The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-09-07

like them to think that JONI. |
have been with me, but you know and I
want you to show them this letter and 20
tell them. want them to know tnAt 70
not your fault. That II was just pscenes
Good-by. John. my dear husband I
shah say that again when death comes
to me. shall say 1t over and over aeesn
as I grow weak and the promised iano
John. and good-by.
He put the letter back into his peck
ct He knew that soon he would draw
1t out to read again, though he could |
repeat every word. He could tell
without looking the appearance OF
every line and OF the tear blot that
seemed to underscore the your" In
the signature.
His loving wife," she had said. and
she had wanted every one to know
how kind and loving he had been.
She had been glad that he had
kissed her good-by and he thanked
Heaven for the little touch OF senti-
ment that had made him tell her that
she looked as she had when they were
cnllQren tO8eLner.
He could not remember when he
had kissed her before. It must have
been weeks, II not months, and on his
way to town he had wondered why
he had spoken. 1t had sounded fool
ish then, but now he knew 1t had
been done to make her passing easier
and he was glad he had said 1t.
He had been good-humored that
morning. The breakfast had been bet
ter than usual because he had scold'
ed about the coffee the night before.
! She had cooked the things he liked
as a silent peace-offering and the kiss
had been her reward.
| He had been chary Of his caresses
all through their married life. but he
had been quick to complain. and more
than once she had cried that he would
drive her insane and he had laughed
at her.
He had told her he was more likely
to be driven crazy. He had thought
but now the cruelty Of 1t came to
him and his frame shook in a silent
sob.
And worst of all, she meant all she
said in the note. She had written 1t
to reassure him as the dog crawls to
kiss the hand OF its cruel master IN
mute forgiveness.
All Corning knew his hasty temper
and she knew what they would think
In the pangs Of that last farewell she
had thought OF him. had saved him
from the comment of his neighbors.
In the fret shock Of finding her he
had offered the letter in explanation
and It had had its effect.
The first ugly. silent suspicion had
changed to a ready sympathy that had
cut the soul Of the man to the quick
: Had she written in a spirit Of sar
casm or had she denounced him hi
could have fought back. He woult
. have declared that It was but the evi
!. dence Of insanity. the raving Of dis
ordered mind, but he knew that sh'
D meant what she had written that sh'
( had made herself believe that she wa
: in the wrong and that he had beef
;. all that was patient and tender.
= He knew that she had cherishe'
t that chance parting speech to carr.
9 with her in the world beyond. HI
knew that in her great love she ha'
e made worthy he who was unworthy
q and the sense Of his own failure wa
the more acute.
d She had remembered only the kind
~ things-and there had been 30 III
y tie to remember. so much to forget
}. He sat until the lamp grew dir
fighting in vain with its feeble fam
r against the bright glow Of the sun.
n Long before the fire, INTENDED, ha
y gone out and the winter stole throug
!, the cracked easement, but he did NO
3 feel the cold. He was cramped fror
long sitting, but he was not consciou
9 of his discomfort
Slowly he rose to seek the roor
d that had been theirs, to throw hin
n self upon the bed and seek the slice
n Of utter exhaustion. and as he slippe
y the letter into his pocket for the hui
dredth time he knew that this was hi
st punishment.
d He would face his work tomorro'
y and the next day and all the days t
r come. The world would sorrow wit
the man who had been so good to hi
ID wife and every word would bring
ID fresh sting, for he was unworthy {
z. their sympathy.
Reproach he could have stood; cor
le plant he could have endured but ii
,e tender, loving forgiveness would q
le ways be his burden because he kne
er himself unworthy and hypocrite.
IT. -----