El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-23
The HeraId's Daily
Short Story

have had time; could I think? Think
} when-when my worlds burning!"
I want you to think before / start
he said
She glanced at him in wonder. He
stood up and went to her side.
Two men loved you when you mar
ried Peter" he said. Rose, you never
listened to me. You snubbed me IN
your gay, light-hearted way. But you
didn. you couldn't Kill my love. ]
ached then. I'm aching now. We been
tortured for four years. I've been wild
people warned you against me-
You were good friend to Peter
and to me-" she said gently; that was
how I judged you
Il didn't despair when you married.
I went away. 1 forgot my madness
alone. I've waited, Rose"
Please" she broke in, Oh we're
both shaken, / know, but you musn
talk to me So"
Seven years" he retorted. You're
young Seven years There's lonei-
, ness and despair, gloom and pen lll.y,
eyesi Rose, don't you see what I'm OF
fering you?"
He had caught her up, lifting her up
from her chair, almost from her feet
She hung back from him, as his nerT-
Gus fingers bit into her arms above the
elbows.
John, before 7 hate you, let me go!'
such a seven years he urged, ms
breath hot on her cheeks, and in their
shame She cried scornfully. You
must 20, John now, at once. III never
see nor speak to you again pray
God one day you'll sea hall--a Illus
Of the contempt
rs 1t worth ranting?" he said, and
she knew nothing she could say Wou!u
affect him. I love you, Rose Ny LIES
been hell without YOU u you thlhh
hard words hurt me or deter me
7 moi
your -nOthing-and yet l only say
and keep on saying. the child Rose, the
child. don't forget her
Il would rather she were dead, she
said, struggling in his grip no more,
than her mother the light thing you'd
make her"
He released her but only TO kneel
beside her as she sank back into her
chair, to tumble for her hands, 70
mouth the protestation Of his hateful
passion. Disdainfully she thrust back
her chair, drawing herself, her hands,
even her skirt, from his proximity
Then she crossed to the window, where
the child had stood, and gazed out
Once more he glanced at his watch
as he scrambled awkwardly to her feet.
Then, in a flood of words, he reiterated
his plea humbly this time, reVerently,
dwelling on his love for her. offering
a fortune in settlement on herself and
the child
l.
'T was thinking of Peter" she
answered Goodbye"
She heard him draw in a sharp, de-
spairing breath For a full minute
there fell a silence Then the sound Of
his retreating footsteps and the slam
ming Of the door. He appeared at the
porch, and she heard the scrunch Of the
gravel beneath his boots as he stepped
out onto the path.
Then abruptly he stopped. For a
ha n
She saw his hands clench and looked
swiftly away from him as he turned,
crossed the little grass plot and stood
before her at the window.
I shall never come back again." he
said, jerkily- I'm going away now,
she nodded. ct is all you can do"
she replied.
.'0eed-need you tell Peter?" he
asked almost wistfully.
4 hope to have forgotten" she
answered, and WINGED as if the last
words stabbed her, in seven years"
She drew back, stern no longer. sud-
denly girl. ptteous, broken hearted,
weeping wildly
Il lied" he said, speaking swiftly,
as though he were afraid of repenting
his words. Il lied. It was my last
chance We've seemed to draw nearer
together after Peters arrest You re-
lied on me. L was your dear friend.
Friend! when your love and all its
meaning was the thing I coveted. You
you won't have to wait seven years,
nor yet five, nor three. nor one-hardly
an hour. 1 lied, Rose / brought good
His blue fingers clutched at the win
dowsiu. and he leaned in, his face
ashen.
THE evidence OF Peters innocence
was Overwh Ginning; the case broke
down against him. Another clerk be-
trayed himself under Abbott's cross
examination. The jury then stopped
the case Peter was wanted by the
firm for an hour I begged them to let
me be the sole bearer Of the news
He's free, Rose"
She swayed. collapsing. He saw her
topple forward, cropping for support,
first to her knees, then in a little
crumpled, silent heap upon the floor
From behind him came the snort of
a high-power ear. With a sizzle Of
sudden brakes. 1t drew up A young
man leaped from it and bOlted up the
garden path.
John" he bawIed, where is she?
Where is she? Rose-Rose! Old Men