Gilpin observer., 1915-03-04
(Copyright, 1879

JOnn AUSTIN nau nelpeu ner INTO tne
Pullman and had placed her suit case
beside her; she had thanked him, and
he could not do more. He had with
drawn to his seat opposite; but he
watched her over the top of his news
paper
The tears that she could not keep
out of her eyes, the look of utter ex-
haustion upon her face appealed to
him profoundly. He wanted to help
her. and he was completely helpless
to do so.
Marcia Davis, leaning back in her
seat. stared out of the window drear
fly. She gave no thought to the kind
looking man of thirty-odd years who
had assisted her. She was living again
in the humiliation of the past twenty
four hours.
Eight years of married life had dis
illusioned her completely as to the
character of her husband. She knew
that he had long since ceased to care
for her. She knew that there were
other women in his life. Some wives
would have sought them out. or en-
deavored to repay their husbands for
their neglect by making their homes
~nnbearable. Marcia Davis was of
different kind Quietly she had gone
about the round of her daily life with
its unending duties, until &. last her
shattered nerves had made even this
impossible
~ won't come with you." her hus-
band had said to her when the physi-
clan had declared a change of scene
x,,iI1 r.
Portable at Sea Crest, and I'll try to
catch up with arrears at the Office"
That was the day before, and Mar
ella had seen in her husbands manner
his suppressed impatience for her to
be gone. His hurried farewell at the
station. when he left her alone with
her suit case in front Of the car. had
been an unconscious insult But how
could he conceal the fact that he want
ed her to be gone?
Marcia knew well that his thoughts
were set upon another Who she was
she had never even considered in her
own mind
In the reaction of her solitude she
leaned back and closed her eyes. She
had lived through the worst: she felt
now too utterly fatigped and III to
care for anything.
May ! offer you one of these maga-
zines?"
She opened her eyes wearily II was
the stranger who had assisted her
with her suit case. At that moment
the least kindness touched her deeply
John Austin had been unable to re-
frain from speaking to her. II had
been poor beginning to his vacation;
at the last moment his wife had re-
fused to accompany him. That had
not grieved him overmuch. for he
knew that the respite from the eter-
nal atmosphere Of aggrieved martyr
dom which she assumed would
strengthen him. in mind and body,
against the future. Something must
be done: their relations could not con-
tinue in that fashion; he was going to
think hard when he got to Ocean
Point
The sight of the tired woman's OBJ
viou3 distress made him forget his
own troubles for the time. 1t seemed
intolerable that she should suffer, that
anyone should suffer when he himself
had such burden to bear.
You are very kind"
Presently they we're chatting to-
gether like old acquaintances. Each
was unutterably surprised -; the vivid
interclash OF thought Each realized
with amazement that this new COM
panionship had brought into life an
undreamed of interest and sympathy.
Marcia studied Johns face. There
were faint lines upon It. which should
not have been there In a man not
older than she. Was he. too. In trou.
BILE? she wondered.
"All cnange for Sea Crest and Ocean
Point"
They got out mechanically. and
few moments later were standing side
by side in front of the bulletin board
There was an hour to wait before Mar
cia's train came In. and little longer
till Johns arrived.
81 can rest here" said Marcia. look.
ing at the uninviting station benches.
Let us stroll down the road and
sit under those trees.' said John Aus
tin. 1T will he more restful for YOU"
Neither the invitation nor its accept.
anco seemed strange to either. AL
READY they felt like friends They
strolled along side by side, under a
warm sun. facing a little wind which
set the foliage dancing. A brook ran
murmuring beside the road The
shady trees. with the expanst of soft.
grassy earth beneath, seemed irresist-
ibly inviting. They sat down side by
side.
And presently. in the strange in.
timacy OF that companionship Mar.
cia's sorrow. so long suppressed. was
no longer to be restrained, and she
was sobbing out the story of her un-
happy marriage.
She told Of the home in the little