The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-08-04
THE CLOSED DOOR
BY FREDERICK CLARK.

Paula walked the length Of the room
and stood peering through the lac"
fineness of the curtains. Her hus-
bands car was at the door; presently
he would come with his easy stride
down the white stone steps of the en-
trance. His going each morning and
his return at night We're the events
of Paula's day. Nothing else held for
her the absorbing interest of this pass
ing glance of her husbands face and
figure.
Her violet eyes would widen visit
fully, or would overflow with tears, as
she sat for moments after his depart
ure. Sometimes her eager hoping was
rewarded by covert glance in her
hidden direction, but oftener her nus
band passed on, resolutely aloof.
"How long was it to go on" she Won-
dled sadly, this tragedy of the
closed doOrY
In unspoken understanding they had
accepted their solitary living apart
ments upon either side of the long hall
leading through the Old mansion. inns
was after the blow had fallen, destroy
ing hope of happiness.
Paula ut first, had believed that in
iured pride was responsible for her
sufferngs; then came the heart-hreak-
ing realization of her love for DAVID.
ALWAYS, 1t seemed, she had loved nm
and had not known How could she
have been so blind? Why, her lips had
overlooked continually in snatchcS OF
JOYOUS song as she moyed about In
her new home, and David's. Every
gown she selected had been with
thought Of pleasing Davin; indeed, ev-
cry thought had been for him. She
had not known the meaning OF !; all
because the fancy of an old infntna-
| tion still possessed her.
She had been but a school girl when
/ Teddy Van came courting. Opposition
upon her parents side but added TO
determination upon hers to be Teddys
wife. He was lovable youth, his very
poverty gained for him her champion
shin. And when affairs between the
two promised to become serious
! paula's mother, in defense, presented
! David Burns--irreproachable, 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 we'll. But in some unaccountabie
way, when Teddy had been for some
time absent, Paula, overwhelmed by
her mothers opportunities, and inilu-
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 was still concerned, fearful lest
mothers persuasions had been unwise-
Nv forced where love held sway.
The blow which had severed Paula's
happiness came in wcll-meant letter
from mother--a letter assuring Paula
that her Judgment in the choice Of Il
husband for her daughter had been
most wise.
an 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 letter-there was the tragedy.
He had opened it while Paula was
out of town. His mother-in-iaw had
, intended paying them visit, as she
had purposed, and was writing advls
, ing them when to meet her at the sta
ton. David desired to know the time
of meeting and read instead or MS
wife's deception.
When Paula returned he had faced
her with the accusation of love toi
another man while marrying him foI
material benefit And poor Paula. be
lieving herself in the truth of his ac
= cusation, could but turn dumbly fror
= the hurt of her husbands eyes.
1t was later, through days of Danish
= ment from his presence, that tul
E knowledge came to her of her owl
: deep love TOT MN. nut b"Niu ''"" 'NA
!, her on the night of condemnation.
e "If your love Is not mine, neither
: are you mine, Paula he had said ant
= then, resolutely, he had closed the
e door-the only door which gave pas
{ sage through the hall. Since then the!
had lived silently apart, unchanged
only in the eyes of the world. An'
! Paula, knowing the bitterness OF TIT
blow she had dealt David's great love
could still find no way to open the doc
his will had closed.
She was in the long room at tWl
light again. eager for her glimpse o
her husbands coming. Upon the tabl
: she found q letter addressed in he
fathers flowing hand.
"Old dad is coming to see you, girl,
> she read. Cant seem to rest cas-.
in my mind about that matrimonial
y venture of yours-got to come and mt
y out if you and that husband of your
Il are as happy as mother thinks you are
" Got to know for sure, because the doc
u tor says I won't be here long. I've hal
Il sort of stroke and Well, | can
IL leave you, girl, until I'm sure your
, happy, I'll be with you tomorrow
~ Dad"