Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-07-21

She came each morning at nine and
spent the day there. And she hae
come to live for those days. She did
not realize the fact that Sarnold him.
self was the cause until one day.
He was at work on a serial novel.
and from the beginning something had
told her that it embodied a great deal
of his own life. : Delicately disguised
though she was, Lydia knew, too. that
Mrs. Sarnold was the woman who had
wrecked that life. And then. sud
denly, Lydia realized that the healing
spirit which entered was-herself! =.
How she knew she could not i'm
agine, for the girl was depicted as to
tally different from her. But she
knew, and her hand fell suddenly
from the typewriter keys, and some
how Sarnold's found it and closed
upon it. And without q word being
spoken Lydia knew that their love was
mutual, was the. dearest and the most
sacred thing in all the world.
Then, looking up with guilty start,
Lydia saw Mrs. Sarnold standing in
the doorway A cold smile played
about her lips; she had seen and un-
| derstood
She said nothing, and the next day
| Lydia spoke to Sarnold Of the resolu-
ton to which she had come.
You asked me when you engaged
me whether l was engaged-in an
other sense" she said, with laugh Of
affected embarrassment. "Or whether
l expected to be. / did not, but-but
someone has come into my life. and l
am going to leave you."
She saw Sarnold start in amazement,
and then q look of bitterness crossed
his face. She knew what that look
meant. He had given her the I'M
spoken homage of his love, and she
had accepted it while her heart was
another's.
Wrong though that love had been.
there we're many elements to justify it.
And Sarnold felt that she had deceived
him wretchedly.
| I'm sorry, but-of course, it must
be So" he said. He asked no Ques-
lions.
jections. She hated Lydia with all
the vehemence of which her cold ma
ture was capable; but she knew that
If Lydia went her own future was
compromised. II Lydia were not there.
with her clever brain and skillful fin
gers, they might become paupers.
IF you want more money you can
get it. I'll see to that" she said.
Money would make no difference"
said Lydia resentfully.
Mrs. Sarnold laughed shortly. Don't
pose as an angel" she answered
You'll find marriage isn't what it's
cracked up as being"
Lydia had given Sarnold a months
notice, and offered to stay another
month, If necessary, to train her sue
cessor, but Sarnold did not advertise
for a new assistant. Wondering, Ly-
dia found all her efforts to urge him in
this direction repulsed with a sort Of
brutality.
She knew that she had wounded
Sarnold to the core by the new tone
of his work. Clever 1t was. but Gym.
ical, and all at once the realization
came to her that it was she who had
turned to gall the sweetness In
Sarnolds nature. What had survived
the establishment of marriage had
been destroyed utterly by her action.
And before she went she felt that that
lie must be made white.
She closed the dictaphone for the
last time and covered the typewriter.
She turned to him.
Il must say something to you" she
began. When l told you that l was
leaving because was engaged to be
married l was telling an untruth.
am not engaged to be married"
The blind man leaned toward her.
"Then-then why are you leaving
me?" he asked in unsteady tones.
Her breast rose and fell swiftly; she
could not answer him. But he knew.
Intuition had not played him false, as
he had supposed. He knew-as she
did.
With a laugh lie sought her and held
her in his arms, and their lips met
once-the only time, but with the pent
up longing of years.
Then he released her and took Oh
his glasses.
Il will be frank. too" he said. "Ly
dia, have seen perfectly for three
months past deceived you-be
cause l wanted you to stay. Because
life was upbearable without you.
hoped we might be happy-just in the
work. But it was not to be-"
; She rose and he took her hands In
his.
81 shall always remember you" he
said softly.
} And you," she replied.
It was two years later that the sud
den telegram summoned Lydia bach
, to the house. Mrs. Sarnold was dying
of an incurable disease. 1t was she
who had sent for the girl.
She smiled through her pain as Ly
dia stood at the bedside.
Il have come to see clearly at last.
she said. 81 know that have bitterly
wronged my husband. and / want II
make amends. the only possible
amends"
| Cha nlaced I,vdia's hand in that O