The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-05-03


twain. must not even see her again
for I dared not trust myself in her
presence. What I might do If I should
meet her alone l did not know.
Whether l would violently denounce
her for her faithlessness, break down
miserably as was now doing, or COM
NIT some other scene I could only
conjecture. But in any case matters
would not be mended. The injury was
irreparable. I must cast her out Of
my life and pursue my way in wretch
edness and silence. I returned to my
rooms.
Uncle Abner was already puttering
away somewhere and I threw myself
into a chair in what was nearly q
physical collapse. felt shrunken and
hollow as though my vitals had been
drawn from my body and had fallen
into myself. I was incapable Of think
ing logically and the weight that op-
pressed me was sitting. Before me
life stretched away as a void. hope.
less and destitute of light and through
which l must drift miserably until it
merged into eternity.
ss 9'st aaz 81 y 81; =! ttspsF IS IS
telephone bell sounded In my dead.
ened ears like death rattle I got
upon my feet and saw that It was
nearly ten o'clock. Mechanically I
picked up the receiver and asked what
was wanted. Over the wire there
came to me a voice which at first set
every nerve to tingling and then
turned me sick and faint in the reac'
ton. For it was the voice Of Mrs.
Dace. softly musical. and filled with
the cheerfulness of the morning as
she inquired for me. In tones that
sounded far away to my own ears /
told her 1t was I who spoke.
Il did not recognize your hello"
she went on briskly. "Your voice
does not sound at all natural this
morning. am afraid you dissipated
last night. Anyway, 1t is such love-
ly morning that have been thinking
perhaps you might wish to call and
take me to church and afterwards for
a little stroll along the boulevard. I
have thought Of lots Of things over
night that l wish to tell you. And
when we come back, If you care to
give me still more of your time, we
will take luncheon here in my apart
ments. Will you Gomez"
MY head swan and leaned against
the wall for support. The day previous
an invitation such as this would have
brought me from sick bed to her on
crutches, but now l shuddered as
though a toad had been dropped down
my spine. That she whom l had
adored, defended against the world,
and given my heart, could be SO vilely
treacherous! And now with the
sweetness of an angel she would lure
me to her that she might resume her
play of cat and mouse! Yes, Clare
had been right. In stealth and cruelty
she was all leopardess. And she
would even have the scene of the next
act in the sanctuary OF the blessed
disciple Of love and truth!
Softly, full Of music as a bell, l
heard her voice calling to me and
asking why did not reply to her. and
driven to immediate action my mind
suddenly changed. l would 90 and
see her. would look upon her once
more and then coldly tell her that our
relations must at once cease. l would
70 no further, would give her no
satisfaction at all, but making my
forgotten keys the excuse for respond
ing to her call, would claim them and
bid farewell to her forever. In that
way would end the whole miserable
business. Commanding my voice by
an effort l answered that l would
come at once, and hung up the re-
ceiver without waiting for her to ad.
dress me further. l went to the mir.
ror and looked into it. My lips were
tense and colorless, my eyes blood
shot, and l seemed to have grown
mounds thinner and years older over
night, Once more / bathed my face
In cold water and set out for the Ar
cadia.
She opened the door at thu first
asuud Of the bell. and royalty b1auu.