The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-10
TIE EMPTY Fl HOUSE
IHND By HELENE ELISE LUCAS

Premise me you will welcome him coIdinlly and at
no time show nIy skepticsm or doubt He cannot
work under adverse conditions He is not TO be
treated lightly. 1t only after hours OF persuasion
that he consented 10 como at all.
(sho clears the table and draws it into the center
Of tho Then she places beside 1t three straight
backed chairs HeE husband watches the proceeding
with knitted browse
HE (moodily)-Grunted that this phenomenon is
possble-is it right'
SHE-What do you mean by "right'"
AELlsnt IT wholly seIfshneSs $50. on our part that that
panea
sHE-Your ,scruples arise from cowardice-.aa
shrinking from the unusual as we'll fear for me if
or whatever must have this grain Of consolation.
HE-It is selfshness, Tess.
sHE-We won't split hairs to motives.
HE (touching the table with his finger tips)-I
wonder what there is about it cannot quite reconcile
myself toi It seems crude.lke forcing an entrance
- quently unbeautiful (she consuts her watch.
Suddenly she raises her head startled What is that!
HE-I don't hear anything unusual.
SHE-Listeu and You will It curious
Do 'SpI'TS, you hears '''' - . -'' ''' '"f' '1p
HE-t's the shutter. All of them swing from
the hinges To appreciate the utter dilapidaton of
the house must it in full day Did tell you
the kitchen ceiling has fallen?
sHE-I wonder if it really is the shutter-the
sound heart
AS you looked then you reminded Of the time when
we first went to housekeeping Remember my nightly
you standing at the head Of the stairs, lamp in
hand and that long braid Of hair your shoulder
SHE-There's little of that braid left now. And
some of it IS gray. Oh Jim ism life disappointng7
"a bell drings.)
HE-Tbe telephone? Who can be calling us up at
this out eway place do you supposei Gle goes
to the hall to answer phone.)
sHE-Be careful the draught does not blow out
the candle. (she shields the flame with her hand.
wbo5 HE On the dSMt6at haMaelS1 2ou, Yes you cav
there ere was no onei Yes. understand Much
4ss So EI oonF tH tie Paee over
Thanks, will Goodrby. Gle returns to the room.)
SHE-Who it9
HEmThe station master, G Called up to let US
sengers
SHE (breathlessly)-No passengers!
HE-Not one
SHE-But you don mean that Chalmers has
failed me-that he is not coming7
.HE-Looks that way.
siIE-He may have taken later train. Where's
the time table:
HE (takng time table from his pocket)-lO:ao
An express does not stop. There is nothing later.
sHE-oh. 1t IS too bad of him, too bad of him
upon was suf6cient! And explained to him fuily nv
reason for wishing it to take place here
to be done now' Shall go'
SHE (resenfuly)-Why are you so impatient to
leave7
HE-lmpatent9 Not that exactly. but, oh,
Tess! Can I you the usecssness of all this? 1t is
disturbing and painful to both Of Believe me, it is
dangerous to indulge ones grief. There barriers
that mothers love cannot break down, We
cannot bring back those whom God has taken by the
sheer force of our desire, It's wrong to try
1t Is not meant to be. Come. Tess. There
is place for lis here. 1t is only deserted house
an empty room.
SHE (passonateIy)-I don believe you! ] don t
believe you
HE-It distresses to YOU like this.
SHE-Leave me, then! Don I stand watching me!
want much to be alone
HE-Very well. Gle goes ont the door,
Cleft TO herself the woman becomes less unouet.
She drops her head in her casped hands and begins
to pray0
- of Thy hands. Out OF Thy boundless mercy grant
me n little comfort and little light
(She rises, wipes her eyes and, taking the Bible
from the shelf opens IL at random. Reads) Stand
ye in the ways, and and ask for the old paths,
where the good way. and walk therein, and We shall
find rest for your souls But they said we will not
walk therein. -