The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-16

Morton" he said to the maid as the butler SWING
open the heavy door show Mrs. Cromwell to her apart
y sharp effort of will brought back her scf-oo.ss.
SION; her exquisite apartments claimed her interest She
knew that there had been only since noon of the nre
Eous day IN which to convert bachelor apartment into
the dainty feminine boudor prepared for her vet moth
ing IN the place conveyed the slightest impression of raw
IeWess. her own things were laid out if she had
but Just quilted the rooms.
Stella looked about her curiousy She passed on into
INC adjoining room Her eyes examined tenderly the
homcke, familiar things. Here was A school portrait
of Gilbert and three other boys in rowing costumes
how chubby and jolly and serious the boyish faces
looked There was hunting pastel photograph Of a
university eight IN the foreground of which She rccog-
nzed Gilbert Farther there was a photograph OF
the launching OF battlcship-Gibers work Here and
there were little things Of her arranged that day by
her maid, amongst them scattered trifes of his
cups, trophies, ornaments. The place seemed hers al
ready She ie no StranGeness there, and yc-how ab-
Again the bewderng rush of emotion swept through
her She continued her slow inspection Presently she
upon little acovc lighted by mulIioned win
dow, and there, though enthroncd was an eoustely
framed photograph Of herself taken the year before In
front of it, in way that suggested votivc offering
stood of roses.
She choked back sob The kind thoughtfulness Of
the man, displayed in every detail, touched her deeply
She looked again at her picture and wondered If Gil
bert had always placed flowers there; some subtle in
stnc told her that he had He had said that his thought
OF her had always been as OF hs-bis to love and
chcrisl-aS he had sworn that very day dol And
that she was his welded wife she had suddenly be-
come less his than ever before
quick fierce jealousy of the girl in the picture rose
suddenly within her. the moment she was filled with
wild impulse to snatch 1t up and fling it through the
window.
She called her maid
Morton, she said, pointing to, the photograph, "is
that old gown among my things1"
Yes, miss-I mean, madam"
Stella flushed
Make look as much like that photograph as you
can she said" hair, gown, jcwes-evcrything!
Gilbert leaned bacl, in his great leathcrn armchair.
holding on his knee round morocco stained with
age and frayed about the edges He was looking at it
meditabyely when his car caught rustic behind him
Stella was standing in the doorway, and as Gilbcrts
eyes fell upon her he caught his breath quickly The
girls checks rosy her darl-gray eyes bright
and there was FAINT, half-fnshtened smile upon her
You startled me" said Gilbert "I thought that my
portrait had stepped down from her frame"
Stella flushed and without answering took the chair
which he drew out for her Gilbert standing her e-
bow, opened the leather case and took from 1t rope
These were my mothers" he said They are my
wedding present to you VIII you wear them?
a flood of color swept into Sela's face Her eyes
filed she tried to speak then turned away her head
Gilbert stepped to her side, leaned down and caSped
the lustrous jewels about her white neck His hand
b-ushcd the ers hair, and tremor ran through her
II is cold for you here, said Gilbert seating him
self on the other side OF the hearth My habits
Il am used to the cold" murmurcd Stella "I Ike it"
Il have ordered dinner at eight Gilbert went on
calmly Is that too long for you to wait? Wouldn't
you Ike to have bite now? 1t is not yet quite seven
Il am not hungry, thank you, Stella answered. She
stared into the flames with humid eyes His thought
funess touched her but she found Der mind going back
pesstenty TO the flowers in front Of her photograph
and the desire know if he had always kept them there
The wish for this knowledge beoame1mperatlve.
She turned to Gilbert; the warm, ruddy light Of the
fire was reflected from her face and neck and shoulders
Tell me-" she said, have you always kept flowers
Gilbert looked embarrassed Stella. watching him
closely recognized the conscious, chubbyfaced boy OF
"Yes." he answered "I suppose you will think
sentimental chump, but I've got TO think Of that pic
Poor ideal said Stella, softly. Poor, dethroned
lady Of dream!" m
No" said Gilbert "s she is not dehGoned She still
has my alegianoe-and my faith in her
How stfangel" murmured Stella. She leaned for
ward her chin resting closed hand staring into
the FIRE The crimson light gowed on her bare arms
and cleaned in the depths of her halfcoSed eyes Oil
bert watched her closely 1t precisely thus that he
had so often pictured hcr-Sittng in front OF his hre
SI see nothing strange" he said in my having be-
come attached to your picture. There has been very
has been ali cold hard grinding work Every man has
some softening influence and that-was mine
How odd murmuTed Stella
That YOU should have been in love with that photo
graph OF me- when all the time was so hcrcey deter
mined TO hate youi
Gilbert stared at her in astonishment
you amaze me! he cried. Do you mean to say
that it was as bad as that? You poor little girl!
1T was nothing of the sort They should have
brought US together should have gone 10 See - Io
Something to offer you besides what other people had
given me-. our. ft
have beenl" he cried remorsefuly " And to think
of my SNUG criticism of you yesterday What 1901
YOU must think me-and JUSTLY -. ,
Stella rose TO her feet and turned to him with fao
ant smile But thought nothing OF the yi1 KIND she
cried You made INC feel ashamed OF myself ,
Gilbert stepped quickly to her side Stella, he SAID
and thrill passed through the gF as o[ n1 the h!i 5.Te 5e
have behaved ike pig-headed school boy! Will you
forgive me- dear" He took her hand IN his ret
baps is better that should so away-and do penancc
and come back time and Try to WIN your henr uSI as
though this had taken ,P DaIS Swl gu!
have always loved you-bu | have never loved you a.
love you nowl
%GiibeTt~S she whispered" my husband Oh do
The answer was told her the clasp OF her husbands
rArn