The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-23
Continued From Page Two)

could not face it now. With a quick
movement she thrust the paper behind
the couch and threw herself down as
though asleep.
The door opened. There was q
moments pause, then the gentle clo-
sing OF the door and a careful tiptoe-
ing across the room-the ponderous
uptoeing of a heavy man. Another
pause. then a moving OF things on the
mantel. search. for cigars and
matches, more tiptoeing and the
creaking OF q chair And now she
listened with curious expectancy for
the striking of . match. But the ST.
lence was profound.
She looked up through halfclosed
lids. He was patiently holding the
cigar, fearing to light it lest he waken
her. The heavy. forid face. the awk-
ward set of the shoulders. the great,
ungainly igure-she closed her eyes
with a sickening sense of faintness
II had all come back. That one swift
glance had brought it all back-all the
old impotence. the old intolerance,
the old disdain. With all her strength
she fought 1t. struggled fiercely against
1t. She tried to think of the things she
had thought OF az she knelt by the
chair-hiS kindness. his patience, his
never-failing tenderness. She tried to
fee! again the pity and remorse she
had felt then. She dashed herself with
reproaches and accusations. But even
as she did it she knew 1t to be hope
less.
She sat up quickly-an involuntary
movement. a physical protest at the
intolerable pain OF her thoughts.
And then her eyes fell on her hus-
band. He was asleep-his head
thrown back against the chair, his
mouth half-open. and an expression
almost of idiocy upon his face. She
had never seen him look like that
not quite 80 repulsive at that. No
no-not loathing! She had never
loathed hint had only been dis
dain-not loathing. Oh, no-no-he
must not look like that! She put her
hands before her eyes. John! John!"
1t was almost a shrek.
lie started up. Why. my dear, what
1t is?''
"Oh-I-I had such a frightful
dream. and l awoke and saw you
there was SO frightened! l thought
you were going to Albany"
Dear, you had better lie down
again. you are trembling so"
He came over by her and stroked
her hand awkwardly. She drew 1t
away, as though to arrange the pillow
at her back.
Don't you want this other pillow"
She shook her head.
No, didn't go to Albany, we were
very busy at the ONCE, and fortunately
put 1t of. The 2:30 train, the one l
would have taken, was wrecked Just
40 miles out"
wrecked" she repeated 1t DULY.
"Yes-a horrible wreck. / was
afraid you would see the extra and be
frightened, 50 tried to telephone you
that l hadn't gone, but could get no
answer. You must have been asleep"
"Yes-I must have been asleep"
He took g 2aosr from his pocket and
began reading her the headlines. Could
she ever forget thsm-those head
lines? The corners of her mouth
twitched as she thought how glibly
she could repeat them and how aston.
ished he would be If she should.
He laid the paper aside. 1T was q
horrible wreck-the worst that road
has ever had"
"Yes-it was horrible"
Il am glad you were asleep and did
not see the extra. You might have
been worried"
She smiled family, her eyes on the
torn braid Of the chair.
Yes. might have been worried"