The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-02-22
CHAPTER xvI.-continued.

'T am all right. I'm resting, dear,
and thinking. Don't fret about me.
When / feel able, 1 will come down
to you"
"As you WILL" he assented unspeak-
ably relieved; and returned to the
kitchen.
Sunset interrupted his thoughts
sunset and his wife. Sounds of
someone moving quietly round the
kitchen, a soft clash of dishes, the
rattling of the CRATE, drew him back
to the door.
She showed him a face of calm re-
straInt and implacable resolve.
"Hugh"--her voice had found a new,
sweet level of gentleness and strength
--''I just wanted to tell you how sorry
j am. I've let you go without your
2unch"
''Well," he admitted with a short
laugh. "Tm famished -
She paused, regarding him with her
whimsical, indulgent smile. "You
strange creaturel" she said softly.
t'Are you angry with me-impatient-
for this too facile descent from heroics
TO the commonplace? Be patieEt with
me. dear"
But alarmed by his expression, her
words stumbled and ran out. She
stepped back a pace, a little flushed
and tremulous.
rHugh! No Hugh, no."
Don't be afraid OF me-" he said,
turning away. 81 don't mean to bother.
Only--at times"
Il know, dear; but it must not be-"
shall you make q fire again to-
nightT she asked, when they had con-
cluded the meal.
I'm three places" he said. "Well
not stay another day for want of let
ting people know we're here. I'll go
now. When you are ready"
II shan't be long," she said.
When it was quite dark, Whitaker
brought a lantern to the door and
called her, and they went forth to-
getheI.
AS he had promised, he had built
up three towering pyres, widely apart
When all three were I'm full roaring
dSme. their illumination was hot and
glowing over all the upland. II
seemed impossible that the world
should not now become eognizant OF
their distress.
AZ some distance to the north OF
the greatest fire-that nearest the
farm-house-they sat as on the previ.
GUS night, looking out over the black
and unresponsive waters, communing
together in undertones.
Ia that hour they learned much OF
one another; much that had seemed
strange and questionable assumed, in
fhe understanding of each, the com
fletiOn of the normal and right. Whit
eker spoke at length and In much de
tail of his Willful Missing years with
out seeking to excuse the wrong-mind
eu reasoning which had won him his
own consent to live Under the mask
of death. He told of the motives thai
had prompted his return, of all thai
had happened since in which she haC
mad no pert-with a single reserva
ton. One thing he kept back; the
Cine for that was not yet.
listener in his turn, he heard the
history Of the little girl of the Com
mercial House breaking her hear
against the hardness of life in what
at first seemed utterly futile endeavol
70 live by her own efforts, askinl
nothing more of the man who hat
given her his name.
He learned of the coming of Max
MS interest In her, the indefatigabl'
pains he had expended coaching hei
TO bring out the latent ability his owl
genius OWNED; of the initial perform
ance Of Joan Thursday" before {
menger and Indifferent audience, hel
Instant triumph and subsequent con
quest Of the country In half a dOzer
widely disslmilar roles finally of he
decision to leave the stage when SHE
married for reasons comprehensive
demanding neither exposition nor de
fence.
1T doesn't matter any longer" sh'
commented, concluding: 81 loved anC
hated It, 1t was deadly and it wa,
glorious. But It no longer matters
Il Is finished; Sara Law is no more.
You mean never to 80 back to thu
stageYo
Never"
"And yet" he mused craftny.
"Neverp She fell bllndly into hi
trap. II promised myself long az,
thnt n ever / became a wife"
But yon are no wife," he countered
Dear. you are cruel to me !"
II think It's you who would bl
cf1ei to yourself, dear heart"
II think" she announced, wed bet
ter go ir."
She rose without assistance. moves
away toward the house, paused an'
returned
Hugh" che said gently, with
quover in her voice that wounded hi
eonceit tn himself; for he was sur
it spelled laughter at his expense anl
Weii.merlted-"Iiugh, you big sulk
eol gei up this instant and com