The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-07

fishing boats that piled their way over
It's peaceful bosom. lie could hear
the gcntlo thud Of the waves be-
heath him and the sound OF the SHIN
Sic being drawn back with the re-
ceding tide. lie crcpt closer To the
edge, trying TO peer over. trying TO
picture how his new friend had slip
ped and fallen, and how from that
moment "cvcrything had been differ
emit" Not to be able to run and play!
play she had been unhappy. and now
she was go happy. And her father
had called her mother "swcethcart."
and there had been such warmth and
goodness In their looks and words.
sudden sense or his own loneliness
crcpt over him. Oh. II only his moth
crs arms would fold themselves about
him; if only she would call him ten
der names; III only he need never hear
again the things which. though he
had not always understood them had
always hurt him: II only everybody
would love everybody. There was no
one about to see. He dried his heart
out. sobbing with tho silent restraint
Of long custom. The tears blinded
him. the world about him became con-
fused and blurred. and the very
ground seemed to slip from under his
feet. With wild. instructive clutch
he caught the woody bear closer 10
him. Then earth and Sky changed
places and rolled away together into
an impenetrable darkness
II.
Mrs. Stanford tlptoed into the room.
closing the door behind her There
was only the light-rcd- shaded lamp
burnt on the great escritoire casting
It's warm reflection on her husbands
face. lie did not look up as she en-
tered. but she saw his profile, and
noted the change In II that had al
ready come. The extreme--too OK
tremc-good nature and self-sutlsfnc-
'ion had given place to anxiety
whose biting acid Ind In ono short
hour drawn incffaceable lines across
his forehead. His hands we're claspcd
before him on the table HIS head
slightly lifted In an attitude o. lis
ten!ng. But he did not hear her until
she spoke.
is there no news?" she asked
family. Have they no, found him?"
He looked up and his expression
faded into one OF cold surprise.
Il beg your pardon" he said. IT
d!d not hear YOU. No: hitherto the
told you. but thought you had al
ready gone Your train was surely
at o'clock" He pulled out HIS watch
with hand that, do what he would,
trembled
"I-eould not 60" she said catch
lie slipped his watch back and re-
sumcd his old position. seeming to
Ignore her presence.
She drew a little nearer. her foot
step dragging over the thick carpet
Would you mind if-ic STAYED
here?' she asked.
certainly motif YOU wish It"
Thank you. could not bear to
be alone"
She seated herself In the great arm
chair on the opposite side OF the
table-a small. delicate hgure, vague
- reminiscent OF another and still
more fragile form. But Robert Stan
roTd kept his eyes hXed resolutely
ahead He did not want to see her.
Five minutes passed.. and neither
moved nor spoke. Outside in the
street reigncd AN absolute, unbroken
silence such rs neither OF these two
world children had even before
known. Perhaps In their pleasure
seeking. restless lives they had never
listened for Il. Now Nemesis had
them by the shoulder and held them.
so that whether they would or mn
they had TO wait and long .or the
footsteps that once had passed un-
Needed. and in the answering still
ness travel into the once locked re-
ctsses OF their own hearts. The nv.
minutes grew to ten. Suddenly Mrs
Stanford laughed. The sound drove
we !ildn lntO Il frenzy.
How can You. Why do you'--
he burst out wildly. and then STONED
Against his will he had caught sight
OF her facc. and seen thar the laugh
had only been In part laughter, and
mat behind 1t there had been an
hysterical cry OF pain.
am sorry" she said In a high
pitcned voice he scarcely recognized
very sorry. did not mean. was
only thinking OF something"
"Of what"
"Of what he said this afternoon:
You mustn't say that to my father
Such queer. old-fashioned thing to
say ana such grave. rcproachful eyes.
1T makes ME laugh even now"
He did not mean to DE funny" her
husband said sharply.
NO. she shook her head, the trem-
ulous smile still playing round her
lips. che meant it. He loves you
above everything in the world"
lie loves you too
The smile deepened into bitterness
think not. You and he-always
one heart. was il rot so? was not
much 10 him--Or you
lie glanced at her again. do you
know one of the last things he said
10 me?" ne asked.
How should l."
He said: 4 want mother to play
with. He said IT twice.
And what did you saw"
'olu MN YOU were going away"
The smile died suddenly, leaving
'he talr race sim and gray with n
sudden pain.
on she said sharply. There was
4 second silence. and she went on nm
der her breath: IL did not often MAY
win him-thcre was so little Time.
when did he was so very glad. Then
the color came into his cheeks and ha
iauShed can hear his laughter
nov. ne was usually such a serious
peut bonhomine"
Her husband nodded.
III Is we who have made him 80"
he saio. 1T struck me this afternoon.