The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-04

It's only nalr life, she told her
self, I'm SO tired of it all. wonder
where it will end. 4" Vaguely she
thought what relief it would be to know
that the end was near.
The crisis came Elba was at q re-
ception at one Of the ultra fashionables,
She was radiantly beautiful in point lace
and diamonds. The crush was terrible.
The glare Of the lights, the crash of the
music and scent Of the flowers, made
the unhappy woman faint and sick. Her
temples were throbbing, her eyes burn
ing She sought an opportunity to slip
away from the crowd and rest moment
in quiet corner where the lights were
more subdued. A dashing young fell
low, a darling of the gods, a pet Of
the four hundred, who had always pro-
fessed the greatest admiration for Elba
followed her to the retreat. His admir-
ntion had always been open, but Elba
had repulsed every attempt at expression,
in words, with naughty scorn, checking
every look or movement. Had he not
been under the influence Of wine he
would never have braved her anger and
intruded upon her solitude. Flushed with
wine in the glamour of her presence, away
from others, the dreamy waltz music,
softened by distance, pulsing in his brain,
mingling with the fumes of the wine,
prudence was ignored, passion leaped all
barriers. Laying his hand on her bare
white shoulder he poured forth tor
rent of sentiment that frightened the
listener into silence. She gazed at him
in horror, not even resenting his touch
on her bare flesh. The horror Of it all
paralyzed her speech.
He told her how long and hopelessly
be had loved her. How her cold indiffer-
ence tortured him. How it maddened
him to see the sacrifice she had made.
Her youth and beauty were intended for
something better. He begged her to go
with him to some distant cline and to-
gether they would be happy.
Far away and indistinct his words
sounded to the woman. All the blood in
her body seemed to have rushed to her
head, and was pounding against the
drums Of her ears. But reaction took
place. Gradually she came out of the
Btupor, speech returned, and she was
able to reply. That reply sobered the Of
fender. Inundated as he had never been
before, he retired from her presence. And
she7 With eyes opened to things as they
appeared to others, she despised herself
Groveling in the dust Of humiliation and
INSTRUMENTATION, she shrank from pub
lie gaze. Seeking her hostess, she made
her adieus, and left. The haunts will
which she was familiar knew her n,
more. Like the Arabs she folded he
tents, and quietly slipped away. Drop
ped completely out Of the old life. o
course there were regrets among he
friends, for many truly loved the beau
tiful woman, but in the mad rush TO
pleasure and gain, few had time tt
waste on any one, or any thing, save
their own. "And the world moved OF
just the same. =
/ ~ thought perhaps you needed me
and l knew that I needed you, = she sale
\ simply, when she stood in the presenc,
of her husband, in his far away home
in the rough mining district and say
his glad surprise.
The husband 8. heart leaped to tn
thought, that she had learned to care TO
him, and longed for his society. For brie
time he was happy in the thought, bu
he learned his mistake. The same frozel
gulf yawned between them. The knowl
edge made no difference in his treat
ment of the woman, so dear to him. HI
was the same loving husband. Never, b.
word or look did he intimate that wron,
had been done him. How could he Civ
expression to thought that had neve
had birth in his minds Had she no
honored him greatly by marrying him
tucu uoW COuu uo repay hSA saw y.
lavishing upon her his love and hi
money! He was never so happy as whe
she expressed wish calling for larg
sums. He often anticipated her wishes
or thought he did-the result was, Elb
was surfeited with valuable things tina
gave her no pleasure. At first he ha
attempted to express his affection j
: carcsses, repeated repulses taught hir
that they were distasteful, and he Dc
sisted. He worshiped at distance, an
in silence.
Rough and uncultured though he wal
his was not selfish love. He knew notf
ing of affinity or destinies. He neve
troubled his brain about metaphysics. H
only knew that this woman whom he ha
married, was dearer than life, and HI
one aim was to make her happy. AS th
. months went by he saw plainly this b
would never be able to do. She longe
for congenial companions. Then he urge
her to 60 back East and make her HON