The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-07-22
AFTER SOUL WENT OUT
Suddenly all was still.
BY EARL MARBLE.

A ghastly whlteness settled over
the thin, yearning face on the pillow,
and peace took the place OF pain.
The end OF life Of conjugal mis-
mating had come at last.
Can you not forgive me all the
wrong you have suffered at my hands
before you go?' he had asked.
'If you have ever wronged me,
Henry" she said Il forgive you, as I
hope to be forgiven"
"If have ever wronged you" he
echoed. II certainly have, and 1t Is
so noble of you to say those words
But I have need to be forgiven
also" she had said. you will not
refuse?"
There is nothing to forgive, Mary"
he had said. But II there were any
thing for me to forgive In you, II Is
given freely. am only sorry It is
said now. at the close OF our lives to-
gether, instead OF at the beginning"
The woman had caught her breath
feebly. and all was over.
II TdlHtl' sdlu llt NOuuS man, tuc
evening of the day after they had re-
turned from the funeral, why did
you and mother always treat each
other so coldly?"
Because there was no love be-
tween us Let's take a walk down the
road and will tell you about It, The
trouble began from the very begin
ming Of our married life-in fact, be-
fore our marriage"
They had walked till they reached
the edge of little wood by this time.
81 had presumed to think that !
might make your mother my wife, but
had little prospect Of success. A
young man came into the neighbor-
mer boarder at neighboring farm
house His name was Hubbard-Sid-
ney Hubbard. He met your mother.
and she fell in love with him at once.
None Of us had any chance then,
Practically, we all gave 1t up. But
one evening, toward the close OF the
season, was passing the house where
he boarded and was astonished to see
him In earnest talk with girl whom |
! had never seen before. They were
standing at the open window, and he
had an arm around her. ! watched |
them a moment, and as I turned to
go, came face to face with your moth
er. We heard him use endearing !
terms to her, saw him kiss her, and
then heard him promise to go with
her at once. took your mother |
home and left her almost completely |
prostrated. She did not say word !
of what she had seen to any one. She |
was very proud and high spirited The
young man and young woman dsap-
peared that night; and. as soon as
your mother had recovered sufficient
ly. renewed my suit, and she accept
ed me. on condition that should take
her away from the neighborhood
Your mother never returned to the
old place, her family having removed
also a short time afterward. They
had lived there but short time and
had no intimates, SO none Of them
ever heard from the neighborhood
again. | went out there to settle up
some Of my affairs and heard that
had been there. learned the
story, and inquired my address. A
'ew weeks afterward, I went out dur.
ng the late afternoon, for walk. as
We are doing now. and met him right .
,ere. He accused me Of treachery to
lin. and said that the lady whom we
lad seen him in company with was =.
lis sister, who had come after him
o aid her In untangling some proper.
y matter. which required their imme
late attention. One word led to an
'ther and finally he struck me. ] re-
urned the blow with interest. and he
ell. striking that rock there" point
ng to large rock by the roadside,
after which he never stirred had
.iled him, but had not intended to do
o. | dug a grave over there" point
ng to mound so slight as not to be
otceable. "and buried him"
did mother ever known"
mo. my boy"
Did any one else?"
NO"
Put that is why you and mother
'ere always estranged from each
ther?"
Yes"
"Oh, well, cheer up. father. II
as not so bad-the killing, I mean. {
ou did the only thing you could do. D
Ire estrangement was terrible It q
light have been better II you had II
I'D mother" G
1T would not-under the circum-
ances" :,
We'll, don't dwell on II now. We ?,
III go home now, and make the best :.
It, dear old father"
But I am not your father" y
Observation-Disclosures Then =
no is?" 4
"The man sleeping under that =
ound there" .,
And the elderly man walked delib. >.