Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-02
Euening Story
kISM EFT.
BY Susan e. cIagett
Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)

I The air was filled with the perfume
OF roses and the morning b<eeze that
blew the curtains to and fro waited
the delicious frangrance through the
open window into the room. A little
child was seated on the floor buryins
a white kitten under a heap of the
blood red petals she had pulled from
the stems scattered about. Near her
! lay doll very much undressed. Be
side it an array of clothes ready for
use when. its mistress remembered
what was due to respectability
! Watching the group with listless
eyes was a woman, stretched with an
! invalid's ipertness upon couch. She
/ was half listening to the child's low
talk when she caught the sound of a
step in the hall. A faint color rose to
her face to disappear even before the
! door opened to admit man, quick and
alert in movement, whose keen eyes
softened to marvellous gentleness as
me looked toward her. He noted her
restless movement, slight though it
was. then laid his hand on the child's
head. laughing softly as he turned her
. face to meet his gaze.
/ What sort of mother are you, Ruth,
! to leave your offspring in this condi-
/ tion?"
II am so glad you have come Dr.
Max; l have been very anxious" she
answered sravely as she handed the
doll to him. 81 am afraid Columbia has
hurt herself and will have to have an
operation
| He took the doll from her. Seating
himself on low chair he soon had the
| stiffened joints in order Then he
+! turned and took the slender hand Of
the woman into his strong warm
clasp. With professional uuickness he
noticed the irregular pulse, the heavy
/ eyes and said gently:
You did not sleep last night"
No" she answered, a wave of color
| flooding her face as she met his eyes
He sighedsheavily Rising, he went
to the window, where he stood looking
with unseeing eyes into the beautiful
garden.
you gain no strength" He said at
last; the misery in his heart told in
the sudden strain of his voice. II see
it every time come If thought my
leaving would be your gain, | would
60 within the hour, but you need me
as a physician, a friend, companion"
"Friend,' he repeated with sudden
passion. then paused. It was some
minutes before he could speak in his
ordinary tone.
Margaret he said al last. "happi.
ness would be everything 70 you. Why
will you put it from you? You need my
love and care and the peace that will
come from complete self surrender.
What is the use of this opposition? 1t
is killing you My life is a torment
seeing you slowly but surely drifting
| from me- II is the constant effort to
keep the barrier between US that tells
upon your strength. God knows think
! first of you He knows my agony--
knows how have writhed before him
praying to be shown the right. If you
were well and strong would go
quickly, without word. But no one
understands you as do. You need me
as your physician, and yet you are
slipping away from me because of the
very thing you will not accept. You
harm no one by coming to me. You are
alone as well as |, and hearts can be
starved as well as bodies, only some
take longer to die than others, ! am
Il strong man. Margaret, while you.
Dear, il is your life as well as mine
beg for. We have right to happiness
and peace would come with it, Will
you be brave and come to me?"
He still stood by the window and his
| hand gripped the frame until the veins
stood out in great cords uEon it, He
| had forced himself to speak quietly
and his voice gave no hint of the
agony Of fear that clutched his heart
as he made his appeal.
And Edith" she asked gently.
Edith" he said hoarsely, his hard
won composure shaken by the name.
Fifteen years Of separation leave me
virtually free. She left me within a
| week Of our wedding day. But you
know Tie whole miserable story. the
story that should have been told to
me before our, marriage. You would
never have known it If | had not told
| you and now 1t is turned against me.
Marsaret are you going to let it spoil
our lives? Happiness will lengthen
yours And mine? A - he drew a
deep breath. I'VE will not talk Of mine.
dear, but for your own sake | implore
you to listen TO me-"
| MAN, "tulu tlidl NC dt ptht' II
did as you wish?" she asked simply,
as she placed his hand over her labor
ing heart. Gould happiness continue
where there would be regret? Try as
would to hide 1t. your love would
find it out and you would be as miser-
able as l."
"Auntie. what does DR.. Max want
you to do?' The forgotten child slip
i ped between them and threw an arm
! across the frail figure.
| He wishes me to go away with
him. dear"
VIII YOU" Ruth questioned in sud
den fear.
The weary eyes looked steadily into
the dominant ones above her, We're
held by the misery she saw in their
depths. Her own were dark with suf-
! fering as she looked away with sigh.
| mo, sweetheart"
- With little laugh of relief the
child resumed her play and the man
quietly left the room.
Hours later the moon shimmered
across the flower scented room and
rested gently upon fair, white face.