The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-06-16
THE FEAR OF LOVE.


and two sisters-had done SO long be-
FORE She, however, was tenacious, de-
faint, insubordinate to the cruelty OF
such CHASTITY ending; and she rebelled
passionately, her long acceptance of
hopes friendly hand being an implicit
avOwal of the measure of her love Tor
the man so miserably obliterated.
Some people had not liked Bray, had
seen serious flaws in his character, and
had endeavored to dissuade her from en-
gaging herself to him. but this had but
attached her affection more deeply to it's
object. In the year and half, however,
time had begun to smooth out the
creases of life with a conciliatory hand,
and the giving up of hope on Esther's
part was merely as the quiet relinquish-
ing of something on which her grasp had
already slowly relaxed.
Esther was not the sort of woman to
whom men concede only the Difference
due to womanhood; she could be viva
cious without meretricious smartness:
could be calm without dullness, hence
her period of waiting had been compli-
Gated, especially as the verb "to NOPE"
had no place in her vocabulary. Only
Stanton Drew, the constant worshiper
at her shrine, knew what long, slow
storms exhausted themselves beneath
her gaiety; he, with his sympathy had
brought to her hours of companionship
when she had told him those doubts,
those fears, those hopes about the fate
of Bray Chalmers. Thus, slowly and
steadily, Stanton became friend and
a chum.
! Such a state of affairs cannot last.
The intercepted glance charged with
dawning passion; the clasp of hands
that only intended consolation and com
radeship, but thrilled to something in
fnitely deeper; the flush, the swift pal
lor the sudden tear-all loves sweet
machinery runs softly to bring to birth
the critical hour. And to Esther and
Stanton that hour soon came.
They were talking one evening in the
freight, chatting quite casually on in
consequent subjects, when remark of
hers became the breath that blew his
smouldering love to vivid flame.
"There was paragraph in today's
papers about the Atlantis; did you no.
tice it,"
"Of course / did," replied Stanton,
smiling. And then. as he glimpsed the
usefulness of her face the utter hope
! lessness and futility of it all gripped
him.
Esther" he said, whats the use?'
| She remained silent for little space,
and Stanton, leaning forward, laid his
hand on hers and clasped it; as he did
so he noticed that her eyes were full Of
| tears.
Stan, dear old boy, is it like that
with your" she whispered.
Eyes, Esther. | couldn't have kept
my secret much longer. Is there any
| hope for lne?''
Il could not give you the love I gave
| him, STAN"
II don't want it want some for
myself. Could you give me any?"
II couldn't help it-you've been such
ripping friend" She spoke the com
monplace words very gently, and with
more of reverence than of passion Stan
ton kissed her.
| 1t happened, when Esther and Stan
ton had been married about three
months, that the newspaper readers were
interested one morning to see that five
more of the missing passengers OF the
doomed liner had stepped in an extraor-
binary manner on the stage of the world
once again Carried in their small boat
far from the track of ships to a tiny
islet, they had existed there for many
months, and one of the names was that
of Bray Chalmers. 1t was a trying mo-
ment for Stanton Drew when he passed
| the paper to his wife at the breakfast
table, but her smile relieved him, and
when she came round to lay her face
against his, whispering, ''It doesn't make
any difference-nOw," he could have
lnelt at her feet in alteration.
Il don't suppose he will CALL" said
Esther. But she was mistaken.
| One afternoon, when her husband was
out, the card of Bray Chalmers was
brought in by the servant. She could
hardly refuse to see him. He entered
the room. For an instant they both hest
tated in slight surprise. 1t was an APP
praising, approving glance which reused
in her some undefnable antagonism,
some shadowy repulsion. Concealing it
| by SMILE she held out her hand.
Elbow do you do, Mr.. Chalmers?" she
said.
"How do you do, Mrs. Drew-or
rather Esther?" he responded. The posi-
ton was difficult as he took her hand.
''How splendid to come back to life
| again." she remarked vivaciously as he
retained her hand. "Whatever does it
| feel like? You should have plenty to
tell us"
| "It feels splendidly certainly to come
! back-to YOU
| She withheld her hand, checking her
intended phrases of felicitation and well
come.
"You will stay, of course, and meet
| Stanton?'
GLOW can I greet the man who has
stolen you from me?"
"Be careful, please, how you speak of
my husband"
you'll admit, perhaps, that it is
| trife hard on me?"
"But refuse to discuss it. am mar
ried."
"And there's an end of it, I suppose,
| rs far as [ am concerned 2"
"Of course
care you sure?" He came over close
| to her.
| The real nature of the man came to
her in flash of revelation and she
shuddered. If Stan would only come!
Heavens, Esther" he pursued, "but
you are lovely enough to make monk
forget his vows, and 1 have taken nc
VOWS"
"But I have" she said hotly, "and 7
must ask you to goat once" She
pressed the bell.
mot before I've kissed you, even if
It's for the last time," he exclaimed
nadly.
81 assure you that it would be the last