Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-01-24

furnished Office. The waning light OF
gorgeous autumn sunset filtered
through fAe curtained windows. and
noises OF the great pushing mass of
humanity which passed and repassed
Ia a neyerendlng stream.
To the two people sitting so quietly
In that room the noise was no dis
turbIng element. for hand In hand
they had set sail for the beautiful
Land OF There Is. leaving behind the
torturIng and ofttimes despairing
Land OF Might Have Been.
The dull red glow from the dying
sunset lighted up both drawn tense
faces with a glow almost superhu'
man, and showed that a mighty strug.
gle was raging within each soul.
Tall and thin. with a certain awk-
wardness. he was one OF those few
men who attract attention by their
utter difference from the common
herd. His was an uncommon face.
uncommon almost to ugliness. but
lighted from within with that mystic
light which the knowing would In
terpret as coming from q spirit unsat-
isfed. but not undaunted. with VIVA,
the world had apportioncd h'm. With
those who knew hin casually he was
the perfection Of honor and courtli.
ness. but II was given to few TO know
hiip bsyond the mere outer surfacing
and one OF those few was the won.
an beside him.
Fate had early turned an unrelen,-
ing attention to her. Born In the lap
OF afiiuence. she knew no denial Of
anything. and It was with n bitterly
rebellious spirit that. thrown on her
own resources. she took her place In
the army of women who toll for them
selves and others.
The man was mechanically signing
letters. and as he laid down his pen
and she reached for them. he laid his
hand over hers and with a look In
his eyes that brought the blood In tor.
rents to her face. said: mo; tonight.
Miss Eleanor; tomorrow viii do As
we'll for these"
Then will be going" she an
swered. with a weary little catch in
her breath.
mo. dear. you'll stay a little while
with me. for me. this evening. won't
youg | want you very much"
Theirs had been peculiar acqualnt.
ance. On her part. sympathy for his
lonely life had played the major part
for two years. but as her eyes began
to open TO the unresponsiveness and
Indifference Of his wife and the guard
I'd and perfectly legitimate. yet frank.
plasurc he took In her own presence.
pity began 10 paint master strokes on
the canvas Of her life. At FIRST the
eolors were all rosy with the pleasure
abe felt In his preference. then the
gray OF the gloomy day showed Its
mystical light when her mind would
persist In dwelling on VIA, might
have been. until finally the agony OF
a despair beyond alienation settled
Its somber folds about her.
The woman sat silent for an instant.
then left her seat and began arrang-
ing the papers and letters on the desk.
preparatory to leaving. The man
whirled about In his chair and sprans
at her with an agony and longing in
his face that brooked no interference.
you shall not. you shall not" he
commanded: you are mine In the
sight OF God and you know II. and you
shall stay here with me a few min
utes."
As she sank back In her chair. his
voice dropped 10 that peculiar tone
which was his most persuasive weap'
on, and he slid to his knees beside
| her.
Eleanor. my love. don't begrudge
me these few minutes now. You
rouse all the savage in me when you
defy me this way. You love me and
sou know Il"
your wife. my God. your wife."
she questioned In a whisper.
Il have no wife but you." he flung
back. THE woman who presides
over nv house and whose bills pay
has not been my wife fer ten years.
for years before you crossed my life.
Perhaps II would have been different
81 q little child had come into our
lives, but she would not have II so.
You are my wife. and none other do
I want. or claim. or will have"
Too dulled with pain. too glad with
the Joy OF being near him. 10 spc9ik.
the woman silently smoothed the head
that lay against her side. and as he
knelt there with his arms about her
waist. she looked away 10 the fast
purpling hills from which she always
drew her strength.
Eleanor. I want TO tell you a story
know"
Il do not want to hear H."
But, dear. this Is OF two ship
wrecked people who found refuge on
a lonely island. They were the only
two that survived the wreck. and
they did not foolishiy 30 to opposite
ends OF the island and set up separate
establishments just because they had
had no formal Introduction while
aboard ship. They made the best
they could OF their fate. and crowded
more pleasure In their contact with
each other than most people Get cut
of their entire lives. After awhile the
man began to want 70 drag on the
woman by her hair. from sheer force