The One Woman | Page 8

did this, and
now it was one o'clock and he had not come.
What if he had been stricken suddenly with mortal illness! His face had
looked so weary and drawn. She began to cry incoherently, and sank on
her knees.
"Lord, forgive me. I am weak and selfish, and I was wicked to-night.
Hear the cry of my heart. Bring him to me quickly, or I shall die!"
As the sobs choked her into silence, she sprang to her feet, both hands
on her lips to keep back a scream of joy, for she had heard his footstep
on the stoop.
The latch clicked, and he was in the hall.
There was a flash of red silk and two white arms were around his neck,
her form convulsed with a joy she could not control or try to conceal.
He soothed her as a child, and, as he kissed her tenderly, felt her lips
swollen and wet with the salt tears of hours of weeping.

"You will not remember the foolish things I said to-night, dear?" she
pleaded. "There, there, I'll blot them out with kisses--one for every
harsh word, and one more for love's own sake. But you must promise
me, Frank, never to leave me like that again." A sob caught her voice,
and her head drooped.
"You may curse me, strike me, do anything but that. Oh, the loneliness,
the agony and horror of those hours when I realised you were gone in
anger and might not come back to-night--dear, it was too cruel. Such
wild thoughts swept my heart! You do forgive me?"
He stooped and kissed her.
"Why ask it, Ruth?"
"I know I am selfish and fretful and wilful," she said, with a sigh. "I
was only a spoiled child of nineteen when you took me by storm, body
and soul. You remember, on our wedding day, when I looked up into
your handsome face and the sense of responsibility and joy crushed me
for a moment, I cried and begged you, who were so brave and strong, to
teach me if I should fail in the least thing? And you promised, dear, so
sweetly and tenderly. Do you remember?"
"Yes, I remember," he slowly answered.
"And now, somehow, you seem to have drawn away from me as though
the task had wearied you. Come back closer! When I am foolish you
must be wise. You can make of me what you will. You know I am
afraid of this Socialism. It seems to open gulfs between us. You read
and read, while I can only wait and love. You cannot know the silent
agony of that waiting for I know not what tragedy in our lives. Frank,
teach and lead me--I will follow. I love you with a love that is deathless.
If you will be a Socialist, make me one. Show me there is nothing to
fear. I've thought marriage meant only self-sacrifice for one's beloved.
I've tried to give my very life to you and the children. If I'm making a
mistake, show me."
"I will try, Ruth."

She ran her tapering fingers through his hair, smiled and sighed.
"How beautiful you are, my dear! I know it is a sin to love any man so.
One should only love God like this."
CHAPTER III
THE BANKER AND HIS FAD

When Gordon woke next morning from a fitful sleep he was stupid and
blue and had a headache. His wife had not slept at all, but was cheerful,
tender and solicitous.
"Ruth, I can't go down to the ministers' meeting this morning," he said
wearily. "I must take a day off in the country. I'll lose both soul and
body if I don't take one day's rest in seven. I didn't tell you last night
that I came near fainting in the pulpit during the evening sermon."
She slipped her hand in his, looking up reproachfully at him out of her
dark eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me that, Frank?"
"I thought you had enough troubles last night. I'll run out on Long
Island and spend the day with Overman. You needn't frown. You are
strangely mistaken in him. I know you hate his brutal frankness, and he
is anything but a Christian, but we are old college chums, and he's the
clearest-headed personal friend I have. I need his advice about my fight
with Van Meter. Overman is a venomous critic of my Social dreams.
I've often wondered at your dislike of him, when he so thoroughly
echoes your feelings."
She was silent a moment, and gravely said: "Take a good day's rest,
then, and come back refreshed. I'll try to like even Mr. Overman, if he
will help you. I'm going to turn over a new leaf this morning."