Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-07-17
THE CLOSED DOOR
BY FREDERICK CLARK.

uoWh me Wlitt stone steps of the en-.
trance. His going each morning and
his return ut night were the events
of Pnula's day Nothing else held for
her the absorbing interest of this BASS
Ing glance of her husbands face and
figure.
Her violet eyes would widen wlst
fully, or would overflow with tears. MS
she sat for moments after his DEPART
ure. Sometimes her eager hoping was
rewarded by a covert glance in her
hidden direction. but oftcncr her hus-
Dand passed on, resolutely aloof.
"llow long was 1t to 20 on" she won.
d"led sadly. this tragedy Of the
closed door?'
In unspoken understanding they had
accepted their solitary living apart
ments upon either side of the long hall
lending through the old mansion This
was after the blow had fallen. destroy.
Ing hope Of happiness.
Pauln at first. had believed that in
Jured pride was responsible for her
suIlerings; then came the heart break
Ing realization Of her love for David
Always, II seemed. she had loved him
and had not known. How could she
have been so blind? Why, her lips had
overlooked continually in snatchcS of
Joyous song as She moved about In
her new home. ana David's. Every
gown she selected had been with n
thought of pleasing David; indeed, ev-
cry thought had been for him She
had not known the meaning of it all,
because the fancy of an old infatua-
ton still possessed her.
She had been hut n school girl when
Teddy Van came counting. Opposition
upon her parents side but added to
determination upon hers to be Teddy's
wife. He was Il lovable youth. his very
poverty gained for him her champion
ship. And when affairs between the
two promised to become serious,
Paula's mother, In defense, presented
David Burns -irrcproachable, success.
full man of the world.
Indignantly at first, then stubhornly,
Paula refused his attentions. Teddy
was furious that another man should
think of his Paula. Teddy told her to
"hold out" against him and all would
be well. But In some unaccountable
way, when Teddy had been for some
time absent, Paula, overwhelmed by
her mothers opportunities, and intlu-
enced by David Burns persistence,
had married him., in blaze of So
Ciety glory.
Teddy was forgotten in the happy
months which followed old Dad
alone wrs still cone rrned, fcarftl lest
mothers persuasion had been uawisc-
ly forced where love held sway.
The blow which had severed Paula's
happiness came in wclI-mcant letter
from mothcr--a letter assuring Paula
that her Judgment in the choice of n
husband for her daughter had been
most wise.
"In your splendid home with your
fine social position" wrote mother
"you will realize that the love for ,
Teddy Van, which seemed to YOU so
serious, was after all not the only thing
worth having" And David had read
that lettpr-there was the tragedy.
lie had opened it while Paula was
out of town. His mother-n-law had
intended paying them visit, rs she
had purposed. ana was writing, 0hvis- !
Ing them when to meet her al The sia-
ton David desired to know the time
of meeting, and read instead of his I.
wife's deception.
When Paula returned he had faced
her with the accusation of love for
another man while marrying him for .
material benefit. And poor Paula, be. .
lievIng herself in the truth of his ac-
Cusation, could but turn dumbly from
the hurt Of her husbands eyes.
1t was later through days of Danish |
ment from his presence, that full /
knowledge came to her Of her own
deep love for him But David had left
her on the night of Condemnation.
of your love Is not NINE neither
are you mine, Paula" he had said, and /
then. resolutcly, he had closed the I
door--the only door which gave pas
sage through the hail. Since then they
had lived silently apart, unchanged
only In the eyes of the world. And
Paula, knowing the bitterness of the
blow she had dealt David's great love,
could still find no way to open the door
his will had closed.
She was In the long room at twi.
light again eager for her glimpse of
her husbands coming. Upon the table
she found Il letter addressed in her
fathers flowing hand
"Old dad Is coming to see you, girl"
she read. Cant seem to rest easy
IN my mind about that matrimonial
venture of yours--got to come and find
out if you and that husband of yours
are as happy MS mother thinks you are
Got to know for sure, because the doc
tor SAYS I won't be here long. I've had
sort of stroke and Wei. ! can't
leave you girl. until I'm sure you're
happy. I'll be with you tomorrow
Dad"
with a little cry, Paula ran and
slpped the letter under the closed
door Tears were upon her cheeks
and as she, waited brcathlcsSly the
door swung wide; her husband stood