The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-26


can help you 10 more. Believe mA that
10 the hardest thing yet I can help
you no more! Ny husban0-you IN
derstand? No. you need not under.
stand. woman - bound hack and
across by q thousand threada. which
do not always show to the eye. I may
yet keep my husband from throwing
you over. but that Is NO matter. The
truth 10 count no longer % yoo- II
the world had been other than e -.
my friend. should have been by you.
side. lighting Il out daily foe you. With
you. As II is
She threw up her arms IN q gesture
OF disgust and remained silent brood
ing. 1t was not necessary to complete
the worda Nor could speak Some
thing very wonderful and precious was
passing before my eyes for the last
time. something that had been near
was floating on. would never come
back And life was % made that &c
was vain, useless. to try to hold Il. to
cry out to do anything except 10 BE-
still and feel the loss. My hands fell
beside hers upon the polished surface
Of the desk. and We sat looking into
one another's eyes without fear. She
was feeling what I Was feeling, but
she was looking deeper into fate than
I could look. for she was wiser ~ q
woman than I was N q man. We
were the two In the world most near.
and between Us there was q gulf that
could not be crossed. The years that
are to come. my heart said to me then.
will be longer than those that have
passed.
Listen" she whispered a. though
she were reading my thoughts. I'VE
shall never need more than this. As
member. Nothing more than this. foe
I should be u hindrance. then. not .
help. And that would be the end Of
me. indeed. You have your viii TO
work. which IL more than any woman
could give you. And have the
thought Of you. Now must 90 away
again. We have to live that way. IL
makes no difference. You and think
the same thoughts I'm the same way.
What separation does . little distance
put between you and me? ] shall fol-
low after you step by step. and when
you have mounted to the broad level
that comes after accomplishment you
will be glad that II has been a say.
not different. 1t Is I that must leus.
for you need no woman to comfort and
love you"
1t was finished, and We sat In the
deepening twilight beyond words The
truth OF what she had spoken nlled my
mind. There was nothing else for u
two but what we had had We had
come to the top Of ourselves to know
this. to look 1t In the face and to pot II
aside.
The twilight silence was broken
sharp In two by . cry that rang across
the room. We started from our dream
together and looked around. Sarah
was stapding midway In the long
room. stendying herself by . hand
reached out to q chair. I ran to hold
her from falling. She grasped my arm
and walked on unstesdily toward
Jane.
81 knew 1t! I knew II always.' she
cried harshly. "You tortuous woman-
you are taking him from me! You did
II from the 6rst day! How ! hate
your
She dropped into q chair and sobbed.
Jane knelt down by her side and.
| grasping her hands. spoke TO her In
low. pleading words:
mo. child; you are wrong! You
wrong him. He 10 not such q man.
There Is no truth In your cruel words"
Eyes. you have made him do dishon-
orable things. He has acted - his own
| family have left him. I know II ID
your she sobbed. HE has done what
you would have him do"
| "Child. childv' Jane exclaimed Inn
patiently. shaking gently the hands
she held. what do you mean BY say
ing such thinG7'
Hasn't be done all those bad things?
| he never denied II. not when he was
| accused In church before every one.
And May said 1t was true"
She looked resentfully at Jane
through her tearsL The older woman
still smiled At her and stroked her
hands.
But even II II were true you mustn't
take the part Of his accusers! That
isn't for q woman who loves him 10 do.
You must trust him to the end
Sarah looked at her and then At me.
She pushed Jane from her quickly.
| Don't you defend him to me! You
have stolen him! He loves you. saw
It once before. and zee Il on your
] face now. know it,
Conner I said. taking Sarah By the
arm and leading her away. You don't
know what you say"
Yes. I do! You treat me IKE Q
child. Van! Why did Jon have to take
him7' she turned and famed out to
Jane. You have always had every.
thing"
Have I had everything7' the othes
woman questioned slowly, quietly. %
II musing to herself Everything!
Do you know all. child? Let me tell
you one thing. Once had q ehild-s
son. One child. And he was born
blind. He lived four montha- Those
were the only months I think I have
ever lived. Do you think that have
had all the joyT
She was stirred At last. passionate.
ironic, and Sarah looked at her viii
wondering surprise. with ave.
you grud9e me the three - foul
hours your husband has given me oul
Of the ten years you have lived With