The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-05-27

Z
-zE$ further, a perfect torrent
of tears overwhelmed her,
and shook her frail body. The past
year of battling. with the world,
brooding sorrow and disillusionment,
all had told upon her, and as she look
ed ahead to the long vista of lonely
years, she regretted her hasty step,
and was altogether ready to retrace it,
If possible.
Indeed, she had not truly meant to
leave Hugh! They had quarreled, quar-.
relied bitterly, and many harsh and
hasty words had been spoken on
both sides, but she had not really ex-
pected that he would let her go. Once
before, after a quarrel, she had be-
gun 10 pack her belongings, and he
had taken a little grip out Of her hands
in that strong, masterful way she
loved, folded her in his arms, kissed
away the angry tears, and all had
been well. But this time she watched
and waited in vain for the overtures
toward reconciliation, but instead he
had calmly watched her preparations
to leave, and finally locked himself in
his den.
Her parents, upon her arrival home,
hal been as ever, kind and considerate,
but plainly out of patience with what
they termed their childish quarreling.
She had patiently waited there for
sign, word, a letter, but the days had
grown into weeks, and the weeks into
months, and none had come Finally
"a letter did come from their family
lawyer informing her in cold, matter
of-fact way that their household
goods were stored, and enclosing a
generous cheek, which, the letter read,
would be forwarded to her each
month, but she had promptly returned
it, curtly refusing to accept any help
She would earn her own living, as she
had SO often told Hugh she could, in
their little quarrels.
But she was finding it hard task.
She had not cared to take position in
her home town where every one wore
that sympathetic, "I-told-you-so" smile,
but had come to the city. She had
readily secured employment in all
Office, but she found living expenses
high, and it was sometimes hard to
make ends meet, and she was very
lonely! R"F-S,
The first few months of their separa-
tion she had felt resentment, their diff
ferences fresh in her memory, but
long ago they had faded into a deep
regret, yearning for the sight of his
face, the sound of his voice, the touch
of his hand, the protection of his
strong arm. She had indirectly heard
that he had given up his position and
zeft the village, where no one knew.
: Exhausted by weeping, she again
picked up the tear-wet photo and, as
she had tenderly placed 1t in her
dresser drawer, said bitterly: "Yes, he
has forgotten us, baby-you and me-
and tomorrow is Memorial day, and no
one will place flower on your little
neglected grave" AS the little green
mound in the quiet cemetery came
vividly before her, she felt it calling
to her, that by it's side only, could sne
find solace for the pain in her heart
that was growing unbearable. 1t would
be an ordeal for her to go back to the
little village where, but few short
years ago she had gone as a happy
bride, but she would take the early
train from the city and arrive before
many of the curious townspeople were
about She could ill afford the trip
just now, but she could easily, too
easily, dispense with some meals
the coming week, would do her
own laundry work and cling to her
leaky rubbers. True, the cough still
clung to her from the cold she had
contracted the last wet day, but what
did it matter? There was no one to
care-perhaps it would be as well to
be laid beside baby instead of strug-
Cling.