Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-02-23
THE AWAKENING
BY NAN BURNS
Sc5c5rSc5c5c5tSI5 L5c5LacSchc5cSrSl
3. 1912. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

g. 1872. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
One-two-three. The little French.
clock On the mantel licked off the
hours. The man was coming again.
Carol pushed back loose strand OF
golden hair and viewed herself again
In the small mirror over the dining
room shelf. She was pretty--too pref
~ to wither and fade alone In the
small back apartment In the dreary
part of the city. John left early in the
morning before she could jump out OF
bed 10 make his cup of coffee and, as
the distance from his work was too
great for him to return for lunch, II
was not until 6 80 that she heard the
key click In the door and his CHEEKY.
"Heigho, Carried y
He was good sort. an awfully good
sort, but the golden years Of youth
were slipping fast and-the man was
coming again. II was quite by accident
she had met hm--two weeks before.
She was rushing home from the corner
grocery with package OF eggs under
her arm-eggs were SO unr0mantlc--
and the sack burst. Lo! she and q
stranger were viewing the wretched
mess. They smiled, they talked. and
at three o'clock that afternoon Carol
rouged her lips, powdered her nose
and jumped into Il very smart blue car
chugglng away before her apartment.
He had come often to the lonely.
dingy apartment since then, He was
coming today, and Carol was to give
him the answer to q big question
whether she would continue TO sit
waiting, watching through the beauti-
full days OF youth FOR a poor hard
working husband, who only half ap-
preciated her or 20 with the man-to
sail with him To the ends OF the world
Ito London, to Paris, to China, and to
have him buy her all the things she
had 80 long craved.
One-two-three-four Her decision had
been made--the black travelling bag
was packed and her hat lay upon
table.
There was ring. II was not time
for the man Oh the postman. Carol
rushed downstairs and returned with
small blue envelope. She hastily
tore it open and read:
Dearest Carol:
"Our baby dled--our little Elsie.
scarcely can see through my tears 10
write. but | knew and Jack knew that
you alone could sympathize. The world
has suddenly turned black cannot
see which way TO so. want my baby,
and through all my sorrow | seem to
see your sweet face my brave Carol.
You were the most noble Of girl wives
when you laid your little Ethel away
forever | shall remember always how
you put your hand on Johns arm and
told him II was Gods wish, and that
you and he would make the fight to-
gether
I'll X you always l see before me
now-you and John. We must be brave
for these boyhood sweetheerts who are
trying to conquer the uphill fight. |
shall be with you before long l want
to sit beside you and have you tell me
how TO be the same sweet, unselfish
person you are. | shall bring some
trlnkets of Elsie's. GoOd-by. Your
sincereSt friend, ETHEL
The letter slipped from Carols
hands She could not see It. There
were large tears on the rouged cheeks
and the powdered nose. Her face was
buried in the arm of the chair.
BABY Ethel" she sobbcd Johns
baby and mine My poor John-you
have worked and"
She slowly walked over to a drawer
in the small desk and opened il. TAX
Ing tissue paper parcel from Il far
corner, she leaned over and united it
\ pair of pink shoes fell out
one, two, three, four, five. The door
bell tinkled loud aud louder. II
stopped, then started again. All be
came quiet save for the chugging Of an
automobile before the apartment. In
few moments even that had ceased,
aud Carol was alone.
Ii was growing late-and 50 much TO
be done--the bag unpacked. Johns sup
per and
She lied up The tissue paper parcel
tenderly careSSed it, and laid il away
two-three- four-tiye six
the lutte French clock licked of the
hours