The Prescott daily news., 1908-09-18

perhaps because ne ndI been too busy and indifferent to think of it. But gradually he had come to feel her un. spoken criticisms and his self-con. sciousness became infinitely worse than his previous careless indifference Now he was constantly trying to please her, and only succeeded in be- ing more consciously awkward than ever.
 As she lay there in the dark, watch ing the light from his room, there came to her a great longing to blot out these two months in New York They had been so happy in that year on his ranch. She had gloried in his strength and manhood; his very crude ness and simplicity she had loved then.
 Tears Of contrition and tenderness came to her eyes. She would go in to him now, creep into his arms and tell him that she loved him; that noth. ing else mattered.
 She slipped out of bed, threw a loose robe around her and knocked softly at his door. Hs was still dressed. lying on the couch, shading his eyes from the light. He had heard neither her knock nor her quiet entrance. For full moment she stood there be- fore he saw her. Then he rose quick ly.
 Why, Elizabeth, thought you were asleep"
 Mol" She started toward him. but he made no movement to meet her; his face reflected none of the tenderness that she felt was in her own. And in that second she realized what the past two months had done. the extent of the alienation it har brought.
 'I--thought perhaps you had some of those bromide tablets; my head has been aching"
 Why, yes, 1 think l have some. He got them for her. 'Is that all? Is there anything else l can do?'
 She shook her head No, this will put me to sleep"
 In her own room again, she crept into bed with miserable sense of failure and vague feeling of dread. Where was this enstrangement lead ing them? How would it end? It was nearly dawn when at last she slept.
 That morning he went to his office early. He did not come into her room until he was leaving; he was carry Ing his hat and coat He came up to the bed and kissed her quietly good by.
 She had wanted to put up her arms and draw him down beside her; to tell him good-by with all her old love and caresses. But she had not; she had lain very still, answering quietly that her head was better. A moment later she heard the click of the elevator down the hall. He had gone.
 The day dragged painfully. She felt alone and desolate. Even the shops failed to interest her. Once she started to telephone her husband, and then in quick fear had hung up the receiver. What was there to sayf
 When he came home that evening later than usual, she felt 1t was pur- posely to avoid their accustomed chat before dinner. He went immediately into his room to dress.
 In half an hour they were seated at their table in the cafe. They had reached the entree when the woman whose dress had been torn last night swept in and was seated by the head waiter at a table next to theirs. She saw the color in her husbands face deepen.
 And then-confused and embar- rassed by the sudden appearance of this woman, his hand hit against a slender dish of tartar sauce near the edge of the table and sent 1t splashing to the floor.
 In one agonized glance she saw the bespattered, ruined gown of the wom- an and the furious anger in her face. Then she bowed her head that she might not see the wretched mortified tion of her husband. She heard his pitiful attempts at an apology and felt the frozen silence of the woman. The waiter came up hurriedly, removed the broken dish and wiped up the floor.
 A scream-shrill, piercing-rang through the room! Another and still another-screams of agony and terror. People started to their feet. Through the swinging doors used by the wait CTS rushed figure enveloped in flames.
 Some one screamed "Fire!" Thsre was rush for the doors. Then above the din and confusion rose her hus- bands voice, clear and stern.