Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-09
THE YEARS
between
by Daily Story Pub. Col
BY Erschel Records

things In general.
Ten years had passed since Paul
Merrill had written telling of his love
for her, and asking that he might
come to her for his answer. "If there
is hope for me. just a word from you
and / shall come" he had said; "but
II not, I would spare you the pain
such an answer would inflict on
your gentle heart. If you cannot care
for me, silence shall be my an
swer."
These words burned themselves in
to her soul, even before she penned
the simple words which meant so much
to both:
Dearest: Come. And may your
coming bring into your life and mine
supremest joy"
She gave the precious missive to
her father, as he started to his Office
that morning, and she fancied he must
have understood its significance; for he
kissed her with unusual tenderness,
and slipped the note into his inner
pocket.
She awaited his coming with conf
dence, for they had long been lovers,
and his coming meant the consumma-
ton Of their secret hopes.
AS the days wore on and he did
not come, she began to wonder; and
when she learned that he had left
suddenly, without a word Of explana-
ton or farewell, she summoned all
the pride Of her nature to meet the
curious. well-meaning questions OF
friends. And it was cause for thank
fulness, she felt, that her own father
never suspected the misery that lay
hidden deep down in her heart,
through the weeks, and months, and
years.
Now, as she reviewed the emptt
ness of the years since he had gone,
she wondered, duly, how she had en-
dured it all.
Suddenly, impelled by an impulse
she could not resist, she rose and
went into her fathers room. Through
r-dimmed eyes, she saw that every
thing was just as he had left it; and
now, after the first bitterness which
the shock OF his death had brought to
her, she could almost feel his pres
ence, as she touched lovingly, rever-
emily, his belongings, and the gar
ments he had worn.
She became absorbed in her work,
as she went through his wardrobe,
planning the disposal of the various
garments. For she felt that it was
showing more respect to her precious
dead to give those garments where
they would bring warmth and comfort
than to hoard them selfishly.
She went through the well-worn
pockets tenderly, carefully. that she
might not miss some token or treas
ure she should prize. She was re-
warded, for here she found his favorite
Docket knife, the wonder of her child.
mood days; the knife that had fash
toned many a wondrous toy. Again
.he came upon the worn purse which
had always responded so generously
to the growing demands of girlhood
and young womanhood. So the pile
of treasures grew; memorandum
book, letters, business and friendly;
little things which revealed the per.
sonality of the man.
At length, in neglected corner OF
the closet she lifted from its peg a
faded coat which she viewed with
some surprise. With difficulty she
recalled it. He had not worn it for
years. She remembered now the
day, years ago, when he had come in
shivering from the cold and had re.
moved this coat for a warmer one.
Strange" she unused, 'how such
trivial things will cling to the mind
50 distinctly. l remember it was the
very day 1 sent that note to Paul"
With strange premonition in her
heart, she began to search feverishly
through pocket after pocket; and at
last she found, just as she knew she
should, in the inner pocket, the note
she had written then.
Poor, poor father" she murmured
"And he wouldn't have caused me a
minutes suffering for worlds"
Gradually her course became clear
to her. I'm fairness to both of us, he
should have that which is his" she
thought She inclosed the note with
out a word Of explanation, and for
warded it to him. If he was the same
Paul, the one she had loved, he would
understand. He would come to her. II
not
Well, she should be thankful, even II
her idol, proving itself clay, were shat
tered; for then, perhaps, she shoult
know the meaning of peace, though
it were the peace of broken heart.
Again, Alice Chandler sat before tia
crate, while the flames darted and
played cheerfully, casting grotesque
figures in the gathering twilight
Not "a hours had passed since she
sent the message, and she was mus
ing, half-bitterly, at the folly which
prompted her to do it.
Even as she unused, she caught the
sound of eager footsteps in the hall
without. There was a rap at the door
and Paul, the same impetuous boy as
of old, was entering, without waiting
to be announced.
She was face to face with him; her
Paul, not the other, the phantom OF
her doubling brain.
you? she found voice to say glad.
ly, half-incredulously.
Alice, darling, you doubted me-"
he reproaehed her AS he spoke, he
drew her close to him. "You should
have known l would have come"