The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-03-20

to live for his sake For his sAhs-
the words sou unded wonderfully sweet
to my ears. and when he held my hand
in both his own and whispered that
he would never leave me again. be
gan to feel a desire to get well.
He kept his word. too. but this sum
mer he came to me and told me that
the sea was calling him. and he must
go. He suggested that l come with
him up here. where he could have his
boat and come home to me at night
but he would not bring the boy. and it
broke my heart to leave him. Now
Won know why l hate the ocean-my
enemy"
Il understand" said. and thought
! did realize little how distressing il
must be to her to be SO near il.
Yes" she said Il came here glad
ly, because he asked it. although I
hate the air and the very sight Of the
ocean. But to-day l found something
else. l was mending his coat. trying
to keep myself occupied and not think
too much for he went out day before
yesterday and | have not seen him
since
Yes" l said. for she paused un.
certainly.
1t is not the ocean" she said. brok-
emily. That was but an excuse 1t IL
a woman"
She thrust her hand into the bosom
OF her dress. and instinctively | knew
she would bring forth small package
wrapped in white tissue paper. She
opened it. and l saw the blue ribbon
and the little soft curl with strange
sense Of familiarity. She put her I'm
ger under the lock of hair. as Eliza
beth had done. and looked at me with
speechless misery.
Perhaps" l suggested, there Is
some mistake"
1T is pretty. is it not," she said.
"A little. soft ring Of yellow hair!
Yet when l saw it and-realiZed, my
heart stopped beating. and remember
nothing more until saw you"
She was talking calmly now-too
calmly. thought, as l looked at her
feverishly bright eyes. The hand
which touched mine occasionally was
hot and dry. and a round red spot In
ellHeF CHeth SioWeu anu pdieu inter
mittently.
Il am glad didn't know" she con
tinued; there are some things one
cannot forgive, and 1 might have
spoken bitterly. Now ! can always re-
member that l never said a harsh
word to him. even when was most
soreiy tried. I'm glad Of that-very
glad"
She spoke in the tone OF quiet rem
iniscence in which one reviews ones
past attitude to the dead. after the
first poignancy OF grief is over.
But he will come back" said
Think how many times he has left
you before
He will not come back"
The fnality OF her voice precluded
a reply. and after q long silence
suggested that she lie down and try
to sleep, and l would do likewise. She
agreed docilely enough. and l threw
myself upon the bed beside her. and
l slept heavily. for l was very tired.
but It seemed scarcely = moment un til
heard her call me.
YES" cried. alarmed: what
is it,"
Mrs Graham. fully dressed and
with a lighted candle in her hand.
stood beside the bed, q shawl around
her shoulders and another over her
arm.
Il am going out" she said. Come :"
Going out?" l repeated, parrot-like.
being still dazed with sleep.
Going down to the edge Of the va,
ter to meet him. 1t is calling me-at
last the ocean calls me. and I'm going.
Will you Gomez"
Wait until morning; We can see
nothing In the dark"
1T Is dawn" she replied, raising the
shade. AT last the night has gone"
on at the edge OF the horizon was
a broad streak Of pale gray. and. while
the stars still shone. they were fading
fast.
CrO BE CONTINUED)