The Prescott daily news., 1908-01-02

how sadly, at the fine old red brick dwelling half-covered with Virginia creeper and clematis, till turn of the road swept it out of sight.
 The horses pranced merrily along the road, while the two women kept up their conversation indefatigably. Be fore long they heard the tramp of a horsemsn approaching.
 The horseman slowed up, and when alongside stopped entirely, to ex- change greetings. He was elderly and distinguished, despite his shabby, Undiscovered clothing and carelessly- cropped hair and beard His worn, melancholy face frightened as he swept of his hat and made careful inquiries after the ladies' health. Then he cantered on and the inmates of the carriage leaned back again
 Poor Colonel Thomas!" commented Mrs. Gourlay. T recollect when he was the first young man in the county. He has gone all to pieces In the last year. He was rather high once, but Amanda was too much for him. Sam calls her 'Petruchio in petticoats.'
 Her tones smote her listeners ears as sounds coming from afar. Poor Colonel Thomas! Had he ever been in love with that sharp-voiced woman? How terrible for a woman to have upon her conscience the wreck of a mans life. If Robert should ever come to wear that bowed look-if in stead of the proud confidence that well became his comedy Saxon fea- lures, he should show in sunken eyes and fitful flush the marks of that i'll remedy that promises but never brings "surcease of sorrow" But he was too strong, too sane; mis- cry could never drive him to dissipa- tion, although it might drive him to | desperation of another sort. Her auick fancy began to picture Robert l estranged from the woman he loved. Mentally she saw him growing cold, | gloomy and reserved-their intimacy gone as if 1t had never been, and they | two, bound by unmistakable ties, | aging in sight of each other, their 1 lives dragging on in a way that might come to end in mutual. aversion and disgust She knew that Robert would construe her going away to-day, after their cold parting, into determina- ton to assert herself against him and, l still worse, to seek abroad sympathy for that which she was bound as a | loving wife to bear in silence and to l forget
 The proud Fitzhugh blood famed in her cheeks and her head flung up un- consciously. But at the same instant there came into her mind, as a bugle note sounds amid the horrid discord of battle, a sentence Robert had ut tered to her once in the early days of their love, when he had inadvertently offended her by careless remark: "A man is not judged by one word, but by all the acts of his life"
 | And as if in her mental struggle she i had been seeking some maxim as guide, she fastened upon this and repeated it over and over to her self
 All this time she had been mechan- ically giving outward attention to Mrs Gourlay, although that shrewd wom- an. comprehending her absent glance, made small exactions upon her for re- ply.
 Louise" Mrs. Meeks finally said, in an imperative understone, tell John to come back and take me home. must go back this minute. If you think anything of me-" she added hastily, interposing against remon- strance, do as I ask
 Now, Linda, listen to reason. If you've made up your mind to 90 back and eat humble pie-excuse the truth-at least wait till after dinner and John shall drive you back. It would be absurd to turn back now.'
 'Louise-you don't understand my feelings. 1 was wrong to come Rob ert was to come home early this even ing and bring an old friend just from England with him to stay a few days. Think how mortifying to find me gone away"
 Tt would look badly Still--serve him right"
 NV, "Sas ClosS ny SCH tniS inofn- ing-probably. l didn't mean to tell you our quarrel-our half quarrel. But never mind talking about it, only, please take me back. Or else let me walk? I can walk; it's not far"
 Linda Fitzhugh! We'll, then-John, Mrs. Meeks has forgotten an impor- tant engagement and we must take her straight home again"