The Marshall republican., 1907-05-31

never Known anything put stern duty. |
Bob. night after night when all have
left I have crept into your once and
sat In your chair. I have laid my head
on your desk and cried and cried until
II seemed as though I could not live
TIL morning without hearing you say
that you loved me. and that you did
not mind the ruin I had brought into
your life. have psttcd the back ~
your chair where your dear head had
restsd. have covered the arms OF
your chair. that your strong. brave
hands had grIppcd. with kisses. Night
sitter night I have knelt AT your desk
and prayed to God to shield you. TO
protect you from all harm. 10 brush
away the black cloud ] brought Into
your life. have asked Him To do
with me. yes. with my father and
mother. anything. anything n only lie
would bring back TO you the happiness
7 had stolen. Bob. 7 have suffered. suf.
fered. N only q woman can suffer"
Size was sobbipG m though her
heart would break. sobbing wildly.
convuisively. like the little child who
In the night ome To its mothers he'd
to tell Of the black COLLINS that have
been pursuing II. Lone before she
had finished spcnking-and II took
only a few heart.beats for that rush Of
words--I had broken the power OF the
fascination that held me. had turned
away my eyes. and tried not to listen.
Tor fear IT breaking the spell. I did
not dare cross the room To close
Bsulah's door or 10 roach the outer
door Of my once. which was nearer
hers than II was 10 my desk. waited
through q silence. broken only by
Beulah's weeping. that seemed hour
Ions. Then In Bob's voice came ono
low sob OF Joy:
"Bsuiah. Beulsh. my Beuiahi"
I realised that he had risen. I rose.
too. thinking that 10Y ] could close
the door. But again ! saw . picture
that trsnsnIed me. Bob had taken
Bsuish by both shoulders and he held
her Oh and looked into her eyes long
and be~ssechingIy. Never before O
since have ] seen upon human face
that glorious Joy which the old mas
tsrs sought to get into the faces OF
their vorshippers who. kneeling be-
lore Christ, tried to send To Him,
through their eyes. their souls graft
tuds and love. ] stood a. one Q n
thralled. Slowly and as rsverently a.
the living lover touches the brow OF
his dead wife. Bob bent his head and
kissed her forehead. Again and again
he drew her 10 him and implanted upon
her brow and yes Md lips his kisses.
I could not stand the scene any longer.
started to the corridor door. and
then. - though for the nrst time either
had known 7 was within hearing. they
turned and stared ut me. At last Dob
gave . long. deep sigh, then one of
those reluctant laughs Of happiness
ret wet with sobs.
well. Jim, dear old Jim. where did
you come from7 Like all eavssdrop-
pers. you have heard no good Of your.
self. Own up. Jim. you did not hear .
word good or bad about yourself. for
Il 10 just coming back to me that We
nav V0ou eotusns tuat " nevS ioht
you entirely out OF our business con
ference"
We all laughed. and Beulah Sands.
With her face q bloom OF burning
blnshss. said: Mr.. Randolph. We have
not settled what II 10 best to do about
fathers aRsirs."
After . little We did begin to talk
buslnsss. and finally agreed that
Bsuiah should write her father. word
Ing her letter a. carefully a. possible.
TO avoid al direct statements. but
showing him that she had made but
little heedway On the work she had
come north 70 accomplish. Bob wAs {
changed being nov; 90. too. was Bsu'
lAht sands. Both discussed their hopsa
and fears With . frankness IN stranss
contrast 70 their former manner, But
thefe wa one point on which Bob
showed ~ was holding back. fpnally
4 put n 70 Him biuntiy: "Bob. . ycu
wovkinG ont anything that looks like
real rslief for Miss Sands and hsI
skshers-
4 dca't know how to ansvsr you
Nm. III can only say l have come idsas
n@lnai uaes sperhaps. but--wsl, ! an
tkinslng along certain linss.s
Iaav ~ was not yst willing 70 tak'
tttsAlato ~ eoandsnos. w Dafte1
~ cslaG No. = shs eab M rps'
lIo = soiAlass1.