The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-11-29

Ferman Elwood left his wife's pres
ence with the settled belief that she
loved Guy Chalmer wholly, irrevoca-
bly,. That the old love had famed
anew into a fire of passion that now
burned more brightly than ever. His
brief ghope of love to be Won was
over-vanished like the rosy hues
of dawn at the broadening light of
lays maturity. And the wrench was
almost insupportabe. But it was
part of his nature to look things
squarely in the face, TO contemplate
the naked truth at any cost to him
self, without flinching, without pre-
tense.
And what a failure it had all
been. For twelve long months he
had lived in a fools paradise of
hope. And he only wondered now
how it could have been so. Mary
had told him at the beginning that
she had no love to give, and never
for moment had her attitude
changed. Now his awakening had
come and he stood appalled,
Strangely enough, in those first
moments of realization ne found him
self smiling bitterly as he thought of
the masterful manner in which he
had overruled all the girls objec-
tions to their marriage, and forced
his will upon her.
That he could possibly have mis-
understood his wife's hysterical
words never entered his head. He
saw only the tragedy of a woman in
love with, and loved ny another
man, tied to him for life. 1t was
not of himself he thought in those
first moments of anguish; it was the
tragedy for her. He had blighted her
whole life.
His awakening hail left him un-
changed towards her. With all the
tenderness of a great heart he had
borne her unconscious form from
the sofa to her bedroom. She was
so small, so slender in his strong
arms; and while she lay in his en-
brace he was filled with a desire
to keep her there, to hold her thus
to his breast until her eyes opened
again. and, in their honest frank
ness, looked up into his, while her
lips told him that it was all a pain
full dream.
But such thoughts passed with
the necessity of the moment. He
left Tanta in charge, and hastened |
to enlist Emily Verricker's good
offices. Emily's thirty years of up
country experience would serve him
until such time as he could summon |
the aid of the only reliable doctor
in Bechuanaland. Doctor Henderson |
lived at Vryburg, and that was one
hundred and ten miles south.
Nor was the missionarys wife |
wholly unprepared for the summons !
when it came.
Il was afraid of something like
this a week ago." she confided to
Tanta, after establishing herself at !
the girls bedside. But, please God,
we'll pull her through-if there's
nothing worrying her poor, hot
head"
Mary was already talking in deli !
rum; and Mrs Verricker's final re-
mark was inspired by hearing the
word Guy" several times amidst
the confusion of almost unintelligi |
BILE sentences that fell from her pa
tents lips.
Tanta offered no comment. She
merely nodded and busted herself. |
If she had not Emily Verricker's |
capabilities in cases of sickness,
she had the next best thing-a
quiet devotion to the masters wife
and a faculty for doing what she
was told with dispatch and thor
oughness.
1t was not until later that Elwood |
was abe to fully appreciate the |
sterling worth of his friends at the |
Mission. At the time it seemed per
fectly natural that old John Yer
ricker should take his place on the |
contemplated journey He knew that
whatever happened lne work they |
were engaged upon must the carriell
out. and he would never have thought |
of abandoning his journey. But the |
missionary had promptly assumed |
the responsibility, and insisted that
he had no earthly right to leave
Mafeking while Mary was in danger.
This was the difference between the
two men. While Elwood only saw
the sternest side of his duty, Yer
ricker saw another side. He would
take his friends place. In spite