Mexico Missouri message., 1908-06-04

tenderness that she felt was in her |
own. And In that second she realized |
what the past two months had done |
the extent of tho alienation II had |
brought.
'I--thought perhaps you had some |
OF those bromide tablets; my head has |
been aching"
why. yes. think have some"
lie got them for her rs that all? Is
there anything else can do?"
She shook her head. "No, this will
probably 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 Il end? II was
nearly dawn when at last she slept.
That morning he went to his ONCE
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.
The day dragged painfully. She felt
strangely 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 say?
When he came home that evening
later than usual, she felt II 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 entTee 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 WON.
an and the furious anger in her face.
Then she bowed her head that she
might not see the wretched mortiflcR'
ton of her husband. She heard his
pltiful 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-shrlll. 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.
ers rushed a figure enveloped In
flames.
Some one screamed Fire." There
was a rush for the doors. Then above
the din and confusion rose her hus'
bands voice. clear and stern.
stop! There is no fre! II there is.
you are perfectly safe-on the first
floor. Help me with this girl! Quick!
Rugs-coats-somethsng!"
There, In a far corner where he had
caught the girl. was her husband
alone, rolling her on the floor. his coat
around her.
With something like shame in their
faces for their instructive cowardce
two or three men now rushed to him
, with their coats. There were no rugs
and the strips OF carpet between the
tables we're fastened to the polished
floor.
But 1t was her husband. rnheedInR
] their useless efforts, who was sui
] beating the flames that clung to the
girl At last he had them smothered
And then, still unmindful OF his
/ | IL hos -,
husband carefully unwrapped the coats
B from the poor, blackened creature thai
: lay there. The people stood bacK
v watching him breathlessly. They
E seemed incapable Of action or speech
Some one whispered that il was {
. pantry girl who had overturned an al
: cohol lamp as she was placing Il un
] der n coffee urn.
A few moments later a doctor mad'
), his way through the crowd and ther
e two white-eoated ambulance attend
ants lifted the still unconscious cir
y on n stretcher and carried her out.
I The people were now crowdinl
!. around her husband. praising his cour
/. age and bravery and presence OF mind
G They pressed forward to shake hi
}. hand. and were hOTTifled to find tina
o his hands. his wrists, even his arms
> were burned.
n Some one touched Elizabeth on IN,
shoulder. She turned. II was tn,
/. woman who had sat opposite them
O Her eyes we're full OF tears.
i Il haven't the courage to speak d
{. your husband. but want to tell yol
r. how sorry am for my rudeness in
"a In ignoring his apologies. I'll am YER
,. sorry. wish you would tell hin
d that"
She was gone before Elizabeth. Il
d her embarrassment and agitation
n could find any words for a reply.