Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-01-07
BACK FROM THE
BREAKERS
BY KENNETH coUGHLAN
Copyright, by Ford Pub. Coz

copyright, by Ford Pub. Coz
One week of feverish anxiety; and
now, the supreme moment arrived.
the lassitude of utter WEAKNESS and
oppression had fallen upon them.
Looking back upon their Eve short
years of married life all the bitter
nesses, the heart burnings, the jeal-
ousies, the pettinesses were forgotten
"a week ago none but these had been
remembered.
She was seated before the fire. one
foot resting lightly upon the high steel
fender, her gloved hands CROSSED nerv-
ously upon her lap, and her face hid
den from sight by the brim OF her hat.
from beneath which strayed q mass of
deep chestnut curls.
And are we not to meet again.
then?" he asked.
No" She gave one swift glance
up at his pale, set face, then cast her
eyes quickly down. 1T will be better
that the break should be-final."
He nodded mechanically at her de-
cision, and stood for some few min
utes looking down upon the bowed fig
ure, his arm resting upon the mantel.
Perhaps you are right" he said at
last, speaking very slowly and dis
tinctly, and it will be best, but-you
Will not mind what / am about to Ray.
will your"
How can mind-now?'
There was q slight catch in her
voice as she uttered the last word,
and she uncrossed her hands and be-
gan smoothing out the folds OF her
skirt.
Il am thinking" he said, that you
will be quite alone in the world, that
that you may have troubles and diff
hculties in which might be of some
assistance. l do not wish to interfere
with your course OF life. You will be
entirely your own mistress, but thsre
may arise a time
No such time can arise for me-"
she interrupted, a tinge of scorn in
her voice. The memory of the mast
five years will drive away any vain re-
grets l might experience, and l would
die thousand deaths sooner than
make a claim upon your-your kind
ness"
He WINGED beneath the lash of her
words, and a CLEAN of anger flashed
In his eyes; but he made no reply and
q silence again fell upon them. 1t was
growing dark.
What time does your train go?'' he
asked, suddenly, and she started at his
words, a great chill selling her heart
1T must be drawing near now"
Half past nine," she replied, wear
lily. Il must leave here in'-she drew
q tiny watch from her bosom and
looked at its face in the light of the
hre-''in 20 minutes"
Twenty minutes!"
There was dismay in his voice; but
abe did not seem to heed 1t.
1T will seem strange" she asked.
will 1t not-here alone?"
"Yes-very. And you"
oh, you must not think of me. II
l am to be out of your life now, ~
Again there was the catch in her
voice; but she controlled herself with
an effort and busted herself in unbut-
toning and rebuttoning one Of her
gloves.
He moved from the fire, and walked
once or twice. restlessly, the length of
the room; then he took up his old DO
sition and stood looking down upon
her
DO you not think it would be better
IL you were to watt until the morn
ing?" he asked, gently. at is late.
and 1T will be nearly midnight when
you reach town"
She shook her head.
1T will be best not to alter our
plans. We must part some time. and
the sooner it is over the better"
She consulted her watch again.
Ten minutes and / must be going"
she murmured. How soon 1t has
come! A week ago, and there seemed
an age before us-looking back, our
decision seems not an hour old"
You will write, will you not, and
tell me Of your safe arrival?"
Yes, will do that, promise you:
and then"
There was no need for words. He
understood that that was to be the last
communication to pass between them.
The minutes sped by in unbroken
silence, until, with start, she rose to
her feet.
Il must go now. or shall lose the
train. Good-byl"
She held but trembling hand to
him, and in another moment was gone.
The months sped on, but beyond the |
promised letter to announce her ar
rival In town no word reached him.
As tried. no one but himself knew