Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-15

Tho color of a green wood with the sun shining
through it. the glimpsed mosaic OF its book-lned
walls with the flicker of the embers on the jewel OIL
a Corot OF the middle period on the crescent OF a
DIANA on the tall silver tripod holding what once
had been great sheaf of red roses. But the roses
drooped dead and withered; no one had changed
them he had ordered the to be left as 1t was.
If there dust upon it, NO matter; his lie was
dust--dust and ashes.
He, himself had laid the logs together for the hre
when he came in. He had said he would have some
sembance of cheer on this the of what had been
wont TO be golden anniversary, the anniversary Oh
their wedding day. Yet why he wanted such outside
cheer when there was within he could not say.
What little while ago it seemed now since the
first evening they had spent in this delightful room
1.-The day he had given her the deed OF the house. IL
was her house. although she had left it, He would
have to be out of it soon of course 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 red berries from the single shrub that laden with
icicles sparkled in radiant colors touched by the
moon. More wedding gifts" he had said, and they
had TESTED about the hidden treasures. There!' he
had said. "Do you see that ruby? as one of the red
berries sparked in it's icy sheath. The Maharajah Of
Pooranbad has sent it to the loveliest woman of her
day"
That's mel" she said, gayly.
That's you' and he sealed it with kiss.
"And there, at the tip of that right-hand bough-
do you see? That big diamond--no, it is jeweled
order all of old mine stones. The Czar sends it to
the bravest man in America the man who had the
courage to marry me-" And then she went dancing
down the room, her white garments floating and
whirling about her. while she warbled like bird;
and he had called her his stem of sacred cherry bos
SONS, his white chrysanthemum. his darling wife,
And they had lighted the fire upon the hearth them
selves-ther first fire. And she had gone to the win
dow to pull down the shades ~
Goodbye, dear moon" she had said, ''sweet hon
eymoon You were only line of light when we were
married and started our journey--soon, oh, how
now, you will go into eclipse"
"No, no" he had explained, shat honeymoon is go
ing to last as 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 that the honeymoon had gone
the way of all moons, and had gone quickly? Had
it been his fault, or hers? They were still so young
life before them. All had seemed sure and sweet.
And now-death itself had been better! His breath
was half sob; and then 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 was simply suffering.
A clock struck in some remote region. The slow,
funereal toll chimed with his sensations. He was
lost; were lost before they were dead. The
clock struck again, tinkng silver bell in farther
seemed to mock it. Yes, he said to himself
stirring, and his thoughts coming to the top again
but what had caused 1t? Was it he, on the day when
he admired the color of that Titianesque womans
hair-Mrs. Fairfax? But no, Winifred had no jeal-
ousy at all. He was the one who ADMINISTRATIONS
if the sun shone her, if the wind blew on her. II
any looked at her too lingeringy. Was it when he
refused to have her go Melchiors yacht to the
Bermudas? But he knew who and what they were
that party. He right then; certainly he was
right. He would do it again! She had pouted lit
tie; but he took her into Tifanys that afternoon.
and gave her string of matchless pearls that cost
almost as much Melchior's yacht.
She was beautiful so bright, so dainty, in her
exquisite fower-like grace 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
al-but triumphal progress like that of some fairy
queen in her procession when "First went by the
milk-whte steed and syne went by the brown" 1t
might have been when he abruptly forbade her play
ing bridge for money.
why, l might as well go into nunnery!" she
had cried.
Il had as lief you would" he had answered.
"Ycu would rather left you-left you'll and went
into that terrible life the monotony and seclusion
and drearness and deadliness of convent than that
should amuse myself"
II don't want you to amuse yourself with gam
bng!" he had said.
II don't care what you want" she cried in little
fury 'You tyrant A tyrant is always a mon
ster!" And he had gone out of the room and slammed
the door behind him.
He angry now as he was them He was no
angrier when a few days afterward, he met her on
Fifth with little parcel in her hand. What
is it?" he had asked rather amusedly having noted
something hesitating in her manner something
prised and furtive Suddenly, like taking reso-
luton and long BREATH she had torn off the delicate
wrapping and opening hid box had displayed a