The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1909-01-14
routine and where small chance was

ing. That was the only simile she
could find.
In the far past Amy Leonard had
lived for the JOY Of living; afterward
she had lived for love; now she was
living always for the sweet little
child who made those tiny apartments
paradise. There was no other center
about which life might revolve. She
would have had no other.
Winter came. The cold was biting
after 50 long summer in quiet, hot
Greytown. Winter went: and there
"a tfpv faco ,-oo-:.-r ~ the first
flowers In the window-boxes.
! N,i.t ,.I,ur IA. Leonard
came home weary at heart and sat
alone hour by hour in that little fiat
! where paradise had been. She would
sit before a trunk, fondly handling the
tiny wardrobe. Night after night and
week upon week-but such things are
never measured by nights and days
and weeks. For many heart-beats she
lived there alone, going each morning
to her work and coming home each
night weary at heart. Then at last
the woman laughed sadly, as she had
done some time before, and saw the
folly of it all.
She never had written to Greytown;
she was lost to all her former friends.
She was glad of that. Some Of them
had said things, anyway. Very well.
I III.
Years came between, while Grey
town saw the hope of canal fade away
forever. Then the consul at last
was removed, and he came north. He
inquired everywhere, but 1T was all
useless. Yet he persisted calmly,
somehow determined and even con-
fident that he should win. He felt
that he must succeed; he must make
things right.
He walked the streets by night. He
could scarcely sleep. 1t never oc-
Cured to him that they might have
left the city. He felt sure that some
where in that vast camp of humanity
she was waiting.
Finally he found a clew. He hur-
ried to the office of the daily. She
had been gone so long that few re-
membered her. He obtained an old
address; and SO, step by step, in the
END ne d1Q succeed.
1t was twilight Rain had fallen all
day and the street lights blurred back
from the pavements. He approached
a three-storied residence In a section
once fashionable. long ago. At the
curb carriage was waiting, and as
Leonard turned to enter he saw a
large man with a forid face peer
through the window at him.
He rang nervously. A woman in a
long Japanese kimono opened the
door A soft light shone on great
masses of auburn hair.
Mrs. Leonardo" she repeated. star
ing at him and shaking her head.
Then an idea came to Leonard.
Amy Carter?" he queried, giving
her maiden name almost in whis-
per.
"Oh," said the girl in the kimono,
"Yes. Come in. She's going out,
though, think. I'll call her.
Leonard sat down on low divan
in the hallway. Presently soft rust
ling came through the shadows. The
next moment a woman in a. delicate
gray and heliotrope gown, with a pic
ture hat heavy with plumes and mists
Of heliotrope, stood before him In
the dim light He rose slowly, trem-
bling and fearful.
"Amy!" he said, softly, more In sur
prise than appeal.
With q low cry she stepped back.
one hand to her forehead.
"You-you?" she exclaimed.
He tried to take her hand, but she
drew it away.
81 have come for you-dear," he
murmured.
cit is too late now," she whispered.
Cant you forgive me?" he begged
The woman turned from him.
ct have forgiven you," she said,
slowly.
Then
Don't ask" she demanded, quickly.
'I have remembered you always, and
1 have cherished ideals faithfully;
but
She paused. Leonard clenched his
fists.
ST don't care, dear girl" he cried.
cit was my fault-all mine, every bit
of it. I love you. Can't you come
back to me, Amy? Even II you
don't"
81 do love you," she interrupted,
hoarsely. "It isn't that"
Again the man clenched his fists,
again muttered:
whatever may have happened is
my fault. We shall be happy, the
three of U.S.
"What?" she cried in a long, dry
whisper.
Where is the little one?" said
Leonard, tenderly, az he put his arm
about her.
Then with a low wall Amy Leonard
lay her head upon his breast and wept
long and long. so that the girl in the
kimono. peering over the banister,