Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-05-08
Der of q Western hotel.


on his wife's fair face, yet he has grown
ten year, older In that time, and q
settled melancholy has replaced his
former happy expression. During
these years, accompanied by his faith.
full friend Roy, he has searched vainly
for any trace Of his wife.
Suddenly the door opens, AMI Roy
Chester, covered with snow, his fac /,
glowing with excitement, enters the
room.
Eureka" he cried. triumphantly.
have found her at last As WAS
pa ssiug store saw her picture. On,
1t Is Velma, fast enough, although the
picture represents the talented sou brette
star, Miss KATE Karleton, in her cele.
brated character. Tina as the sales.
man Informed me. Why didn't we
think of the stage? We might have
known that girl who could declaim
rs she did would make a hit. DO you
r cognize her?"
Arthur Earle grasped the photograph
with trembling hands. 1t was grace
full, childish figure, standing at the edge
of q brook dressed in q tattered calico
dress, the ragged sleeves only partially
covering the rounded arms. The short
skirt barely reached the knees on the
little feet were worn, partly laced shoes
over coarse wooden stockings. An old
straw hat sat far back on the shapely
head. Through tangled mass of long
dark hair the large gray eyes and pretty
poutin9 lips of Velma, his wife, smiled
up into Arthur's white face.
Where is she 2" be gasps.
For answer Roy tplaced slip in his
hand, saying:
Here is the ticket for the prosce-
MUM box at the Grand, tonight, where,
as our good luck wills it, she com
mepces a weeks engagement. Now,
haven't proven myself friend in
deed 2"
Promptly at half past seven the two
friends enter the lobby of the Grand
Theatre, already brilliant with lights.
An excited throng is crowding around
q large placaId which informs the pub
lie, in bold black letters, that lowing
to severe accident, Miss Karleton
would be unable to appear this week
Money refunded at the box Office "
Faint with apprehension, Arthur lis
tens t. the comments of the crowd.
Most dreadful rumors prevail. "She
is injured beyond recovery" ars the
words he catches az Roy draas him out
of the entrance into the cold, quiet
night.
ave found out where she lives.
Come right along-don't say word
we will soon be there" says Roy
fairly pulling his companion through
tie crowded streets until au imposing
| le is reached. Meeting the doctor
in the office, Arthur b.gs i1r informa
ton
1t is her husband" whispers Roy
and with one look at the haggard
agonized face, the doctor begins:
Miss karletoD, while about to entel
her carriage at 81 ven o'clock to go t,
the theater, had fallen aud seriously
injured her knee" 80 seriously, tha
the doctor feared she could never wall
again. She was now asleep, and NJ
one could enter her room except tn,
nurse.
For one week Arthur hardly slept
night and day found HIM lowering nea
her door; everything was done to cas-,
the days of the patient suffer- thrice 6
day hot house flowers were sent to her
each one bearing messages ofrepentanc,
and love from the half crazed man.
AT last the day arrives when the doc
tor beckons TO him from his post in to,
hallway and says
She's waiting for you--but
onlv give yon half AN Lour to stay"
With heart fast leating with hopt
and fear, Arthur enters the sick cham
Der.
A tiny figure is lying in an invalid
chair wrapped in velvet morning
robe, her face covered with her thin
hands.
My darling-my Wife" cries Ar
thur, bsnding over her, and taking the
little hands away from the white, worn
race. Thank God you are spared to
me. have searched all these weary
y airs for you. Oh, my wife, love you
SOL"
Sha looks wistfully at his face, quiz
ering with emotion.
g But-no one could love me now"
she " hisrers, the great tears rolling
slowly down her cheeks The doctor
Says | may never walk again"
He kisses the tears away and says
passionately:
II don't care have found you,
my darling, and fate will be good TO us
now. We will have the best advice
the world affords, and l feel confident
you will recover. If you could realize
how bitterly l lave repeDted my wick
ed words, you would surely FAY some
thing to me now 10 convince Inc that you
have forgiven me-"
The girl rests her bead on his breast
as she says:
81 loved you long before saw you.
You were the one topic of conversation
between my dear guardian and myself,
and every word l said on that dreadful
day was prompted by wounded pride.
So-if you will love that creature
~
You W i'll accept the cruel, unchari
table man, finishes Arthur, and they