The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-06-01

pass q to her. When she read Il her
face grew rosy and she looked eagerly
had dreaded to see the old look OF fear
in ner eyes. She rose and came TO him
quickly. as he had often seen her come
wanted to tell him OF some childish
trouble. She took his hand and held IL
''Tm so glad you're here. should
have told you-I know should have
told you"
Yes. father. / should have told
.'And-youre frightened. dearT'
She smiled family.
I didn't know it would be so dread
full The first times always hard
She curS Ss bs& SIssb the Her CLASH
his hand frightened.
And must you Keep your promiseT'
they're such splendid women-but-you
see; my heart has not been in IL"
He nodded c9mprehendingly. She
arrangement had been so suddenly an
nulled. she only knew that his pres
ence relieved a strain that had threat
ened TO become actual physical suffer-
a shield.
pose. But wouldn't they excuse you X
there was some great and sufficient rea-
son why YOU shouldn't speak this after
at would have to be a grave cause
life or DEATH" she said with a little
smile
\ vision swept before his eyes Death
was already with them-but lifei what
if as the only reparation left him, he
could give life back TO her. The sense
of his being companiOned came again
to hm-annullinE the long years and
the long. long errors.
"Felice," he answered gravely, 1T IS
a matter Of life and death. I'll explain
everything to YOU later Let me speak
To your chairman.
she heSitated.
You're sure YOU can make il right.
father? You've something definite 10
Something definite. Something i'm
portant. Trust me"
\ certain solemnity in his manner,
mingled with a new tenderness. Gained
and treasured her. she led the way to
The chairman received him gracious
~, though momentary surprise
visible in her face. She had heard OF
him as an opposer of the movement.
FeliCe watched him anXiOusly, but his
manner was as deferenttal as II he were
in his own drawing room. Not even
touch of codneSs marred il. After the
first greeting, he said:
Il am most sorry TO disturb the pro-
gram but | am asking the favor OF TAX
ing my daughter away before her
me--the father of her fiance is dead"
His words came to Felice from an
incalculab bic distance, their meaning too
wonderful to he at once cOmprehended.
As in dream. she heard the chair
man answer:
Il am so sorry. but, of course, in such
a case everything must give way"
They went silently down the steps
Of the stand, and through the throng
now, no longer the deVoUrinE monster
of a thousand hostile eyes. These peo-
pie became again human beings. with
joys and sorrows like her own. She
was again one OF them. unafraid, and
thrilled to the very depths OF her being
by her fathers words-words linking
her again to the sweet. warm human
world from which all these weeks she
had been eNiled. That phantom of her
self, that defiant. suffering ghost deal
ing with distractions which held no
comfort for her sore heart. faded away
into the blessed light OF the spring
afternoon.
Had she been mistaken? Had her
ears deceived her. conveying TO her
word that plunged her into both JOY
and sorrow?
When they had reached the outskirts
OF the throng they paused-alone in
thelr restored communion. though the
city roared about them. She longed to
know If the word she had heard was
real. She spoke timidly:
deadg'
He turned away his face for a mo
ment. then answered:
Yes, dead"