The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-08-13

ing, of course; and he knew that she
was here. So she left the notation in
the envelope and escaped from his Of
flee before he returned.
One more mad thing-the maddest
of all-she did. She left on his desk
beside the envelope a ticket, for the
seat beside hers, at the Orchestra.
Beatrice had no lunch that day. She
went to the women's room at Marshall
Fields and lay down. At last she
went to Orchestra Hall and took her
seat.
Never, never before had Stock so
conducted and the orchestra so played
the FideliO and the D Minor Sym
phOny. Bob did not come.
He, of course, received from Miss
Oliver a report of Beatrice's visit and
departure; and he discovered her note
in his checks next the four to Cash
which his wife had assembled and left
together. But this did not tell him
how much more Beatrice knew; and
it left him wholly in the dark as to
what she meant to do about 1t.
So far, she had asked him directly
nothing, for fear of the answer; for
fear, he was aware, of forcing an open
break between them. Now what would
she do?
The concert ticket gave him an aw-
full moment with its power to recall
the past. He had to tear it up and
toss it out of sight.
He could keep away from the con-
cert; but then came the hour when
he must go home and face her.
But she said nothing when she met
him, and they went to their separate
bedrooms at night without her having
referred to her visit at his office.
In the morning, after he had bathed
and shaved and was nearly dressed.
he went into his wife's room. She
had been awake and she sat up In bed,
without welcome and without surprise.
81 was thinking about US, Bob" she
said, supporting herself on her hands.
Her hair was braided, as she had
slept, and drawn back from her fore
head. Its severity brought out the
clear, even outlines that gave her face
character.
shes in New York, isn't she, Bob?
She stays in New York;"
"She?" he repeated, but instantly
decided not to evade. YES; she stays
in New York"
"You-you haven't brought her here
yet? You've never-seen her in Chi
cago." .-..-.... ....
NO." he said. -Never-where you
were"
That's something, Bob. Not much,
but something"
"Tricie, you don't understand this.
You"
had to tell II to him-"Stock played
the Fidelio and Cesar Franck" She
shut her eyes and hummed the notes
Of the solemn, exalted music. HE
came to that part-our part, Bob-the
part that binds souls together forever.
no matter what may happen to their
bodies"
With her eyes closed, she saw her
self and him not middle aged but
young together, and in awe before the
wonder of their first child within her
body.
Oh, the notes had meant them in
their moments of exaltation this
theme of defiance of fear. 1t brough:
back that night when her pains" be-
gan, and he was frightened that per-
haps she might die and leave him.
But she could never, never leave him !
Cesar Franck by his music declared it
impossible!
Bob Gleneith's wife, middle aged
and in bed before him, opened her
eyes, which had wrinkles around them
1T helped me again yesterday, Bob, y
she said. 1T made me know I'm
bound to you, whatever you do. CASH
isn't"
"Cash?"
"Cash. You know whom mean
CASH"
YES" he said.
"TlI never ask her name, Bob; or
anything about her. If you wanted to
tell me, I'd ask you not. It's much
the best as it is. / can think of her
now simply as Cash. 1 can see her
just as Cash. That's by all means
easiest for me. So never tell or ex.
plain a thing about her, Bob. That's
not too much to ask of you, Is IT.
Leave her, between you and me, just
Cash"
This had occurred more than a week
ago; the emotionalism of its moment
long ago had loosed its hold upon him
only to trouble him occasionally since
He could not permit himself to live
in the past, on the relics of lost ex
altations. He felt too much life ahead
Of him. He was going on, looking for
ward; the ease and certainty with
which he continually advanced his
business affairs, declared it He haC
never felt so capable.
He turned, with more composure. tC
his daughter.
Your mother and l." he said. In q
quiet voice, understand each other
She-we are not thinking in terms Of
separation. Has she told your"
NO." said Agnes. What was Il
which the lawyer, O'Mara, had said
Infdelity was kinder than to cast of
a wife openly.
"Does that make you any happier?
81 guess so, Father"
The post, at half past ten, brought