The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-05-02
No, no, Carrie!" entreated. "There
am better now."

No, no, Carrie!" entreated. ether,
am better now"
And I was better. was strong, al
at once desperately strong. And wha
drought about this changer That simpl
receipt which had in my pocket. An
derson had nothing to show that th
m oney had been paid; and was not m
unaided word as good as his2
l was foolish enogh to believe that
could brave it through, and I grew con
fidcnt and quite easy at once.
There, Carrie l am much better nov
The room was TO-, warm, ! guess. s
some sneaking thief has dodg ged in ant
stolen my coat? Well. let it 20.
was an old one, and now I'll have bette
one"
But was there nothing in the pockets
asked Carrie.
1t is strange how suspicious guilt vii
make US. really thought that Carri,
suspected me, and an angry reply was OF
the end of my tongue. I suppressed it
however, and uttered a falsehood instead
Nothing of consequence, Carrie.
good pair of gloves and some other tria
ing notions"
II am glad it is no worse, Fred. Now
If you will wait just moment, I viii
get you some of fathers coats to we al
home.'
Thus equipped, left her.
You may guess that my slumbers thai
night were not very sound, nor very re-
freshing. never passed more miser
able night, and in the morning my hag
gard looks were the subject Of remark
Why. Fred, you look as though 20,
had met legion of ghosts last night2'
said Winston. "What is the matter!"
II had bad night of it." answered
with a sickly smile.
''And you'll have another if you're not
careful. You had better keep quiet to.
day. By the way, did you write to
Anderson?"
I do not know how managed to reply
for the question set me to shiveiing from
head to foot, and l was so weak that /
could scarcely SIT in my chair.
must answer in the affirmative, how
ever, for he said:
"Then we may look for something from
him tomorrow or next day"
Immediately after he added:
"Why, Fred, you shiver as though you
had the ague, and you are sweating like
butcher! You're sick, man! Come
jump into my cutter, and I'll take you
home."
l was glad of the chance to get away
and, reaching my room, I locked myself
in.
Winston sent doctor round, but I re-
fused to see him. Then Winston came
himself, but would not open the door
Then my landlady came, then some OF nv
tc!Ie w-boarders; but l turned them all
away.
Ah those were terrible hours that
passed, and night coming on brought me
no relief. Can you not guess what I was
meditating2 Coward that was, l had
at last resolved on selt-destruction.
I commenced my preparation with the
same calmness and deliberation that
would have used in the most common
transaction. wrote short explanation
for carrie, another for Mr.. Winston, q
third for my poor mother, and I sealed
them ali. In fourth envalope I inclos
ed the receipt to Mr.. Andersen. All this
accomplished, went to my secretary and
took out the weapon of death. 1t was
simply arevolver, small and in significant
enough in appearance, but l-sufficie2t,
Having examined the cartridges to
make sure that there would be no failure
I sat down before the fire to gather cour-
age.
1t may be interesting to know that nc
courage came to me, for the desperation,
the growing fear Of life-lca in no wise
call by that name. 1t was simply cow.
ardice. Yet, whatever you may term it.
it was all sufficient tor the time. 1t nerv-
ed my arm, and, lifting the revolver, l
placed its cold, death-dealing muzzle
against my forehead.
In another secoud l should have been
lifeless; but just as nv finger began to
press the trigger, there came tap on
my door,
1t startled me, and has, lily concealins
my weapon, called out that could ad.
nit no one.
mot me, Fred?''
knew Carries voice, and yearning
to look On her loved face got mastery Of
me. Quietly slipping the tell-tale letters
which had left on the table, into my
pocket, I opened the door.
"Oh, Fred, you are real sick!" exelaim.
ed Carrie, the moment the light fell or
my face. Why did you not send fo1
NEE Aren't you better?"
Worse" l answered, huskily; but
Carrie-good heavens!''
As I uttered this exclamation l start
ed back, and then forward; and then
I scarcely know what, for hanging across
Carries arm was my overcoat!
Recovering from my astonishment,
snat:hed it from her, and thrust my
hand into the pocket. drew out cleve,
Thousand seven hundred and City dollar
and twenty-threc cents.
You have heard about, and perhap!
seen, the singular capers of madman
or the wild antics of those crazed will
rum, or the grotes4ue dancing Of saw
| ages. Well, judging from what Carrie
told me, and from the appearance of m!
apartment after it was al over, I am lee
to believe that were it possible to con
centrate the three aforementioned
species of demons into one, their caper
ing and dancing would appear tame il
comparison with mine that night.
| But cooled down after while. ant
just in time to save Carries head I
thump from the chair or the washstand
which I had selected as partners in m!
Grassy waltz.
Then ask for an explanation. 1t wa
the simplest thing imaginable. I do no
know why had not thought of it before
It was simply blunder OF Carries father
He had mistaken my coat for his own
and worn it down town, never dreaming
that small fortune was lying idly ii
the pocket.
Well didn't have the brain fever owe
the affair, but l was the next door to it
made clean breast of the whole thinl
excepting my attempt, or, rather, my re
solve, at self-destruction. No one eve
guessed that part of it, and tell it to-da.
for the first time.