-30
A BIT OF LIFE
By HELEN J. CLELAND
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub Coz

> SSOAS < w.. w.
come back" he whispers feverishly
and stretches out his arms.
Nothing but space answers him. The
warden taps him on his shoulder. He
looks hastily around and sees he is
alone in the church. He steps out
int the frosty air and looks around.
Where is he? What has happened?
Why is that heavy pain at his heart:
and why does everything look SO
dreary? yes, yes" he signs, Ire
member it ALL" Then the look of de.
termination comes back.
Hastily calling a cab, he Jumps in
| and giving directions to the driver
is soonsamoLg the long line of ca--
riages drawn up in front of the hand
some avenue home that he knows so
we'll.
Il will see her! l will know from
her own lips" he mutters as he
alights and passes in among the
guests. He reaches quiet doorway
where he can see and get be unob-
served. He takes a long breath.
"Ah, how beautiful she u.s." He sees
the same clear cut features crowned
by that same beautiful hair that he
had once reverently touched; the pure
white throat rises like chiselsG marble
from the CLEAN of her wedding gown.
Her wedding gown! The wife of
another!" the thought maddens him.
He cannot bear it. "Marian" he
groans and turns away. He will leave
the house-it is only agony to stay
ne will 60 away again-all is over
only memory left-that will never go!
lie reaches the door and then as if
impelled by a will stronger than his
own-enters the drawing-room.
She is receiving her congratula-
tons with ease and grace always char
acteristic of Marian Strong, bat to-
day there is restlessness, a remor
of excitement about her that sh0 can
not conquer. Her eyes are nervcusly
scanning the room; they looA at
every one who enters. She giv.s a
sudden gasp. A look of terror spreads
over her face and passing away, leaves
her deathly white. Some one il ap-
preaching, and with a superhuman
effort she controls herself.
May l offer my congratulations,
Mrs. Wyman?" low, steady voice is
saying, but she hears nothing. Faces
around her have become indistinct
She thinks she hears music some
where. Her hand is held out me-
chnically and touched. "Geoffrey,
Geoffrey!" she cries family. It is
sitting, and yet she is growing colder
each minute.
Such ~surprise'!' the voice is say
ing in well modulated tones. Il only
returned from India this morning.
met Jack Lawrence on the street; he
told me an old friend was being mar.
ried at Trinity and gave me his card
Such a SURPRISED" he repeated.
Couldn't believe my own eyes-had
to come to the house to be convinced.
You have my best wishes, Mrs. wy.
man. I should like to see you again.
but l sail tomorrow for England. !
had expected to remain in New York,
but my plans have been changed"
and with forced smile of adieu, he
passes on and out in the cooling
night
The room grows suddenly dark to
Miriam. The light has gone from her
life forever.
Mrs. Wyman is i'll; the strain has
been too much for herr" is whispered
around. AS the guests leave the room,
some one says: "Beastly custom, any.
way, standing two hours Poor girls!
wonder there are not more cases OF
nervous prostration after these we'd
ding receptions"
AS Godfrey boards the Kron Prinz
the next morning, a note is handed
him. 1t is only a little cream, crested
affair, and reads thus:
They told me you were dead; that
you had been killed in a fight with
natives. My letters were returned.
Father urged me to marry Mr.. Wy
man, and at last yielded. Oh Geof-
frey! why did you come back too
late?"
Jack Lawrence hears the news of
Geohrey's departure next morning at
the club and twirls his mustache
thoughtfully as he says to himself:
by Jove! there must have been some
thing in that old affair after all. Jack,
it wasn't quite fair in you! Poor old
Geon!" then calls for 4 brandy and
soda.