The daily sentinel., 1913-05-24

The summons to breakfast cut short Mr. FINISHES
euogy OF his business methods Enseoneed behind his
paper, he did not notice that his wife ate nothing.
She sat back OF the coffee urn, gazing about with
coseness of attention that the effect of novelty
to the most familiar object. This was her last meal
at the round table where she had sat BRIDE looking
across tmidly at the man she had chosen. The high
chair had stood her right, when the boy had been
big enough TO come down TO the dInng-room. mist
that Just short of couded her vision at the
thought. She had broken herself OF weeping because
it annoyed her husband.
1t had not taken the boy long to discard high
chair. All her fond clnging had not ayailed to keep
him baby and his 4apid growth had brought her
ecstacy well as pain. He every inch boy.
She came back from her memories with the realiza
ton that her husband rising from the table that
he was coming toward her for the formal meaningless
kiss which the outward sign OF the beautiful per-
feCton OF their marital relations. She turned faint
his approach. The impulse to beg him TO spare
her strong that it almost overmasered her
prudence Her lips were icy like those of dead
woman, his brushed them. He noticed neither that
nor her paor the hands which grpped each other
till the inger-tips left purple prints Good-by he said
"Good-byl" she repeated, mechanically, and Won
dered at herself that she could feel nothing but relief
Ii was over the long lie the nsuerable humiliation.
the weary monotony OF dragging days and endless
nights. Youth still hers. Love waited for her
Freedom to be had for the taking The door that
shut upon her husband the closing OF life
Now she would begin TO live again.
Her preparations already made. There no
sense OF furry sound its discordant note She gave
her directions for the day, making out the dinner
menu with unusual care cautioning Lefty about the
roast
Il going into the city by the morning TRAM and
shall come back for dinner. Her voice steady
but her hear-beats quckeued with the realization that
she was committed.
Mrs. Elnsie suddenly took the work-hardened hand
in both her You've been very good TO me,
Lefty. If anything should happen to me l you
know that | shall forget"
She left her good-by to the boys room for the last
The other ties had snapped like tow Her farewclls
had been the turning OF the key that opened her prison
door. But the upstairs was different The lit
tie white bed stood when the boy had knclt be-
side it every night for his evening prayer She had
knet with him often pure in heart he
Oh, il the boy were there She flung the thought
defantly in the face of the Almighty II the boy had
lived, she would have had strength TO meet all temp
tationS the dearest An unlawful love could
have found its way into her heart, when She
knelt every night at his bedside and prayed God TO
keep him pure. There would have been sacrifice
great TO keep her uutamshed had she her
sons honor to guard. But he had died God had
taken him. and left her defenselesS.
She looked her last about the silent room-a long,
fearless scrutiny. The striking OF clock warned her
that it time to go. As she stepped into the hall
the breeze blew the door to- and she wondered duly
il perhaps angel with flaming sword kept guard
on the other side Size could never open it again.
Whatever joys life had for her whatever compeusa-
ton she might find in 4 mans devotion for the good
she had missed she would again have the right
TO enter ths room where her boy had lain dead.
She put on her hat hastily, took her traveng-bag.
and turned TO 20 down the stairs Then she halted
and swayed She tore off her veil and fell upon her
knees peering with dated eyes, her shoulders heaying
Her lshriek died in her throat as if a hand had
elatehedSt White and quiyering she bent the
polished tak Was she going mad? 1t was that,
else a miSacle had been wrought for her dcyerancc
The maid coming from the room where she had