The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-07-28

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 had
brought.
Thought perhaps you had some
of those bromide tablets; my head has
been aching"
why, yes, l think l have some,
He got them for her. is that all? Is
there anything else | can dor
She shook her head. mo, this will
probably put me to sleep"
In her own room again, she crept
into bed with a miserable sense OF
failure and a vague feeling of dread.
Where was this enstrangement lead
ing them? How would it end? 1t 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.
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 it 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 table next to theirs. She
saw the color in her husbands face
| deepen.
And then-confused and embar-
raised by the sudden appearance of
this woman, his hand hit against
slender dish of tartar sauce near the
edge of the table and sent it splashing
to the floor.
In one agonized glance she saw the
despatched, 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 mortifica-
ton 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
ers rushed a figure enveloped in
flames.
Some one screamed "Ffre!" 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 fire! If there is.
you are perfectly safe-on the first
floor. Help me with this girl! Quick!
Rugs-coats-s
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 cowardice,
two or three men now rushed to him
with their coats. There were no rugs
and the strips of carpet between the
tables were fastened to the polished
floor.
But it was her husband, unheeding
their useless efforts, who was still
beating the flames that chung to the
girl. AT last he had them smothered.
And then, still unmindful of his
hands that were cruelty burned, her
husband carefully unwrapped the coats
from the poor, blackened creature that
lay there. The people stood back,
watching him breathlessly They
seemed incapable of action or speech.
Some one whispered that it was a
. pantry girl who had overturned an al
cohol lamp as she was placing it un.
der coffee urn.
A few moments later a doctor made
his way through the crowd and then
J two white-coated ambulance attend
ants lifted the still unconscious girl
: on a stretcher and carried her out.
The people were now crowding
around her husband, praising his cour
age and bravery and presence of mind
, They pressed forward to shake his
hand, and were Mortified to find thai
, his hands, his wrists, even his arms
: were burned.
/ Some one touched Elizabeth on the
shoulder. She turned. 1t was the
: woman who had sat opposite them
E Her eyes were full of tears.
t II haven't the courage to speak t.
. your husband, but l want to tell yol
r how sorry 1 am for my rudeness in
S in ignoring his apologies. IL am yer,
; sorry. wish you would tell hin
4 that"
She was gone before Elizabeth. ii
s her embarrassment and agitation
q could find any words for reply.
d Later, in their own rooms, after tn
l. doctor had left, and he lay on tn
couch with helpless, bandaged hands
\ Elizabeth came over and knelt be
d side him. For a while neither spoke
|, then he realized that she was sobbin
S quietly.
II Elizabeth, what is it, dear?"
She made no answer, only crer
p closer to him.