Arizona republican., 1909-07-26

 ments"
 sharp effort of will brought back her sefposses- sion; her exquisite apartments claimed her interest She knew that there had been only since of the pre- vous day in which to convert bachelor apartment into the dainty feminine boudor prepared for her. yet motif ing the place conveyed the slightest impression of raw newness. Her own things were laid out If she had but just quilted the
 Stella looked about her curously She passed on into the adjoining room. Her eyes examined tendery the homelike familiar things Here was school portrait of Gilbert and three other boys in rowing costumes; how chubby and jolly and serious the boyish faces looked! There a hunting pastel photograph of university eight, in the foreground of which she recos nized Gilbert Farther on there photograph of the launching of battlesip-Giberts work! Here al there were little things of her arranged that day by her mad amongst them scattered tri1es of his cups trophies ornaments. The place seemed hers al ready she felt no srangeness there and yet-how ab- solutcy it was hsi
 Again the bewldering rush of emotion swept throu her. She continued her slow inspection. Presently sh, came upon little alcove lighted by r1Ullioued dow, and there, though erthroned exquisite fraed photograph of herself taken the year before front of it, in way that suggested votive offering. She choked back sob The kind thoughttulness cf the man. displayed in every dctai touched her decP bert had always placed flowers there; subtle in stnct told her that he had He had said that hs thought of her had always been of hishis to love arI cherish-as he had sworn that very day 10 do, And now that she was his welded wife she lad sudderl be- come less his than ever before.
 quick, fierce jealousy of the girl in the picture rose suddenly within her. for the moment she filled with wild impulse to snatch up and fling it through t@e window.
 She called her maid.
 Morton" she said pointing to the photograph, IS that old gown among my thnes?"
 Yes miss-I mean madam"
 Stella flushed Make me look as much like that photograph as you can," she said" hair, gown, jewels-eyerything!
 Gilbert leaned back in his great eathern armchair holding his knee round morocco case stained with age and frayed about the edges. He looking at 1t medtativey when his ear caught rus:le behind him and he
 Stella was standing in the doorway and as Gi1berts eyes fell upon her he caught his breath quickly The girls cheeks rosy, her dark-gray eyes bright and there faint, halffrightened smile upon her mouth.
 portrait had stepped down from her frame
 Stella flushed and without answering took the chair which he drew for her Gilbert standing her el bow, opened the leather and took from 1t a rope These were my mothers" he said. "They are my wedding present to you. Will you thcm?"
 A flood of color swept into Stela's face Her eyes filled; she tried to speak, then turned away her head Gilbert stepped to her side, leaned down an1 oasped the lustrous jewels about her white neck His hand brushed the girls hair and tremor through her
 It is cold for you here said Gilbert, seating him self the other side of the hearth My habits are these of polar bear.
 am used to the cold" murmured Stella ike it" "l have ordered dinner at eight, Gilbert went on calmly Is not that too long for you to wal Wouldn't you like to have bite now? It IS not yet quite seven
  s.a-cd into the flames with humid eyes Ills thought fzress touched her but she found her mind going back consistently to the flowers in front of her photograph nd the desire to know if he had always kept them there Ihc wish for this knowledge became imperative.
 She turned 10 Gilbert; the warm. ruddy light of tdc ire reflected from Ter face and neck and shoulders Tell me" she sad. h have you always kept flowers in front of mv picture?"
 Gilbert looked embarrassed. Stella. watching iinI closely recognized the conscious, chubby-faced boy ot Yes" he answered e suppose you will think sentimental chump but I've got to think oi that pie Poor ideal!" said Stella, softly. Poor, dethroned lady of dream!"
 No" said Gilbert "she is not dehroned She still has my allegiance-and my faith Ill her
 "H How strange!" murnurcd Stella. She leaned for ward her chin resting closed hand staring into the fire The crimson light Fowed on her bare arms and cleaned in the depths of her half-cosed eyes Gil bert watched her closely It precisely thus that he had often pictured her-sitting in front of his fire %I see no.hing strange" he said in my having be- come attached to your picture There has been very has been all cold, hard, grinding work Every man has some softenng influence and that-was mine. e
 How odd." murmured Stella.
 "What IS odd }" That YOU should have been in love with that photo graph of when all the time was so hercey deter mined to hate you"
 Gilbert stared at her in astonishnent
 You amaze me-" he cried. Do you mean to say that it as bad as that? You poor little girl!
 " It my fault.
  brought us together. should have gone to you but did not because wanted first to succeed to have something offer you besides what other people had given me
 He took several short impatient steps. "What fooi I have been" he cried. remorsefully. And to think of my snug criticism of you yesterday! What fool you must think me-and justly
 Stella rose to her feet and turned to him with rad- ant smile But thought nothing of the kind she cried. You made feel ashamed of myselfl
 Gilbert stepped quickly to her side. Stella. he said, and thrill passed through the girl for the first time she heard her name upon her husbands lips. I have done my best to make awful mess of our happiness I have behaved like pig-headed school boy Will you forgive me dear?" He took her hand in his 2 Per haps r is better that should go away-and do penance, ard back time and try to win your heart Just as though this ceremony had taken place But before 20 I mean to tell you" his voice sank lower that have always loved you-but have never loved you as 1 love you now
 Stella looked up into his face
 "G:bert-" she whispered-"n my husband Oh. do you really love me?
 The answer was told her E the clasp of her husbands strong