The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-05-12

MIN. IL was lncreulDle. Peter :OOk
it very hard. 1t was his first expert
ence in not getting what he wanted.
Instead Of being grateful to Mrs.
Wrest for not accepting him, every
unmarried woman was angry with
her. 1t was not long before scarce
ly a woman save Mrs. Rowland Wis
tied Mrs. Wrest. She was at liberty
low to read and play the violin as
much as she chose and to sew for all
the poor that needed now garments,
all because she had refused Peter
Meredith, whom nobody wanted her
to have.
WHY had she done it? There
could be only one reason. She had
no business to marry She had a
husband living from whom she had
no divorce!
Though Mrs. Wrest was apparent
" conscious of the increasing feel
ING against her. she made no sign.
She still attended church regularly,
wearing black and sitting alone in
her pew, apparently unconscious of
all who We're so %ticrcely conscious of
her. She was sitting thus one morn
ing perfectly still. with her small
hands folded and her face lifted to
the minister.
The church was unusually we'll
filled. and Mrs. Wrest's pew wa the
only one where there were vacant
sittings. The ushers understood
that when there ceased to be room
elsewhere strangers might be shown
to places beside her, and so now,
when Il nan entered the vestibule
very late, he was taken at once to
Mrs. Wrcs1s pew,
lie was a tall man. with a point
ed blond beard and blond hair lust
slightly gray distinguished looking
and handsom Mrs. Wrest moved a
little and lifted her eyes. Then her
face went suddenly white, and she
crumpled forward in a dead faint.
The stranger lifted her up and
, without noticing any ones inter-
ference bore her into the vestibulc.
Mrs. Rowland and a few others rose
instantly and followed after the
twain.
"This is my wife" the stranger
explained torselv. rs there any
thing YOU can do for her."
She opened her eyes and looked
straight into those Of her husband,
who was holding her as if he would
never let 60 again.
"Gordon!" she said and tainted
away again.
Next day Mrs. Wrest had ceased
to be a mystery, for Mrs. Rowland
told all she knew, and she knew a
great deal. She had heard the
whole story from Editha. while her
husband sat by ready to affirm every
word.
Gordon Wrost was the heir Of an
old uncle who had once been in love
with Editha's mother. Not feeling
able in justice to provide for Editha
as he wished, he left his money to
Gordon only on the condition that
he marry her. SO Gordon carried
out the old mans wishes and be-
came possessed both of Editha and
the fortune.
All went we'll till Editha found
out the condition of the will, and, Of
course, she Immediately thought
that Gordon had married her for
the moneys sake alone. She was
young and foolish and passionate,
and without stopping to ask her
husband a question or reason with
herself she gathered up what was
hers and fled.
She thought she would seek out
some little place, mako herself a
home and settle down to a life OF
scclusion and good deeds.
Her husband had found her by
the mcrcst chance. Il have spent
three wears Of my life looking for
vou," he said. "Whcn a wreck de,
lavcd mo here for a few hours and
| decided 10 go TO church | had nc
ldc| If the consequences, 1t seems
as ii a kindly fate must have led
me to your very side. Editha, il
our long separation has accomplish
ed nothing more it must at least
prove TO YOU that | love YOU"
"And the FUTURE" Mrs. Wrcst
said, ]oohi1 up into his face Will
such a snj as her face had never
before bee. ccn to wear "mus1
prove that--I love you"