The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-15
EVENING STORY
An Anniversary.
(By Susan Clagett.1


door of his shanty, high up in the
Occur de Alene mountains, could look
for miles over the country in the clear
morning atmosphere, but he had eyes
for nothing but the letter in his hand. |
The envelope bore a woman's name. |
The letter itself contained but three
words, imperative, commanding
pathetic, also, in their brevity and the
longing implied.
He had no need to work, this man
whose hands showed hardest toll, but
in work he found forgetfulness, and
worn out at night, he slept the sleep
of exhaustion and oblivion. He had
been in the mountains three years and
as he stood there he thought of the
months that had gone before them;
of love and hope and despair; despair
that had driven him from his home.
His eyes sought the letter. 1t was an
appeal, his first and last.
He walked ten miles to mail it.
II.
The long low room was very attrac-
tive in the freight The soft rich
carpet, the beautiful paintings brasses
from foreign countries and the Won
derfully carved teak furniture told of
wealth and luxury unheeded by the
woman who moved restlessly from
place to place as if driven by an in
visible force. She held an open letter
in her hand and her thoughts were
full of the writer. She had been think
ing of him before it reached her and
as she reread it her thoughts again
went back to their last day together
to the bitter words that had passed
between them, that she, herself had
said, not he She knew she had been
the one in fault, that it was her jeaI-
Gus, imperious temper that had
brought 10
cause was so trivial a one, viewed
across the intervening space of years.
Merely an act of courtesy to one who.
report had said, was his fiancee be-
fore he had met her.
Ihey mad been married scarcely a
year, yet during that time she had
more than once said words she re-
GREETED as soon as spoken. There had
been scenes that had driven him from
the house hot with anger and indigna-
ton. But the last one had been the
worst In burning, passionate words
she demanded that he show no more
attention to the woman she called her
rival.
He had tried to talk quietly with
her, she remembered, but her bitter,
.caustic words aroused him at last
I. 'One thing I cannot understand"
he had said. why did you marry
me? [ thought I knew but your
words leave me in uncertainty"
BE uncertain 10 longer" she had
replied. TT was a mistake 1 regret
every day I live
lies in my power" he had answered
and left the room. She had never for
gotten his face as he turned from her
Before he left the house he had
have you nothing to say to me?''
Nothing" she had answered. She
had not seen him since. And now his
letter. 1t made her pulses throb 10
suffocation-
Come to me-
The words were peremptory. They
told nothing of the loneliness, his
heart hunger as he sat waiting in his
cabin.
The woman paused at last in her
restless walk. paused before the sec
rotary. Opening a drawer she took
from it a small box. Seated before
the fire she opened it. 1t held a plain
gold band, her wedding ring. She
now. as she looked within it's circle Mt
date that brought back visions of
happiness. she knew another week
would bring an anniversary.
Toying absently with the ring it
slipped upon her finger. She started
nervously, half drawing it off, but
changed her mind. Taking diamond
from her other hand, she pushed the
ring into its former place. AS she
did so her resolution was taken
Sne reached WalldC AFTER SIX Gays
of weary travel and the answers to
her questions caused her restless
heart to beat with apprehension.
Want to know how to get to Nc
DonaFs shanty?" the station agent
asked. cycling her curiously. "One of
his folks? Reckon you've come in
the nick of time,'' he continued. "A
two hours ago
sick? Yes. His pardner was down
in town this morning and said Mac
was out of his head with mountain
fever
With nerves stretched to the break
ing point, she rode thru the snow and
ta1narack. Her mental anguish made
the way interminable. but at last her
guide lifted her from her horse and
she stumbled alone up the short, steep
path to the cabin door.
Come in some one called in an
swer to her rapping, but she could not
move. AS she leaned against the
shanty for support she heard quick
! footsteps and the door was flung open,
the light streaming out full in her
face.
.tElizabeth,"
She felt herself gathered in his
arms, but could not speak as he car
ried her across the one room to the
chair he had left.
Elizabeth" he said again. as If he
could find no other word. Unfasten-
! ing the furs at her throat he raised
her hands to his lips, then buried his
( face in her lap as he knelt before her
The suspense. the dread she would
not come We're told in the heavy sobs
that shook his frame
They told me you were GILL;" she
sad presently.
THE mistake was natural 1t was
4 McDonal, further up the trail Poor
elbow. He went over the range an
hour ago. I had inst come from there
| when yoil knocked :"
4 ITO think it might have been you"
[ she said, with a SILVER that you
/ might never have known I had Gomez
i gone without one word. with only
the unkind ones you last heard from