The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-08-08
The Empty
House
By Fannie Barnett Llnsky

LIE uttle DrOWH CuT nhu swung WItn
soft humming sound down the
smooth road, and its sole occupant
was sitting with her hands I'm her lap,
looking dreamily out at the landscape
and the rows of houses that they
passed. Eany one passing by on the
sidewalk might have envled the lovely
young woman who sat there, so slen-
der and aristocratic, in the little brown
car, but she herself was not even con-
scious of the looks, whether envious or
admIring. that were cast In her direc-
ton.
II, as the poets say. "the eyes are
mirrors of the SOUL" then 1t was very
apparent that Elaine Hargrave was
not happy, for the sad. far-away ex-
preston on her face told its own story.
As the machine turned the corner Of
the street, however. she began to take
more interest In her surroundings, and
she watched carefully the houses she
passed.
Suddenly she leaned forward and
spoke to the chauffeur.
"StOp, jacques" she commanded,
sharply, "at the house TO Let"
The brakes ground sharply, and
Elaine stepped out Mt once. She
looked again and drew in her breath
quickly. A wave of crimson flooded
her face. The chauffeur wondered Mt
the sudden order, for they were al
ready late for dinner, and he did not
think that his mistress could possibly
want to look at this empty house.
The glory Of perfect spring day
was over all the out-of-doors. 1t seemed
day to tempt anyone to remain In
the open, and drink in to the full the
beauties of bountiful nature, but evil
IDENTIFY this did not attract the girl,
for she mounted the steps Of the house
at once.
She looked around at Jacques after
she had rung the bell. "Wait till I
come out" she said. 3
A slovenly-looking woman suddenly
appeared in response to her ring. She
was as dusty looking, somehow, as the
house was, and quite as detected look
ing; but Elaine scarcely saw her as
she spoke:
II want to see the house." said the
girl. II suppose I can go in?"
swell, it's gettin' pretty late. mum.
and 1 don't think as you'd be seein'
-much," replied the old woman.
"You can give me your CANDLE" said
Elaine. quickly. as she slipped coin
into the not over clean hand, and with
little gasp, the woman yielded.
The front door was opened and
Elaine went through the passage and
glided upstairs like ghost, the woman
promptly returning to the lower re-
glons, whence she had come. Light.
Ing the dirty candle from gas Jet
burning In the passageway, Elaine went
from one room to another with quick,
nervous haste. Her face was quite
colorless, but her eyes burned with
feverlsh light that made her seem very
different from the brilliant lady Of
fashion that most people knew as
Elaine Hargrave. Here she was but
girl; and face to face with memory, a
memory that was still alive after three
years Of bitter struggle-the struggle
Of trying to forget.
For today was the third anniversary
OF what w to have been Elaine Har-
graves wedding day, but that wedding
never took place; and on the third
anniversary of "what might have
been." as Elaine expressed 1t herself,
and just home from travels that had
taken her into the faraway corners Of
the world, the girl had become pos
sessed with the desire to see the place
that once she had expected to call
''home."
She stopped for moment In her
fitting from room to room and looked
about her. Here, but three short years
before, she had planned to come as
happy bride, and here she had left the
man she loved after their bitter quar-
rel, called him "Puritan" and "Prude."
because he would not cOuntenance the
ways Of her "set." How empty and
false were the ways of that very same
set. she had come bitterly to realize.
just as In her heart of hearts she had
come to respect all the more the man
who would not bow down to them.
And how empty was her heart as well /!
She could see him plainly, II she but
shut her eyes for moment, as he
stood before her that day so long ago,
so tall and proud and good to look at.
She had always taken such pride In his
good looks, all the more so because he
had not belonged to her "set." but had
come to the city unknown. and had
worked up to an enviable position. She
could almost hear again his earnest
voice ns he demonstrated with her on
that last fateful day In this house.
IT know that do not belong to this
set that you seem to think SO much
of, dear" he said. "and perhaps that
Is why find 1t so hard to accustom
myself to the things that they do, but
! am certain that have too much