The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1917-08-24

place to place as If driven by nm in
visible force. She held an open let
ter ip her hand and her thoughts were
full Of the writer. She had been think
ing of him before it reached her and
ds she Feread 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.
They had been married scarcely n
year, yet during that time she had
more than OAce said words she re-
grctted as soon as spoken.
He had tried to talk quietly with
her, she remembered, but her bitter,
caustic words aroused him at last.
"One thing l cannot understand"
he had said, why did you marry me?
thought / knew, but your words
leave me In uncertainty"
"Be uncertain no longer" she h;Hl
replied; ut was IL mistake | regret
every day live"
"a mistake l will rectify as far as
lies in my power" he had answered
and left the room.
She had not seen him since. And
now his letter. 1t made her pulses
thrOb to suiTOcation.
Come to me-"
The woman paused at last in her
restless walk; paused before the sec.
rctary. Opening drawer she took
from it small box. Seated before
tie fire she opened it. 1t held plain
gold band, her wedding ring. She had
taken it OF that last day and now, AZ
she looked within its circle at date
that brought back visions of happi-
ness, she knew another week would
bring an anniversary.
Taking diamond from her other
hand she pushed the ring into its form
er place.
She reached Wallace after six days
of weary travel and the answers to
her questions caused her restless heart
to beat with apprehension.
want to know how to get to Me-
Donal's shantyY" the station agent
asked, eying her curiOusly. zone of
his folks? Reckon you've come in the
nick of time" he continued.
"Sick? Yes. His pardner was
down in town this morning and said
Mac was out of his head with noun
tain fever"
Her mental anguish made the way
interlnlnable, 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," someone 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.
elizabeth /"
She felt herself gathered into 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 il
ne could find no other word. Unfas-
tening 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 were told in the heavy sObs
that shook his frame.
They told me you were ILL.," she
said presently.
The mistake was natural. 1t was
McDOnal, farther up the trail. Poor
fellow. lie went over the range an
hour ago. had just come from there
when you knocked"
''TO think 1t might have been you"
she said, with IL shiver, that you
might never have known / had come;
gone without one word, with only the
unkind ones you last heard from me To
remember. think should have gone
mad"
lie put his hand under her chin,
raising her face so that he could look
into her eyes.
Dear heart, do you know what day
this is?'
II have thought of nothing else.
When they told me you were sick =
ave will not talk about it," he said
quickly, frightened by her agitation.
1--WE must make merry on our we'd
ding day. Keeping his arm about her
ne took bottle from shelf and part
ly filled two glasses. "A toast, tOnst,"
he laughed, striving to hide his own
emotion, but his hand trembled as he
raised his glass.
Let us be happy together" she muir
INJURED, and leaning forward. with her
heart on her lips, she kissed him.
(Cooyrlght, 1916 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per SyndicatO)