The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-11-06
The
VA lSHING
Shadows

three months. There did not seem
to be very much the matter with him,
but he lay all day on the couch in
his room looking out at the western
neighbors gave as their opinion that
Stuart was growing old. Some said
he was lazy. None looking at him as
he lay there would have thought
that he was unhappy or that he wish.
ed for something that he did not
have; no one, that is. but his wife.
Every day as she sat in The room
reading aloud TO her husband, or
quietly sewing, her thoughts We're
busy about him. she knew that it
would not be long before he would
break the silence that had lain be-
tween them SO long, and she dreaded
TO have it come because she loved
hiIo, and did not want him to destroy
her pride in him. There was a kind
OF agony, too, in the thought that she
had never been able to crush that
other image from his mind. She had
been a good wife. and she had done
her best. She had loved her hus-
band and had worked for and wor-
ried over and loved the three little
children that had been born to them.
1t came at last.
Alice" said Richard one day,
when he had looked at the western
view for a long time, I've got TO ask
1 can't keep it to myself any longer.
.Somehow, Alice, l don't think | shall
be here long. Will you do this
thing for me?"
He was weak; there was no doubt
of it. lie had not even the courage
to ask like a man.
is it," she said, with her infinite
sympathy, that you want after all
these years to see Anna Stirling?"
He looked at her, wondering.
How did you know" he asked.
There is nothing that happens to
you that does not affect me-" she said
simply. Il have known. you loved her
ever since a year after you married
me-"
And yet l have been a good hus-
band" he protested, seltishly. Il
have never seen her since we broke
our engagement and she married
Frank Stirling. You and were
married five years later. L haze
been a good husband, Alice"
What were you going to asb?"
she inquired.
II was wondering if you wo1l3
write TO her to come here. Tire
could be no harm now. ara cd
and she-i wonder if she eoatd
change. would like to see her
again before I die. Would You be
willing to do this for me, Alice
What would | not do for vow"
She said very gently. Il will write
tonight. Will that satisfy you?'
III shall be satisfied he said
dreamily.
A letter ven out that night while
he slept. He did not know that it
cost her tears 10 WI te it. or IN, the
morning she was Just the s7mr. All
that day ana the next day tAcr wait.
ed together, but at last Aala timing
wrote that she was coming. He
was very happy, and he thanked his
wife with words hat hurt her while
she smiled. Then she went away to
make her husbands house ready to
receive his honored guest.
Anna Stirring was prompt. When
Alice let her in at the front door.
che looked at her steadily. scarching.
ly. Was this the woman who had
lived In Richard Stuart's mind for
80 years? Was this the woman she
had always feared to meet? This
woman with the ~listless me II
discontinued eyes? She took her TO
the room where Richard waited with
an eager race. and after a little while
she went out and left them together
Evening had come and the house
was very still. In the sick room
Richard lay upon his couch, bit he
was not looking at the west v;4.w
from the window. His face was
turned to where his wife sat ard, by
and-by he reached out almost timid-
ly and took her hand in his.
Are you satisfied dear?1 she
asked him gently.
II am awakened" he replied. She
asked nothing more, and after a
moment he said:
Il wish this had happened earlier,
Alice; | have been thinking since
she went how l must kave been
hurting you every day, every iour,
through many years. j have been
very selfish"
Because she knew that it was
true she did not answer him.
1t came to ME very sddenly as
she sat with me how unsatisfactory
she was, how trivial-how little the
nature is that I have looked past a
great soul these many years to see.''
The hand that he held clasped his.
Il think after all I'm going to
get well. Alice" he unused. When
| made that other start / took the
wrong road. II is late now and | am
old; and the starting place is a Ions
way back. But I'm not afraid to
start over If you will go back with