The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-10-05

Two men mao repafatrd-the one TO
so 90 Mrs. Fowisr'a. and Rodorick
10 the Inn.
Brenda could not have explained
why she aid not SO boldly up 20 the
cottage door and knock; II would
have been natural proceeding,
Many times before ahe had been
there with her husband. but this
evening she stood at the gate irreso.
lutely. sort Of unhappy tndecision
In her heart.
As she stood outside the little
garden, her hands resting on the low
railing. she could see quite plainly
into tho small front room where
Rosalie lay. IL looked very CHEEKY
and inviting In comparison with the
gray. damp evening outside. There
was a ruhycoiored shade 20 the
lamp. a big bowl Of flowers on the
table beside the bed. and tho warm
glow OF tho fire flickcred about
Rosaiie's stsl. straight figure and
masses OF hair.
Or. Myers sat beside her; his wife
could see the shaggy silhouetts Of
his head. and the profile OF his kind
face. Something IN his attitude re
minded her Of the night their baby
dIed--he had been so good--so com.
forting 10 her. For Q moment
tears blinded her eyes, but she
brushed them away angriiy.
He was holding this girls hand
now. as he had held hers then: he
was bending toward her attentiveiy.
Tho heart Of tho woman outside In
tho gray shadows contracted with
a Jealous pain. She was often angry
and impatient with this man whom
she had married: many times she had
called him dull. and compared him
unfavorably with old Fergcrson.
half.rcgretting tho choice she had
made between the two men: and yet,
now--at the sight OF him holding
this girls hsnd--ali her old romantic
love for him seemed 20 rush back
TO her heart Time IL great as
sembler; we may imagine that we
have got quite accustomed 70 the
man or. woman we have married: we
may tell ourselves that the radiant
gilt Is ali off. leaving nothing but
commonplace gingerbread. and yet.
let another seemingly dare TO step
ever 20 slightly into our place. and
In q Nam the years are gone. and
we are back again In ths days Of
romance. with our lovers first kiss
on our lips.
II was very real psng Of suffer.
ing that convuised Brenda ns shs
stood there In the chin autumn even.
ing: but there was yet worse TO bear.
for as she watched. with all her lone
iy. jealous heart I'm her eyes. she saw
her husband bend and kiss the deli.
cate face Of the girl lying In the
freight
A whole lifetime OF pain seemed to
whirl past her a. she stood there.
eiinxing to the low psiings: Il was
as n she had been plunged into .
world where nothing was real. moth
ing Of any moment. She was reused
by the opening Of the door and the
sound OF her husbands voice.
1--WE shah Be here quite by half.
past ten. Mrs. Fowler. You win 70
member all my Instructions
With q TREMENDOUS erSort Brenda
gathered her self control: she shrAnk
back into the shadows AZ the doctor
came down the path. and she heard
the click Of the gate which let him
into the road.
He did not glance IN her direction:
he went straight across to the Inn.
but he seemed 20 walk slowly.
heavily. as n he carried q burden on
his broad shoulders.
Brenda crept after him. keeping IN
the shadows. she was shaking In
every limb: abe felt as 81 she could
have killed him. and yet-some IN
stinct forbade her 70 reveal herself.
II seemed an eternity until he
came out again with young Brison.
She could hear them laughing and
talking az they fastened their coats
about their threats and walked off In
the direction of home.
She followed at q distance with
faitering steps. A great weakness
had come upon her all At once; sobs
surged In her throat: she broke into
run now and then: the tears
STRAINED down her face. she felt like
lost child who knows In which al.
rection q mother has gone. and yet
cannot overtake her.
She wanted to call 10 her husband
Ito scream his name thru the dark
ness-but no sound would come from
her throat. The two DAN figures
ahead Of her seemed 10 quicken their
pace at every step. increasing tho
distance between them.
II was raining fast now. and she
had no umbrella. but she hardly felt
the rain. The wet mud from tho