La Junta tribune., 1907-01-05

promised. bat ehat's how Il viii end
Last night had . letter. home letter
You know we're desIssateiy poor rich
folk. which is much worse than being
poor outright Mother has heard how
things are That made her tell me
thinys-thinSs I had never sue><s-j-of
debts. privations- huniiiations she has
endured TO make me what am. some
thing 20 retrieve our fortunes. Mr..
fleming has written asking her leave
- court NE She gave IN. OF course. In
her own dignineu. diplomatic way I
81 free TO choose II cho~,se To take
hin the choice will meet her approval
Oh know IL all b. heart
Il know by heart you are not going
to do f. You can't" Aiwyn broke in.
his face gray and lined Lolita looked
away from him. shaking her head
But after minute she spranS up. say
Ing. with a laugh that was half a
sob: Come. want one more walk
down past the dovecot- And wAse
we walk We won't talk or think VI
things
Least OF all Gordon Fleming Al
wyn said. taking her hand. But some
how IL proved easier TO say than to do
H. BY the time they came opposite
the dovecot Fleming's name had been
many times On their lips
The dovecot was detached cot
tage set thiekly about with trees and
Towering shrubs and 80 s,outiy bedsed
passersby got but giimpses OF the in
terror. The house was smotheresi In
vines. and either upon the piazza or In
a small sunny lawn space upon clear
DAYS there appeared a wheel chair with
a helpless man In IL and a woman.
slight and fraii. lowering about him.
Today she was Invisible. although the
chair stood in its usual place Sight
Of IL. thus desolate. somehow hushed
the pair who walked outside A feel
In; Of someshing imminent fell upon
them. II was hardly = surprise to ind
the woman herself standing with the
gate half open or to have her beck0p
them inside
Il heard what you were sayiss-yoo
two-I could not help it-there In ths
raspberry tbicket." she said abruptly:
then. her eyes fast On Lolita's face.
And I had to call you in-becsuse-
because I am Gordon Fiemings wife
and I couldn't see you. 80 young. -
fresh. make bitter mistake"
His wife, Alwyn echoed. with star
ing eyes. why. his wife hes been at
the bottom Of the SO this long. loos
time"
so he believes: 80 be must always
believe" the woman said hushedly.
with a backward glance at the sleep
ing occupast Of the chair. II should
be there n had gone ON that ship. but
l didn't sail: I Vas not strong enough
Listen. I married without love. and I
did love somebody else. yet that was
not what made the break ! never saw
the man I loved until IL was all over
with my husband. Gordon 10 . good
man. but we did not suit. He In un-
yielding. II you do not bend to him
you must break- And I WAS impar
tient snd quick ssrSkea aud yoang ~
unhappy. He could not understand ny
unhappin~s~ whea he had given me -
much lie gave me everything bse
liberty to enjoy II In my own way. II
had not left him I should have killed
myself That might have been better.
yet can't be sorry when ] loos
there
As she spoke she waved her hand
toward the sleeper. He would have
nothing. nobody. IL I had died" she
niurmured. her voice breaking from its
tense hardness Il was going away TO
escape him Then at the very last !
heard that he had been 80 hurt he
would never walk again. I went to
him at once. I have been with him
ever since. The ship went down II
seemed the only Kindness. the hest re-
turn could make Gordon. to let him
think was among the lost. I should
other ease. Don't. don't" laying q
light aud withered hand timldIy on
Lolita's arm. let anything make you
go against your heart There are wo-
men made TO be bartered. You are not
Of them. Believe me. ! am happier
here-nur~e. drudge, sole stay Of a
human, wreck-than was or would bs
the mistress OF millions with . dead
heart In my breast
lo1316ssa 0Des AR-Hsv.se ssA ~
II there while her tears raines1 down
upon II. How can I thank you for
saving mef' she whispered at last
The woman gently ioo-esi herrelf
from the girls clasp aud pointed to-
ward the gate. Go and forget that
you came In and all things save one
she said. But remember love 10
enough and only lover