The Snowflake herald., 1922-01-20
The Light on the
Shadow
By ADA M. B. STEVENS
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ished gold-band china was given scant
attention, and no notice was taken of
the chime clock as 1t struck eight. For
the first time since the wedding these
symbols Of home seemed unimportant
There was something the matter.
All her life Edith had heard old-fash-
ioned gray-headed pessimists say that
love Is fleeting." She had never be-
Heved it; hers was better love than
that. But how about Toms? Tom
left that morning without a word sim
ply bOlted out of the door, To be sure.
he was late, but he had been late be-
fore. When he came home to his din
ner it 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 1t were of no account, hurried
into his coat and left her alone while
he went to meeting of the Legion.
please don't go tonight, Tom;
want to talk to you"
"Why, I'm adjutant, honey. You
wouldn't want me to neglect that.
would you" 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 it? After
ell, the hurt was too fresh; in a min
ute she was curled up on the daven-
port, sobbing at her own mystifcation.
Was she foolish; or didn't he care
any more? Before she could decide,
the doorbell rang.
"Oh, dearw Edith patted and
smoothed her hair on the way to the
door, trying to look like the happiest
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. 1 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.
"Tom out?" she asked, taking off
her gloves. 81 went over to the con-
cert, but it was miserable, and 1 came
away"
"Yes, Tom is out" answered Edith
casually. Then, putting all pretense
ci6 cho lot
so glad to see you! Something is all
wrong, and / don't know what to do"
''Tell me, dear" Her aunt drew her
to seat on the couch. perhaps you
have simply been alone too much 1t Is
bad for the imagination"
1T is so silly, really; but we can't
help our feelings, can we, AuntieY
And the little story came out-so
trivial to listen to, so very heart
breaking to experience. "He forgot
all about me-" she ended. "What shall
do? and the tears came again.
Mrs. Marsh was quiet minute; not
that she didn't see the tragedy of the
first preoccupied thoughtlessness. She
was thinking.
Finally she said: "You are afraid
that love is gone, Edie? No, it means
that love has begun"
Edith looked up with a protesting,
"Oh, Auntie!"
"Yes, it does, dear. True love of
both heart and soul such as grows into
true marriage like yours, cannot be
lost unless you both will to lose it.
You must never let it rest on trivial
things. Talk it out together; silence
is the greatest thief of all, and very
handy cloak for cowardice Turn the
light on the shadows, and they dis
appear. Misunderstanding cannot
stay unless we choose"
"But he could have said goodby,"
murmured the little wife.
"You chose the wrong time to talk
it over, dear. Tom was busy and hur-
ried by the very things that make your
home rich and possible: his work and
his obligations. He forgot to say good
by because he has absorbed you into
his life. A man does that; he carries
and incentive until he forgets they are
apart He achieves for her, and be-
cause of her."
"Auntie, is that true? Oh, / see it
is. He even has to try to remember
that he leaves me behind OF course
the time to talk to Tom is when he
comes home tonight"
"Of course. He'll be grateful, with
out knowing why, for your patience
and understanding"
I'm going to tell him why, this very
night" Edith settled herself with a
determination that suggested waiting
until morning if necessary.
Right, grille; but don't settle back
in that fiAal way; we are going to the
movies"
"Oh, no, Auntie; / must be right
here when he comes back"
"Why? Did you ever hear of the
Siamese twins, Edith? They were
muscularly attached in such way