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Show HER MINIATURE 1 I ir LUCY VAuaiiAN fovi.i:k I I I Copyright!, t903, by Tht Author t PabUthlng Company Tho Itovcrend Houghton flung down his pen and throw hlmsolf back in his chair, utterly weary and despondent. "It's nil of no uso," ho snkl, aloud, "I can decolvo myself no longor; I havo neither heart nor inclination for tho work." Outside he could just sco tho girlish flguro of his wife, half hidden in tho folds of a largo hammock in which sho was reclining; then, as if sho had heard him, tho words of a hymn sho was singing foil in apt reproof upon his ear. Tho sweet voico died awny, nnd nn expression Of sadness came over tho bright upturned face, ho had listened breathlessly while sho sang, for ho loved hor with a depth of fooling amounting almost to idolatry; and yet, although she was his wlfo, she was as a stranger to him. Sho had opposed their mnrrlago till tho very day on which It had been solemnized, but ho had not known It until tho ceremony was over thon, with burning cheeks and dark, defiant oyes, sho had told him plainly that sho hated him. The revelation made, Cecol had swept scornfully out of tho room, and loft her husband with his bright dream of lovo and happiness shattered. shat-tered. Six months had passed, and during all that tlmo, they had lived together as mere strangers, treating each other with rigid politeness whon tho demands of social life or church work requlrod thorn to bo prosont together to-gether at somo entertainment or moating. moat-ing. As ho sat looking at hor now nnd noted tho sad oxprosslon on hor faco, ho longed to go to her, but ho dared not. Thon straightening hlmsolf, ho took up his pen again, and rosolvod that for hor sano ho would porsovoro. Before ho began again ho glanced onco more at her, and started to his feet, lor largo tears wero standing In her oyes, nnd bIio was trying to look through their blinding brightness at a mlnlaturo which sho hold In her hand. Ho wondered vaguely whoso it was, and a spasm of jealousy smoto him as ho saw her pross it passionately to i.or lips and then placo it in hor bosom. Ho turnod away tho pen fell unheeded unheed-ed from his hand, and his resolve was completely forgotten. In nn agony of dtspnlr ho threw hlmsolf on a couch, worn out as ho was, from loss of sleep and a long nervous strain, his eyes gradually closed, and his troubles wcro Utterly weary and despondent. gowned in oblivion. It was evening Jfhon ho awoko. Ho tried to recollect how ho camo to bo sleeping there at such nn hour, when a suppressed sob at tho foot of tho couch caused him to look in that direction. Ttoro, crouched crouch-ed upon tho floor, wns Cecol. Instantly Instant-ly tho events of tlio morning camo crowding to his mind; but Instead of scorn or anger, ho folt only pity for his wifo. Ho dotorinliied that somo-how, somo-how, In somo way, sho should bo freo; ho despised those who sought dlvorcos, nnd novor boforo hnd ho boon nolo to imugtno any caso which might bo considered con-sidered pnrdonnblo; but it was different differ-ent -ln their caso; sho wu3 his lawful wifo to bo sure, but mora than that sjo was not, and sho must bo free cs free as before her marringo ho would tell her tell her now but, O heaven! what a sacrlflco! "Cocci." Sho started to her foot with a cry, "O Noll, aro you awako at last?" Her faco was flushed with crying and tears stood In her eyes and dampened her cheeks. She had never called him by his Christian nnmo before, nnd something like a thrill passed through his framo as ho noted tho change then something dropped to tho floor, it was tho miniature. Ho was sitting "You shall not leave this room until you give me that picture." upright in an Instant, whllo with a deep flush covering brow nnd nock sho stooped hastily and picked it up. As sho raised herself, her eyes encountered encoun-tered his they wero fierce and determined. deter-mined. Ho had forgotten his resolution resolu-tion to freo her forgotten everything but tho pain 'which nearly stilled him and made him furiously angry at her now. "GIvo that to mo!" he commanded. com-manded. Instantly sho strnlghtened, her dark eyes looked coldly nnd calmly into his. "Never!" she nnswered, briefly, and with heightened color, but no othor porceptlblo sign of agitation, sho replaced re-placed tho mlnlaturo In hor bosom, and turned to leave tho room. He stepped to tho door and barred her way. "You shall not leavo this room until you give mo that picture." "Thon I shall never leavo It," was tho reply. "I might tako it from you," ho threatened. "You may bo a coward if you wish." Her words stung him to tho quick; a dark flush mounted to his brow as ho stood aside. "I bog your pardon, Cecol; I am sorry that I so far forgot myself as to speak to you in such a manner. I hopo that you will at least try to forgivo me." She nnswered not a word, but with head erect walked past him and left tho room. A mlnuto later tho dinner-bell dinner-bell rnntr. Mochnnlcally ho raado a hasty toilet and entered tho dining room to eat his meal in solitude, for Cecel wns not there. Hungry as ho was, ho Boon finished tho lonely ropast, and found that it was quite late. Ho know that ho must pass a long, sleop-less sleop-less night; it would be wretched enough at best; but this uncertainty must bo ovor, and ho must havo an understanding with his wlfo that very ovenlng. Ascending tho stairs, ho tapped at tho door of her dressing-room. dressing-room. "Como In," camo faintly from tho other side. Ho entered. "Won't you sit down?" "ho alwd gontly. A llttlo surprised at tho tono, ho took tho chnlr sho motlonod to. "I supposo you wonder why I havo Intruded my ok upon you," Uo began, "but, bo-llovo bo-llovo mo I d not wish to pain you, nil 1 havo to say-all I wish to do-ls for your happiness. V'ou cannot deny that you aro unhappy Here thut you lovo another --tin, and that you hnto T - it mo and, Cccel, I havo loved you so long and so truly that all I deslro Is to mnko you happy, "rib mntlor n't what cost to myself. I will keep you prisoner no longer wo mus havo a divorce." di-vorce." - ' ' "O no; I novor, nover meant It. I did not know 0 Noll!" sho sobbed, Incoherently. In-coherently. "You menn that you do not hnto mo?" ho asked turning a pair of incredulous in-credulous eyes toward her; "you mean that you do not wish for n divorco?" "No, no; unless you want to send mo awny. I was nover happy till I cam hero." Even then, although it brought a kind of gladness to his heart, hor meaning did not dawn upon him. His gaze fell unconsciously upon a largo picture leaning ngalnst her dressing-table. dressing-table. Gradually ho became awaro of a familiarity in tho outlines, and looked at it more closely It was his class picture; how did It como there? ho wondered. Crossing tho room he picked it up; a prominent hole In th left-linnd corner showed whero tho head of ono of tho students had beou cut out nnd, lo! It was his own! Ht turnod inquiringly to his wifo; hothead hot-head was thrown back among the cushions of tho chair, nnd her hands wero clospod abovo it. Sho was watch lng him with flushed checks and shining shin-ing eyes; the shawl had fallen away from hor shoulders, and among tho snowy laces at her breast somcthls gleamed bright and yellow. In an in stnnt ho was by hor sido and hnd token tok-en It gently from Its hiding placo. Tho color In her faco deepened and her eyes danced mlschlovously, but sho offered of-fered no resistance. Ono glanco nt tho mlnlaturo sufllced; the next moment ho was on his knees by hor sldo, with ono arm thrown about her waist, whilo tho othor drew the bright head down till their lips met. "Forgivo me, darling," ho whispered. But she only wound her whlto arms around his neck, and laying his head upon her shoulder, let hor eyes moot his. |