The bee., 1908-04-23
THE YEARS
BETWEEN
(copyright, by Daily Story Pub. COB
ny Ersohol Reoords

the coy room. Alice Chandler sat
gazing into its depths. battling with
a vague unrest and discomfort at
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. III there
Is hope for me. just a word from you
and I shall come" he had said; but
II not, would spare you the pain
such an answer would infiict on
your gentle heart. n 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 misslve to
her father, as he started to his ONCE
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 word OF explana
ton or farewell, she summoned all
the pride of her nature to meet the
curious, wellmeaning questions OF
friends. And II was a 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 emotl
ness OF the years since he had gone,
abe 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
tear-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.
entity, 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 II was
showing more respect to her precious
dead to give those garments where
they would bring warmth and comfort
than to hoard them selhshly.
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 fSvorite
pocket knife, the woAder of her child.
hood days; the knife that had fash.
toned many q wondrous toy. Again
rho came upon the worn purse which
had always responded so generously
70 the growing demands OF girlhood
and young womanhood. So the pile
Of treasures grew; a memorandum
book, letters, business and friendly;
little things which revealed the per
sonality of the man.
At length. in q neglected corner Of
the closet she lifted from Its peg a
faded coat which she viewed with
some surprise. With diniculty she
recalled IL. He had not worn 1t for
years She remembered now the
day, years ago. when he had come In
shiverlnE 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
40 distinctly. l remember II was the
very day / sent that note TO Paul"
With a strange premonition In her
heart she began TO search feyerishly
through pocket after pocket; and Al
last she found. Just a. 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 q
minutes suffering for worlds"
Gradually her course became clear
20 her. "In fairness to both of US. he
should have that which is his" she
thought She Enclosed the note with
out a word of explanation, and for
warded II TO him. II 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 should
know the meaning Of peace, though
II were the peace of broken heart.
Again. Alice Chandler sat before the
CRATE, while the flames darted and
played cheerfully, casting grotesque
hgures IN the gathering twilight.
Not "a hours had passed since she
sent the message, and she was mus
ing. halfbitterly. at the folly which
........ntad har IN do n