The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-08-03

lied now that it was a mistake to eX-
pect an OutSider-a plebeian-to un.
derStand the ways of her kind OF
people" Even now, after three years.
Elaine still WINGED as she thought OF
those hastv words of hers. How she
must have hurt him-and all the time
she was hurting herself as well; and
he had let her go on without word
of protest, in the end gravely agreeing
with her, and saying that he would
never ask her to come back again. And
he hadn't. And they never met nor
wrote.
EIaine'S eyes were opened now, but
of course 1t was far too late to give in
and acknowledge herself in the wrong.
Three years of time had rolled be-
tween them. the bar of passionate
words on either side keeping them
apart.
She started once more on her pill
grimage through the rooms. First
the dining room, with the familiar pa
por, which she herself he'd selected.
He had not been so well-off then, ana
had insisted upon living in the style
that his own earnings would entltie
them to-but he had worked hard to
give her as many as possible Of the
luxuries that she had been accus-
toned to.
$50 small q thing to mean so large
loss" murmured the girl to herself.
She had read those words somewhere.
and now they came into her mind. She
stood for time looking out through
the clouded windows. Great tears
welled up in her eyes and poured down
over her face-as II the barriers were
suddenly let down to allow tides or
memory to now in and engulf her.
She had never allowed herself TO
think In this way before, but the spirit
of love seemed to have come back to
the dusty little room from which he
had flown three years before. For her
time passed unheeded.
Darkness fell. Outside, James felt
very cross. The idea Of anyone spend
ing so much time looking at an empty
housed He folded his arms and went
half asleep. Down In the basement
the care-taker, having finished her
supper, came up, and, forgetting all
about her visitor, or, thinking that she
had surely gone away long ago, closed
the door and went home.
And Elaine dreamed On-fOr how
long, she knew not. But suddenly she
awoke to reality with q start, to no
tice that 1t had grown very dark out
side. and that there were footsteps
coming through the hall. Then came
the sound of q voice that seemed IA
miliar.
'Hold the light low there, please.
wish to see all the rooms. There
thank you; that's better"
Elaine had crept to the door, and
was listening with q white face. She
had q glimpse Of the two men as they
passed the door one, evidently the
night Waterman, holding the lamp, and
the other, the man she had sent away
three years before.
$50 he, too, has not forgotten
thought Elaine. bitterly.
She wondered If she should speak
make her presence known - but each
time she tried to her courage failed
her. She looked again. Yes, there ne
was! Standing in front of the oper
fireplace. Once more she peeret
through the open door. GLOW changed
he was" she said to herself. "HoW
| y,,,>h o1Ia,.
Her face was still wet with the
traces of her recent tears, but she die
not even know it as she went up ant
tapped gently on the wall between the
two rooms. He turned round suddenly
with a great start. Then he came tt
the door and opened it wider. Elaine
walked into the room.
All the light from the lamp seemed
to shine on the slender figure, standing
there so erect and proud. The girl:
face was white and strained, but hel
blue eyes shone like twin stars. Th'
man started back with little cry o.
unutterable establishment.
"Elaine, Good God!'
"Iisten," she said softly, her hands
outstretched. "Let me humble myself
while I can. I need you, Richard
want you-you and the little house."
"Elaine-Elaine-" The man coult
but whisper her name, for the suddel
sight of her seemed to have dazed him
"Elaine-why did you cOme?'
Quite suddenly all the fear and pride
seemed to die out of the girls heart
Because I loved you," she Whispered
softly. because in the old empt!
house I came to understand that
could never be happy without you
When I stood in the little room tina
we had planned together'-her voice
broke-"Richard, forgive me"
She was in his arms, sobbing on
the words she could not speak, and nj
arms were around her as he murmur
ed: ats for you to forgive me, dear
est. My little girl And l thought tina
you did not care!"
She chung to him, even as he hell
her, as he kissed lip and brow and hail
He could not let her go. He woul'
never let her go again. "My dearest,
he whispered, mot for long Will it D.
the Empty House."
His Choice Of Professions.