El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-02
The Herald's
Daily Short Story

! conventional manner. ell? I have not
| forgotten my goodbye to him.
The woman WINGED THAT was long
ago, Jim; when-when the wound wa:
| still raw"
He moved swiftly towards her and
her eyes fell to the carpet. on which
they stood.
1.-THE wound you inflicted on your
self! Oh, Molly. Molly, what mess
your Internal jealousy has made OF
both of US. Until death do us part
and-now@
DON'T she put out her hands
swiftly as though to ward off blow.
You refused to listen to me, re-
fused to hear my defeice.''
I know" she staggered towards
him, and he retreated in his turn "Oh,
Godl don't you think I know, Jim
Afterwards. when 1t was too late she
wrote to me. I went to her poor girl,
and learned the truth-everythingr
"Everything?" he breathed, hoarsely.
Yes, Jim. everythingw She raised
her eyes to his face once more
"How Stephen betrayed her and how
you, to save him. from fathers anger,
promised to see her through the trou-
bic. Then, again, Stephen told the
truth at the end-when he was dying
He asked to be forgiven" Her
voice broke piteously HE was my
only brother but I found 1t hard to,
when I remembered ALL
Your brother dead" said the man,
softly, poor lad I did not know,
Molly, or perhaps You see one
has little chance to keep up ones
knowledge of the fashionable world
out there In Central Africa 1 only
returned todayr'
Il searched for x-o,, 20
she replied. Advertised, did all I
could. No one seemed to have any
idea where you were"
He shrugged his shoulders. "a man
under cloud of shame, cut by his
friends, is scarcely likely to trumpet
his whereabouts to the world. / went
away. James Dillon died, and the rson
who had once borne the name worked
IKE fiend praying only that he
might forget IA year ago I struck It
lucky Then me home sickness that
l mad thought crushed and done for,
laid its grip on me again. Z had to
return, no matter at what cost" He
turned away lest the woman should see
the dull pain that was in his eyes.
Then with a sudden change of tone.
Well, Molly, what are you going to
do with me? / am burglar. I've
broken into your house. Will Won
send one Of the servants for the po-
lice or shall 1 surrender myself. or
shall I go away?"
oh, don't, Jim, please DON'T
As he turned away the woman
caught at his arm appealingly. ''Why
should you go away?"
He turned sharply and caught her
hands in his. What do you mean.
Molly?" he demanded, hoarsely. DO
you think my presence would be well
come toto"
To whom?" she whispered softly.
suppose you married again when
your decree was made absolute?" She
started as though the bluntness of his
words hurt her; then as the rich color
swept over her face and neck, a faint
smile trembled on her lips and she
shook her head.
NO, Jim. 1 never brought the action.
You see" she faltered, ST knew the
truth in time, and hoped-ah. knew
that one day you'd come back"
With sharp cry he drew her into
his arms until her head was pillowed
contentedly upon his shoulder
Molly. little Molly" he whispered,
"Oh. heaven if I'd only
known The weary years out there,
and all the time you were waiting for
and homer
For many minutes. they stood locked
in each others arms; then they sprang
apart as. with a dull thudi, the saber
fell from the nerveless fingers of the
sleeping sentinel. Hand in hand, the
woman and the burglar crossed the
room to where Jimmy lay curled up
snugly on the settee. With something
very like sob, the man bent HIS head
over the mass Of tangled yellow hair.
then. drawing himself TO his full
height, he took the smiling woman in
his arms and kissed her on the lips
you, Molly" he said. huskily you
and home-and Jimmy! thank Gody'