The Web of Life

, her eyes peering into the soft darkness in the path of the shadowy figure that had passed down Stoney Island Avenue into the night beyond her ken. She had not

rds and simple acts, until he became-as when he had spoken to her at the hospital-a masterful

st now, while the yoke was hot to the neck, she might take this mercy to temper the anguish. On the long hill road before her it would be a grateful memory. It seemed now that she had put herself to the yoke, had taken the hill road very lightly. She had not thought of accepting the dentist's advice. With the fierce energy of her

f man. As they rushed, they bore her with them to those shadowy lands far away in the sweet stillness of summer-scented noons, in the solemn quiet of autumn nights. Her days were beset with visions like these-visions of a cool, quiet, tranquil world; of conditions of peace; of yearnings satisfied; of toil that did not lacerate. Yes! that world was, somewhere. Her heart was convinced of it, as her father's had been convinced of the reality of paradise. That which she had never been, that which she could not be now-it must exist somewhere. Singularly childish it seemed even to herself, this perpetual obsession by the desire for happi

slipped out of her world. To-night there was a strange, almost fearful sense that this vacant, tenantle

loon on Stoney Island Avenue, whose immense black and gold sign he could see from his chamber. That must not happen here, in the neighborhood of the Everglade School. She must keep him w

increased. He was

rve? Where are you?" the sic

he took the food upstairs, Preston was dragging himsel

up? I don't remember see

re received. He left the

as in a pretty tough state," he mused more

have done with the subject. "He offered to come back with me to see you.

ose he

no

he bothers around. I do

fter pulling down the shades and ope

ou to take me in after-I

in going back over that

of men like t

o," she asse

f I were a piece of dirt. Supposing I take a brace and we start over, somew

in her face. At first she made no reply, but as she

e, if I can help it. Do you happen to remember where I saw yo

led, as if he were

man? Well, t

ou are helpless and an outcast. And because I had taken you before, ignorantly, I feel bound to

ough to bind yours

swered

because you could not have her in an easier way! But the old, silly country girl has gone and left me this--Why did it have to be?" she exclaimed more incoherently. "Why did you not let me read what

wered apolo

I marri

child and I could have died together then. But I was married, and so I struggled. The child died, died, d

further words. As she reached the doo

g, and don't get me into trouble at the schoo

e was not hurt, she left the room, barring the door from the outside. She was none too soon in taking this precaution, for as she swung the heavy oak bar into its socket,-a convenient device of the old German, who had the r

Anna?" Mrs.

man came forward. She was large and very fair, with t

you. I have time. John has gone to a meeting-there are ma

e kitchen and retur

's arms trembled. She laughed n

g Swede continued monotonously. "The men are bad enough when

about the

uously, as if such affairs we

oads use the Pullmans. That's what John has gone to see about

ide, watching Mrs. Preston eat, and

yards. He came in last Sunday. He says the folks out his w

ughed

rs. Preston assented.

fight, they starve, and they have children. It was so over there; it is so here-only more pay

done, she opened a window and leaned out, looking into the dark

drawing her head in. "There, Sve

. Preston took her hand

, with a smile. "When I was working o

have I that makes me

t much," she rep

e by a low singing on the overhead wire; then with a rush and a rumble the big, lighted things dashed across the void, and rumbled on with a clatter of smashing iron as they took the switches recklessly. The noise soothed her; in the quiet intervals she was listening for sounds from upsta

any teachers who had abandoned themselves without hope to the unmarried state and had grown careless of their bodies. As she wound her hair into heavy ropes and braided them, it gave her a sharp sense of joy, this body of hers, so firm and warm wit

n the couch, utterly wearied. In a moment she was asleep, having s