The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-02-22

that I'd probably never see her againF'
II told her you were gone"
II suppose she was relieved"
"She cried because you were not
there to see her married"
He was fully half a minute in grasp
ing the full meaning Of that wonder
full sentence.
Did she?" he asked, lifting his head
suddenly. Honest, Mary? You're
not saying it just toto make me
fell
He stopped and waited for her to re-
ply TO his unuttered question. She
shook her head.
Then she does care a little for me.
She hasn't lost all the feeling she used
to have
"She cried because she was not Civ
en- a chance TO talk with YOU. She
thought she could comfort you-could
help YOU"
oh" he cried. with all the bitterness
of a lost. hungry soul. "if | had only
known. She could have comforted me.
What a foo | was not to see her. I've
been cursing myself all day. Now |
know why | cursed. 1t was because
| wanted to see her."
Yes. Go on. Tom." she said quietly.
Il can't. Mary. | can't talk about it
7 guess I'd better say goodby now I'll
lose my nerve il | get TO thinking and
talking
Almost the last thing she said to me
before she went away was this, Tom:
Some day | shall 20 to him. He
needs some one to love him. | am sure
he fs not so wicked as She got no
further than that. | stopped her"
"She said all Mary. why did you
stop her? Why didn't you want her to
say It? Why did you begrudge me a
little thing like that?' He was trem-
bling violently. There was misery,
not anger or resentment, in his voice.
tom, are you ready to go to the
rivert'
He shrank away from her, shudder-
ing. appalled,.
ITS hard to die. after ALL. IL
ought not to have let you tell me all
this. It's made it harder. | said Id
do it. You want me to do it. Well, |
will"
She chung to his hand. The light
now struck her face. What he saw
there caused him to catch his breath.
Il am convinced that you would do
il. Tom, for her sake and mine. You
would do it not because you are weak,
but because you are strong. | am sat
isfied now"
"Satisfed?' he murmured, wonder
struck.
She arose. tom, l am not going to
say that | love you. You cannot ex-
pect that. There is a feeling within
me, however. that may develop into
something like the old love l nee had
for you, If you give ii the right kind
Of encouragement-and care
"What are you saying to me, Nary
he cried hoarsely.
You would have given up your life
so that Christine might be happy.
am willing TO do as much, Tom, toward
the same end. | will give up the life
| am leading. You want anothe
chance, Tom. Well, you shall have it
| will 20 where you GO, live where you
live"
Mary" he gasped.
Christine said you needed help
Well. | will try TO give it to you. You
have her love. You didn't quite kill
that, as YOU did mine. Perhaps, if both
of us try hard. you and | together, Tom
we may be able to make her forget the
ugliest part of her life"
'"Togetherr | don't understand"
Il am still your wife" she said, a
shrill note creeping into her voice.
"You-you mean | won't have to &c
to 20 to the river?" he cried.
II never meant you to do that
He lifted his face, to stare about as
if trying to convince himself that he
was really there. alive and awake.
Il guess don't quite get your mean
ing, Mary" he muttered, but his fingers
"You don't mean you-you are going TO
take me back!'
mo. am asking you to take me
back
He could not speak for a full minute
or more.
You'll give me another chance?
That's what you mean-that's what
you're really saying. isn't it," He was
fairly gasping out the words.
"Yes, Tom"
"'Ohi' He turned and flung himself
on the bench, bursting into tears. Il
don't deserve It'll don't deserve il!
It's too much to hope for"
She sat down beside him. laying her
hand on his shoulder. After n time he
grew quieter-then almost deathly still.
She shook him gently.
"Will you come home with me now,
Tom?' she asked. She, too, had bee
crying softly.
He looked up. They were so close
together that she could detect the hum
BILE, wistful look in his face. His lips