The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1919-09-05
THE CLOSED DOOR
BY FREDERICK CLARK.

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Paula walked the length of the room
and stood peering through the lacy
fneness 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 were 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 hus-
band passed on, resolutely aloof.
How long was 1t to go on" She Won
deied 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
leading through the old mansion. This
was after the blow had fallen. destroy.
Ing hope of happiness.
Paula, at first, had believed that in
jured pride was responsible for her
sufferings; then came the heart-break-
ing realization Of her love for David.
Always. 1t seemed, she had loved him
and had not known. How could she
have been so blind7 Why. her lips had
overlooked continually in snatches of
Joyous song as she moved about in
her new home, and David's. Every
gown she selected had been with a
thought of pleasing David; indeed. ev-
cry thought had been for him. She
had not known the meaning of 1t all.
because the fancy of an old infatua-
ton still possessed her.
She had been but 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 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 ns-irreproachable, success
full man of the world.
Indignantly at first, then stubborniy.
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 influ-
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-
~ forced where love held sway.
The blow which had severed Paula's
happiness came in well-meant letter
from mother-a letter assuring Paula
that her judgment in the choice Of
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 letter-there was the tragedy.
He had opened 1t while Paula was
out Of town. His mother.in-law had
intended paying them a visit, as she
had purposed, and was writing. advis-
ing them when to meet her at the sta
ton. David desired to know the time
of meeting, and read instead of his
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.
II 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.
III your love IL not mine. neither
are you mine. Paula" he had said. and
then, resolutely, he had closed the
door-the only door which gave pas
sage through the hall. 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 letter addressed In he,
fathers flowing hand.
"Old dad IL 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 fint
out II you and that husband Of yours
are as happy as mother thinks you are
Cot ~. t,nn,,, fOp suep hor0uao the fnr