The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-02-27
IN BLUEBEARD'S
CHAMBER
BY TEMPLE BAILEY

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Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Every morning Ruth was walked by
the chimes on the college chapel. The
sound came family, for Ruth's home
was on the edge of the town, and the
college buildings were In the very
heart of it. But not once did the bells
fail her, and the seven clear strokes
always brought her to her window.
She knew that at that moment HUI
bert would open his eyes and think of
her. That was thc::.., first moment of
meeting for the Gay. In her heart she
said to him: Good morning." and
his heart answered her: Good morn
ing, sweet" Ruth always added:
God bless you," but she had never
told Hubert this. for it was feeling
too sacred for words.
She sometimes wondered If Hubert
had that feeling of sacredness about
their love. He was so light.hearted,
taking his college course easily, laugh,
ing at his successes, laughing at his
failures, laughing his way through life.
Ruth rarely laughed, and it was. per.
haps, the contrast OF her sweet sober.
ness that had attracted Hubert.
you are such a little Puritan" he
would say, as he walked beside her in
the hours stolen from his studies-a
strong, straight, noticeable figure in
his gray suit, with his uncovered hair
rufled by the wind.
Ruth felt that all the world must
worship him as she did. Some day he
would be great, she told herself. And
in her humility she wondered that
he had not chosen a more brilliant
woman for his wife.
Il know nothing of the world" she
told him one evening, as, in the spring
sunshine, they walked through the
fields.
well. I know enough for two" he
said, lightly. Il have seen lot If l
am only Is"
And then he talked to her of his
travels, his varied. picturesque expert
ences at home and abroad.
But there was one year about which
he said nothing.
Where were you when you were
g." she asked. Before that you were
working with your brother in that of.
fee in New York, and two years later
you went abroad, and then you came
here. But that one year you haven't
told me about"
A sudden shadow settled over his
face. "Oh, Fatima, Fatima," he
warned. don't try to penetrate into
Bluebeard's chamber!"
She smiled up at him. Silly" she
said, you know you haven't a secret
in the world"
But his gray eyes did not brighten.
What faith you have in me, Ruth"
he parted, and after that the subject
was dropped.
But Ruth found herself thinking of
it often. Why didn't he explain
Why? Why? Why? And gradually
the happiness of her love affair be.
came poisoned by doubts.
The confirmation of them came one
day near the end of the term. They
had wandered far out into the country.
They had gathered violets by the little
singing stream. They had looked into
each others eyes and had gloried in
youth and love. And then, all at
once, cloud had come, when Hubert,
reaching for his knife to cut a bunch
of dogwood fore her, exclaimed:
Where are my keys?" And as a
search did not reveal them, he said:
Il must go back at once"
"Oh, why" Ruth pleaded.
"They are in my desk, some one
might open it,
He could not conceal his deep
anxiety, and Ruth. with her heart
beating, asked: why should you
care"
on guard for the moment, he con-
fessed: My diary is in there. 1
would not have any one read it for the
world"
And then he LEFT her. almost forget.
ting to kiss her in his hurry.
In the weeks that followed, Ruth's
doubts grew. 1t seemed to her that
he laughed less often. That he brood
ed over something. That in some way
she was shut out from his inner life.
And when the end Of the college
year came, and he was leaving to be
away from her all summer, she chung
to him. You will find some one more
beautiful" she said, "out in the big
world. / am afraid. l am afraid"
"Hush," he said, with his big hands
on her shoulders, his eyes looking
deep into hers, for me there can
never be any other woman, Ruth"
He wrote very often, but in her
loneliness, she imagined many things
what of that lost year? Had there
been another girl? Oh, If she might
know!
1t was in August that he sent her
the key to his desk in the dormitory,
There were important papers which
he wished sent to him, and he could
trust no one else.
Ruth knew the superintendent's
wife, and access to the room was easy.