The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-13

scious. So wanly near was ne TO his
last hours, and so aware of it, that be
accepted James appearance without the
conventiOnality Of surprise OF comment.
Presently, in tribute to her charm Of
| plying youth, he smiled. The smile
was evanescent and rarely beautiful,
filling James heart with sudden rus h
of love as if she had known him all
her life.
"Alone?" she ventured softly.
Always" he answered. Whispering
hoarsely.
do you want to ben continued Jane.
not wishing to force her presence.
shadow of protest darkened his
gray face
Who dOes?" he murmured hopeless
ly.
Wait minute" said Jane
She went back into her own room
and possessed herself of her sewing
bag, her gaudy spangles and her tunic.
Then she reappeared at the sick mans
bedside and seated herself 10 work DC.
casiCnally she would stop TO offer some
trifltng ministry, shifting a clock which
licked too nOisily near, putting q shade
10 the light so that its rays did not
strike his eyes. Constantly, she threw
him friendly glance, a. mute invitation
for him TO claim any service he might
desire Always, when he had the
strength, he met this glance with his
winning smile. which came and went
with the elusive charm of heard
music
Under the security Of her presence. he
seemed to lose some Of the dread which
mad been his lonely portion; he relaxed
his position and lay more easily, and
into his sUnken eyes. 50 lately full of
fear. there crept gentler intelligence.
Was he better? Jane wondered.
How about a little soup? milk
whisky?' she suggested. but he de-
clined everything.
Wine - said Jane. domineering a lit
tie in her dismay. as she sighted a bot
tie on the stand. She forced a few
drops between his lips In thanks he
smiled again. That wOndOrOus, haunt
ing smile, Jane put her hand clutch
ingly to her Borrowing heart and caught
her breath. Was there no woman in
all this big world to whom the lowell
ness of that smile belonged, and whose
rightful PLACE was here?
Knowing that useless emotion Is as
hurtful as it is selfish, Jane conquered
herself, and persistenUy sewed spangles
Once she lifted her glittering tunic and
showed her industry
Are you an aCtress?" he murmured
Well said Jane honestly, II have
heard doubts"
Il knew you were"
Howe"
Because you are kind. They are
brothers and sisters when one is in
trouble"
How about the Merry Merry who
abandoned you here?" flashed Jane.
What else could they do?"
What else fudeed9 lane admitted
that he was right. Whoever drops out
in one town, the curtain must go up
in the next
The night advanced. In the town. the
cable cars stopped running, their sud
den silence Earring the ears like a
sound; but the streets kept noisy with
the carriages of late jewellers. and &C.
casionally the hotel corridors woke to
the tread Of returning dissipaters,
whose low laughter occasionally rang
out
In the room OF illness there was prog
ress. too, for the gray presence came
pack, and took haunting possession Of
the mans eyes.
rs there no one belonging 10 you?"
cried Jane suddenly, out Of her
thoughts
mo one. No one-belongs to me
but II belong-tO some one"
With his faint. appealing smile. he
drew with difficulty a picture from be-
meath his pillow.
who is it," asked Jane gently.
Who was it," he corrected. 1T was
my-wffe."
He showed the face.
Nance" cried Jane
You know hero
Yes Why-T-oh. wait"
Not daring TO raise any hopes which
might prove false. Jane left the room
without explaining herself.
on wings Of hone and fear she flew