The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-02-02
The Light on the
Shadow
d0GE0 III N 61i0 0iE1zR7
By ADA M. b. STEVENS

Guitu WhsHtu tut tus1es DeIOTe SHc
sat down to think It out. The cher
ished gold-band china was given scant
attention, and no notice was taken of
the chime clock as II struck eight. For
the first time since the wedding these
symbols of home seemed unimportant
There was something the matter
Ali her life Edith had heard old-fash-
Toned gray-headed pesslmists say that
"love is fleetlng" She had never be-
lleved 1t; hers was better love than
that. hut how about Tom's3 Tom
left that morning without word sim
ply bolted out of the door. To be sure.
he was late, but he had been late be-
fore. When he come home to his din
ner II was nearly seven o'clock. She
bravely told him what was troubling
her, as they had agreed to do, that no
misunderstanding should come be-
tween them. He had laughed as
though It were of no account. hurried
into his coat and left her alone while
he went to meeting of the Legion.
please don't 20 tonight, Tom; I
want to talk to you"
"Why, I'm adjutant, honey. You
wouldn't want me to neglect that,
would your" He hurried out with some
comment on the slowness Of the
trains.
So Edith went Into the pretty sit
ting room to think 1t out. Something
had happened; what was it7 After
all, the hurt was too fresh; In a min
ute she was curled up on the daven-
port, sObbing at her own mystification.
Was she foolish; or didn't he care
any more? Before she could decide,
the doorbell rang.
"Oh, dearl" Edith patted and
smoothed her hair on the way to the
door, trying to look like the happlest
bride in the world. The trim, gray
haired lady standing there looked like
some guardian angel to the little
housekeeper.
"Oh. Auntie." she cried, "please
come In. / didn't know you were In
town."
Aunt Mary Marsh walked In with
the matter-of-fact, detached air that
made her welcome everywhere. What
she saw, you never knew-unless you
asked.
TON out2" she asked, taking of
her gloves. II went over to the con
cert, but II was miserable, and / came
away"
ayes, Tom is out" answered Edith
casually. Then, putting all pretenss
aside, she exclaimed: "Oh. Auntie, Tn
so glad to see you'll Something is al
wrong, and l don't know what to do.
"Tell me, dear" Her aunt drew hel
to a seat on the couch. perhaps yol
have simply been alone too much 1t Il
bad for the Imagination"
at is so silly, really; but we can
help our feelings, can we, Auntie?'
And the little story came outs
trivial to listen to. so very heart
breaking to experience. "He forgo
all about me-" she ended. "What shal
dor" and. the tears came again.
Mrs. Marsh was quiet minute; no
that she didn't see the tragedy Of tn
first preoccupied thoughtlessness. Sh
was thinking.
Finally she said: "You are afrai,
that love is gone, Edie? No. 1t mean
that love has begun"
Edith looked up with a protesting
"Oh, Auntie!'
'Yes, 1t dtes, dear. True love o
both heart and soul such as grows int
a true marriage like yours, cannot b
lost unless you both will to lose 4
You must never let 1t rest on trivia
things. Talk 1t out together; silenc
is the greatest thief Of all, and yer
handy cloak for cowardlce. Turn tn
light ON the shadows, and they dl.
appear. Misunderstanding canno
stay unless we choose"
"But he could have said goodby,
murmured the little wife.
"You chose the wrong time to tai
1t over, dear. Tom was busy and hui
ried by the very things that make you
home rich and possible: his work an
his obligations. He forgot to say goot
by because he has absorbed you int
his life. A man does that; he carrie
his wife with him as his inspiratlo
and incentive until he forgets they al
apart. He achieves for her, and b,
cause of her."
"Auntie, is that true? Oh. see
is. He even has to try to rememb,
that he leaves me behind OF cour,
the time to talk to Tom Is when
comes home tonight"
"Of course. He'll be grateful. wit
out knowing why. for your patien'
and understanding"
I'm going to tell him why. this vel
night" Edith settled herself with
determination that suggested waltz
until morning II necessary.
fright. grille: but don't settle ba'
In that fiAal way; we are going to Il
movies"
"Oh, no. Auntie; I must be rig
here when he comes back"
"Why? Did you ever hear of Il
Siamese twins, Edith? They we