Morris tribune., 1912-08-23
AN EASTER HOUSE PARTY
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some things I've been waiting to say
to you for eight years"
There was a pitiful curve to the
girls lips, but her eyes smiled mock
ingly.
"Indeed?" said she.
"Ah, don't let us fence, little wom-
an" The mans voice was almost a
cry. "Life is so short that once In
awhile surely we can afford to be
blunt
"Can we?" broke in the girl. II be-
lieve we can" Her soft eyes suddenly
looked like purple black cloud that
has i'll it's heart the forked lightning.
We'll, then, before you tell me any
thing let me speak. Eight years ago
was more Of child than a woman,
and l broke our engagement, Tom, be-
cause''-she moistened her dry lips
somehow there had stolen in upon me
the childish fancy that you had en-
gagged yourself to me simply because
you knew | loved you so"-
AL, UlOh0 III OIhISOy AoClJI LAhI
was only an unreasonable sensitive
ness that came between us, love. Now
that you are woman, you must sure
ly know better"
eyes" she answered simply; 81 do.
But when l received your wild, in
coherent note a week after we'd sep
arated, when you told me you'd mar
rled your cousin-well, all the sun
seemed to have been stolen from the
day and the moon and the stars from
the night. That's all. Now, because
it was my fault in the first place, I've
done my duty. I've made my confes
sion. Of course l was too proud to
grieve long for another woman's hus
band, so at present you owe me nc
debt"
There was an icy hauteur in bel
voice which the trembling of her lips
belied.
II was true to her, DEAR while she
lived-indeed, at least" said the man
reverently.
Tom Ormsby had a generous heart
and he never thought Of his poor wife
without a feeling Of remorse for eve1
having felt harshly about the bonds
that bound them. "But she's beer
dead now for nearly two years, and
you've been travelling in Europe with
your aunt for nearly three and"-
1--WE only arrived the week before
Easter" said Molly casually, and then
changing her tone, There is a child
is there not, Tom?"
Ormsby leaned toward her, his face
TRANSPORTED with alteration.
'"rhere is little girl, and we cal
| her Mollie." - %'~
He could say no more for second
Then he crossed to Miss Hargraves
side. put his hand beneath her chiT
and lifted the oval face till her eyes
looked into his.
Sweetheart" he added huskily, "l
would like nothing better on eartl
than to give her to you. But you't
have to take me too. Could you
Would your
| All, the old mesmeric entreaty Of
his voice! She longed to throw her
self into his dear, big arms and tell hin
that never, never once in all these
years, though she had fought hare
| against it, had she forgotten him, tha
nowhere else In the whole world bu
with him could happiness be found.
He was wrapping her around will
the old, old spell.
She made an effort to get out of he
silence. but she found herself rootet
to the spot as one is sometimes il
dreams A tide of rich, young blooC
surged over the delicate face anG
made the mans heart throb with in
explicable joy.
"Would you, dear?" he pleaded
again, bending slightly over her.
Molly did speak finally, rising calm
ly and reaching for the book AnC
she said wonderfully clever thing
Considering the fact that Miss Chas'
was at that. moment curiously strollins
out to the side porch, both the remaYl
and the action were apropos:
81 know you'll like Carman's poem
and if the sun comes out tomorrow
I'll read it to you down by that littl
| colony of white violets.''
The next day the sun came out.