South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-14
IN THE CLEANING

1t was perhaps a week after this
that we were sitting one evening in
the cleaning. There was the glow of
wood fire burning itself on the
hearth, and the tinkle of spoons
against teacups, and Tom at the
piano singing. He had just sung a
passionate love song, full of despair
and longing and hopelessness. When
it ended there was utter silence for a
minute. and then a man stirred in his
long chair
tom can draw the tacks out Of
the carpet when he sings like that,
he said, with an attempt at fiippancy.
Il dislike all such songs and the
manner in which Tom sings them
very much" said Toms wife, disap-
probation in her voice. They err
seem almost improper"
You are always right" Tom re
piled with hooking bitterness, l
thought Now the sentiment of that
song. commends itself neither to
your judgment nor your morals. Why
should a man eat his heart out for
/ love Of the woman he can get? A
fool isn't hep"
Il do not care to discuss such top
| les, replied Toms wife icily.
4
Alicia entered, gayly waving a yellow
telegram in the air.
After all, she is coming; isn't it
| too delightful?" she said.
Il don't know whether it is or not"
: replied, seeing / haven't the slight
I est idea who she is"
why, it's Mary overly. She is
the most fascinating woman l ever
met" said Alicia by way of expla-
| nation land n xxvi6ov-
oh, Mrs. Graham" said one wOm-
| an. aren't you ashamed to expose
| us to such a danger?"
How long has her husband been
/ dead?' asked another. Has she be-
| gun TO take notice YETI"
Alicia began to frown. do you
| know" she said sweetly, that such
! things are shocking when said of
\ Mary overly? She has been a widow
/ for several years. as far as that goes,
/ but II isn't that which sets her apart
| from other women and gives her a
| look of don't know what-a sort of
! exalted spiritual expression as of one
who has talked face to face with
! grief, and been sanctfied by it. She
never mentions it, but 1 found out
! quite by chance that she had had
story in her life that was romance"
Toms hand fell with a discordant
crash on the keys of the piano and his
! face turned white. Don't tell" he
said; all the stories worth telling
were told ages ago"
! This isn't much of one" said
| Alicia, and suppose it's rather
! commonplace after ALL 1t was lust
that Mary was married when but a
/ mere child to a dull, commonplace
man that she outgrew. She lived
with him comfortably enough how
ever, until one day there walked into
| her monOtOnOus life a young man
| who was, one might say, the other
/ half of her soul. Neither one dream
! ed of any danger until it was too
! late. Then he went away. and Mary
| took up the burden Of life again. but
her heart was broken"
Now that she is free. perhaps he
viii mend it. Hearts are easily
J patched when one knows how to do
! it, suggested one of the men"
No, said Alicia. 1T was a don
| bic tragedy. There was some woman
who was crazy after him and she was
a good match, and he was desperate.
and felt that he was done with love
anyway, and in the sort of revulsion
| that often comes to a man who has
| missed the woman he wants, he mar
| ried the woman who wanted him. 1t
I Is curious, but I've never heard who
was the hero of Mary's romance. and
I'd give anything TO know"
| Tom,' I said sharply, "I left my
ian IN the drawing room. Will you
| find it for me?"
| Ire next morning when he came
| down 10 breakfast Mrs. Morton told
us that Tom had received a letter
calling him to town. and that he had
| left or an early train. She said that
she was glad TO see that he was put
ting business before pleasure and that
there was nothing like marriage to