The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-02-17
PAID IN FULL
John w. Harding
Copyright. 1908. BY G. W DiIlins-
ham Co.

@Ioiu HtI bt btCdtue lSitScultu-
He had had little difficulty IN pro
curing work, thanks to Captain vii
liams note accepting his resignation
and soon was established as assistant
to the receiving teller in a bank with
a salary of SIS week. With this and
the money already in his possession
he deemed himself rich, and his fitful
optimism obtained the ascendency one.
more in its usual extravagant form
But his escape from arrest had been a
lesson that had sunk In deeply. lie
vowed never again under any circum-
stances TO borrow" from the funds
he handled in the course of his duties
He eschewed horse racing also. know
ing that If the bank officials became
aware that he was gambling he would
lose his place that very instant.
After awhile his fellow employees
noticed that Brooks. the spry. genial
Brooks, who had won the good will of
everybody. as he had In the general
Office Of the Latin-American Steam
ship company, manifested tendency
toward moroseness; that his face al
times assumed an expression Of mel
ancholy. Despite his love Of self. he
was OF those natures which do not
thrive In solitude.
He never had cared much for the
companionship Of men. His inclina-
ton always had been toward thar Of
the opposite sex. Accustomed also as
be had been for so long to the conso-
lations OF home life, 10 the thoughtful
affectionate ministrations and bright
presence OF Emma. he was bound
sooner or later TO miss her.
There's nothing In this living alone"
The avowal came one night after be
had spent an evening Mt the theater
with two sociable fellow clerks and
be gazed around his silent, cherries
bedroom Although he had not at any
time loved Emma with that ineffable
passion which Is the golden ladder
upon which the soul mounts 10 heaven.
yet she had filed larger place In his
heart than he had ever had any com.
plete idea of prior 10 her absence. His
sentiment, fostered by his seltishness.
revived with violence under his intro
spection. He yearned for Emma's
smile Of greeting and the kiss that ac-
companied II at his Homecoming, fol-
the numberless sweet attentions she
had lavished upon him.
How pretty she was. how gentle
How sweetly she had put up with his
III humor, She was different from any
Of the girls and women be had eve
been acquainted with. He was sorry
be had sent the photograph. not alone
because he felt that be had made
gratuitously a false move. bur because
be wished he had kept IL for himself
There was nor one personal object re-
mining that had belonged 20 her. The
little ornaments she had liked. her
clothes. the trinkeis she had left b..
hind. be had disposed Of in his haste
TO get rid Of everything that could re-
call her or 10 which she might lay
claim.
lie wondered II she. too. was sorry
for their separation. She must b..
How could she live under the eternal
nagging and fault finding OF her moth
er and the iording procIivities Of fsetL
and not long TO return TO the lnde.
pendence Of her own homer
She had loved him. His memory
evoked the distant vision Of her frali.
1.-THE form c.inging TO him ms she gazed
up into his eyes. her own agIow with
the glory Of her alteration aud It's a..
lirious intensity. lie felt the blIssful
pulsaiions rf her heart throbblng
against him. It's paean Of passion
he heard. too. In fancy the red lips
murmur her SOULS ecstasy 90 words OF
flame and beauty. felt the thrill that
shivered through him ms his fingers
threaded caressingIy the shimmerine
cloud of her trcsscs. That was long
ago In their early possession of each
other. when she had awakened 10
knowledge " herself and had wor.
SHIPPED him rs a god. fountainhead Of
JOY and light for her on earth.
This transcendent passion had no.
found IN him the Responsiveness /.
crared and which alone could nourish
u. Emma had been an enigma 10 him
often. riddle that had bored him at
times. His blunted eenses. sharpeued
by desire % her. perceived that stu.
pidly. ignorantly. be had disdained
treasure beyond price. ~
But. remembering what he had been
10 her and that she was still hIs wife.
he believed that reconciliation could
be brought about Sentiment and de.
rirc took counsel with ndvisablIIfy.
seiiisIiness weighed The pros and cons
" the end sentiment and desire. being
the stronger. adjusted objections q
their own point ~ view. But even
then u was some time before he could
summon ~ courage enough to take
any sfeTs ~ the matter.
Summer had given place 10 winter
ind returned again since Emma had
eft him. In all that time be had not
'eani from or u her. Ife had made nc
'ttempt TO see Jimsy Smith or sny OF
IFS former friends and associafes
Now he bent bis thoughts upon how
est 70 effect the impeachment
should be write Emma. expressing
lie contrition and begging her forgive.
'essl HIs pride stlffeDed at this prop.