Morris tribune., 1909-11-19

very slowly, not raising his eyes from
the fire. "She wants divorce, of
course l don't blame her. l can't.
I've been dog, Tom"
/ didn't say anything The silence
made me uncomfortable. Presently he
spoke again -.sa.--. .ss.
Il thought had got used to living
without her and that l wouldn't mind.
But a man can't always tell. After ALL
it's pretty hard when it comes to. the
showdown. But l wish she'd had the
papers served yesterday or had waited
until tomorrow He leaned forward,
resting his elbows ON his, knees. "This
is our wedding anniversary, Tom"
understood Jack Marryatt well
enough to know he'd kick me out of
the room if expressed any sympathy.
He didn't want pity. He wanted some
one to listen while he cursed himself
for strong headed, stubborn brute.
He was partly right, but didn't be-
Keve he was altogether at fault.
didn't tell him so; he would have
Knocked me down.
So / dressed, and we Lit our pipes,
and l listened while he talked of her.
No Hover ever spoke more reverently.
efSa woman than he did Of Amy.
listened 1t was his heart I heard
his big. honest, throbbing, bruised
heart. And as he spoke I saw where
the little thread had crept in-the lit
tie thread of discord that had grown
to a cable and pulled them apart Jack
was proud, and so was Amy, poor girl
foo proud to see and to understand
that, after all, it was only rope of
sand. SIS.
When at last he ceased gazed out
THE window at the moonlight falling
upon the spires and domes and roofs
Of San Francisco. Here and there
lights flickered in the windows. Be-
low in the street occasionally footsteps
passed, a touring car swept by, or d
hack from which came voices and
: laughter
Presently there drifted to us from
an all night restaurant confusion Of
sounds which gradually blended. bear
ing to us the melody of Home. Sweet
Home" For a moment Jack listened;
then he closed the window and re-
suned his seat with sigh From
affair off, on the still air. came the
deep tone of bell striking the hour
enc, two, three, four, five. l started
and looked at Jack. 1t was morning
and it had not seemed an hour! He
uSsS1 boz tn WIN do nd cfnnI
his hands behind him, the waning
moonlight fringing his hair with pale
silver. -y,,.t es- .-r-s.---.-
LIDO not know how long he stood
there. My pipe had gone out The
ashes in the crate were dull and life
less A wicked silence seemed to lay
everything
Suddenly heard sound as of rush
fng wind and listened, then got to my
feet. only to reel and cling to my chair
The walls trembled and creaked; the
,foar rose and fell, a surging sea. The
building shivered and groaned like
wounded animals Old man Fear
Knocked at the door. Something caught
me up and tossed me In the air, and
Il feH-down, down, down! Again
was picked up and whirled around,
once, twice, then dashed against the
wall was dizzy. My head ached;
my veins seemed bursting. ! grabbed
nry f,reath with both hands and held
on.
The earth was roaring. 1t ratified
the bones in nay body. The sky sung
to it. / could feel the humlning in my
feet. Every hair of my head, every
nerve, every fiber of me, was vibrat-
ing million times a second. 1 was
numb, tortured, delirious with fever,
shaking with chill.
l saw Jack at intervals. In that
awful first instant he had extinguished
the gas, but the moon and the dawn
shone dimly, in which his face half
showed Here and there the shadows
shifted, rose and fell-waye shadows.
From above, from below, from. every