Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-06-20
HIS ERROR AND HERS.
BY Angela Morgan.


She had planned such a tempting
her husband liked best--and she set
about preparing it with a woman's
pleasure and a housewives zeal
She made picture of trim dainti-
ness as she worked, for she was one of
those women who determine not to
degenerate In personal appearance af-
ter marriage.
IF he'll just come home In time!"
was her one anxious thought. Din
ner can't be good If 1t waits long in the
warming oven."
She gave a quick sigh, for the recol-
lection Of former trials in that line had
come back vividly. But then," she reA
monstrated with herself, he surely
cannot be blamed for that. Business is
the first consideration, of course"
This conclusion, however, did not
check the train of thought which the
recollection had started.
Since her marriage she had tried to
be philosophical and not to expect the
impossible. She seldom INDUCED in
self f-commiseration. But Just now the
realization that her husband spent very
little time at home. that his hours were
growing more irregular Of late, de-
scend upon her with a heavy signifi-
canoe.
1t was by an effort that she shook
herself free of clamoring doubts.
The meal was yet at an early stage
OF preparation when the familiar latch
key sounded IN the door.
Though somewhat disconnected, he-
face took on a smile of welcome as her
husband abruptly entered the kitchen
But the smile did not linger. His
brusque, hurried manner dispelled it as
a sudden draught puts out a fiickering
flame. S--4.
Can we have dinner pretty soon?"
he asked at once. I've an important
case on hand and must be back at the
office by seven"
The wifes face shadowed. She had
so counted on his praise of a perfectly
cooked meal and on the pleasure of his
spending an evening at home. But she
had learned to adapt her wishes read
lily to his varying plans.
Yes, dear: l can hurry dinner" was
her prompt reply.
Whether or no he enjoyed 1t the hus-
band gave no sign. lie ate hurriedly.
glancing frequently at the clock. In
vain did she try to draw his attentions
by little kindly words and services. His
mind was not with her.
After he had gone and the meal was
cleared away she sank into chair by
the table and dropped her head OH hei
arms.
She was not crying-she seldom shed
tears. 1t seemed weak to her, some
how, and yet she would have been glad
of the relief.
1t is at such times of loneliness that
the yearning thought will follow its
own leading, regardless of the will that
has heretofore held it in check
And 1t was now that the wifes
thought sped straight to the one source
of real sympathy she had known since
her marriage-straight to the man
who, for honor's sake, she had striven
earnestly to crush out of her heart. She
had promised her soul each day that
she would forget him; she had almost
believed for while that her will had
triumphed. And yet-could she help II
that her thought turned to him now as
tired child turned to its mother?
Hurriedly she arose and got a book
from the shelf. Perhaps If she read
awhile 1t would be easier to forget
But no! From the printed page be-
fore her leaped the very ideals he
had so often expressed. 1t was as
though he spoke to her-cried to heI
| across the chasm which honor had
| placed between his soul and hers.
OH" she cried. 1T is all wrong
wrong"
She went to the window and flung uI
the shade, letting In glory of white
moonlight. The beauty of it beat
mercilessly upon her consciousness
| for oh, 1t brought him nearer yet
Drawing the shade with a swift de-
| termination she crossed to the piano
and sat down to play. But she had
| struck only few chords when she
knew that the music had drawn him
even into her heart again.
| And II is wrong, wrong! II must not
| be-"
| With desperate resolve she arose once
more, went to her husbands room anG
| sought some task that would occupy
her brain and hands alike.
The coat he had removed that night
| lay flung across the back of chair
She remembered now his recent re-
mark concerning needed repairs in the
lining of pockets and sleeves.
| Thankfully she took out her Worl
basket and was soon busily plying hel
needle.
AS she turned the lining of one
| pocket folded paper fell out. She
might have put 1t aside unnoticed hat
not one sentence on turned back por.
! tion of the sheet caught her eve.
This sentence stood out so luridl,
that for the moment she stared at /
in a sort of blinking unbelief like on,
half blinded.
Don't fail me dear. Be sure t.
come at T."
The wife read it over and over, a.
| II FASCINATED, While the terror of |
shivered through her. Convulsively sh
clutched the letter, then spread it opel
and read the rest.
She was still shivering when at las
she let the paper fall. The revelation
was complete. The letter told every
thing.
80 that is the reason" she sal,
slowly out of the strange calm tha
was settling upon her. THAT is tn
reason for his indifference, his absence
| his excuses -"
A sudden fierce rebellion broke tn
numbness that threatened her.
And l." she cried, passionately, "
felt it wrong even to think of tha
| other man-eVen to hold his image Il
my heart. l fought the influence, higl
and sweet and pure though 1t was.
strangled the best that was in me be
cause that best was made up of hin
And this--this is my reward"
Her head went down in her arm
again. Sobs and tears had come at las
After time the bitterness and re
| bellion were swept away. She aros
and darkened the room and let tn
| moonlight in once more. For hours sh
sat there, in the white radiance, let
ting the magic peace of 1t permeate he
being.
After ALL" she said, two wrong
would not have made a right. / an
glad-glad that heaven kept me stron
and true. That same power of goo
| will bring all things right in time"
|
"FiddIins Bob" Doesn't Fiddle.