The San Francisco call., 1909-03-07

Her brows contracted
THAT is what hurts For myself don't care, but
it is hard to have to give him up | have distant
cousin, the wife of poor clergyman who will be glad
of the extra money that l pay her for Donads
board can trust him to her She is Conscientious
a devoted mother to her children and she will
make room in her heart for my poor baby"
She sat erect with no outward sign of emotion save
for swift intake of her breath, but felt impelled
to lay aside my work and put my arms around her
She placed her two hands my shoulders and pushed
gently but firmly away, and l. not knowing what
else to do, resumed my seat and became intent upon
selecting the right shade of floss for my embroidery
Perhaps it because had displayed curiosity
or it may be that my caress, though not accept
able, had given the impetus to her eengs but, what
ever the cause, presently she appeared less un-
approachable, and when she spoke there in her
tone the warmth that we keep only for our friends
Miss Hardic,' she said, there are greater griefs
in the world than those that death brings to We
can see those love go down into the grave, and
yet not be altogether comforess. But when we lose
faith in nearest and dearest, then indeed do we
sorrow without hope
She paused, and that interval of silence was more
eloquent than any cry of distress 1t lifted her from
the plains thronged with ordinary mankind and set
her up on lonely peak of suffering. Only one who
had drained her cup of pain could say the word that
would seothe. What it was that tortured her ] did
not know but there is language OF the SOUL and it
told me that was face to face with racked spirit
The moment passed, and she went on, steadily:
II try to bear my own troubles without burdening
others with them, but / have come to stone wall
and need to be helped it. feel that l may
count on you Miss Harde, and so, unless you stop
me, ! going to tell you first what soon all the
world will know, that which is worrying me beyond
endurance"
| expressed my sincere desire to be of use to her
in any and every way, and she rewarded me with a
faint smile
Before the subject becomes common property.
Miss Hardie. want to have my plans made SO that
after the talk has died away may drop completely
out of sight | suppose you have surmised what
have just broadly hnted at-my husband has deserted
met"
Mrs. Worthing!p
YES, that is what it amounts to. For more than
two weeks have had no word from him. and so long
silence must be deliberate In these modern times
men are not swallowed up without their own votion.
have neither seen him nor heard from him since the
night before Donald was taken ILL.,"
Why. Mrs. Worthingl You have had telegram
every morning.
Il sent each one kept hoping that he would re-
turn and could make satisfactory explanation.
My friends think him away on business. His partners
think him south vacation He to go to Los
Angeles the next day He is due the Office on
Monday and then his firm and every one else will
have to know the truth have tried to account for
his disappearance, have given him the benefit of every
doubt, but am now convinced that his prolonged
absence is entirely voluntary, and therefore mex
cusable'
looked at Mrs. Worthing she sat there in her
proud young beauty. 1t did not seem possible that
any man whom she had honored with her love could
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