Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-02-10


Her ,chae arms nere around him.
face: he has dared to offer me caress.
Bertram gravely looks at me, with sur
prise In his eyes.
"I.cnore, have I offended you in any
way2" he asks.
You have only killed every feeling OF
affection ever had for you. That Is all !"
II do not understand"
"Do you not2 Bertram, have just
come from lakewood =
He starts, but there comes no look OF
guilt on the calm, dark face l am keenly
watching. Is he so base that he can thus
deftly hide his sim
You SAW me there2" he questions.
"Yes, and l hate your / exclaim,
are the vilest man have ever known"
Yesterday I left my husband-only
twenty-four hours ago. am travelling.
The cars onter a tunnel; then, as they
emerge into daylight, there comes deaf
oning, binding crash, which seems to
swallow me up.
/ recover consciousness, to find am
only bruised. The collision has taken
place near few farm-houses, and the in
jured passengers are being carried to these
dwellings.
A dreadful scene meets my gaze
as I ,light the front portion OF both
trains ls completely wrecked. Amidst
the debris lie MANNED human bodies, some
struggling to extricate themselves, others
white, still, wrapped in the last dread
slumber.
A female figure is borne past me
on mems shoulders. Every part OF
her body looks crushed out OF shape
even the pale face and long fair hair ar,
made CHASTITY by crimson stains of blood
Where have l seen such hair as this DC
fore? Like flash that scene in Oakwoot
rises before my sight. Yesterday thos,
golden tresses were flung across Bert
rams breast! / start forward. l heeC
not those around us.
do you know what you have done
with your shameful wiles?" cry. "Hov
dare you steal away my husbands hoart?'
Her lips move feobly; she utters bu
one word" Forgive!" and falls dead.
Twelve months have rolled away.
Though turn with loathing from tn,
| thought OF my husband, all intense yearn
| ing grows up in my soul to be near him
to look once more upon his countenance
Yielding to an irresistible impulse, I re
| turn to where dwels my husband.
It is not long before, one night, stoa
forth in the darkness to stand, an houl
later. in front Of my lost home.
There is no light in the drawing room
l turn to his study window. Tha,
also is dark. Where is he2
lift my eyes to his chamber. Here 6
light burns steadily; while shifting shad
ows, as OF persons moving quietly within
fall across the shade.
A quick step comes up the gravel path
l turn hastily. Ii is the doctor.
Unheeding his astonishmcnt, springin,
forward, grasped his arm.
Tell me what Is amiss - gasp. III
Is not seriously ill?"
Doctor Taylor looks down gravely int
my agitated face as he answers, "Ther
is only CLEAN of hope.
/ shed no tears; they seem frozen
The words ring again and again throug
my brain" Only CLEAN !"
IL must see him." is all say.
The doctor shakes his head.
"You must let me 60 to Bertram r
cry. oh, have some pity, and keep m
not from my dying husband! ] will no
agitate him, l assure you"
1.-THE very sight of your face would d
that. Mrs. Tremaine, do you know, dun
|
name was on his lips day and night?"
Yet you are cruel enough to keep U
apart is my passionate response.
A moments silence. then he says
. "You shall be admitted on one condition
: 1t Is that you remain behind the bed"
:" promise" is my quick response.
We enter the house. Five minute
later stand on the threshold of m
husbands room. The door opens. TIL
nurse. at a word from Doctor Taylo
leaves the chamber. ] glide into my al
pointed place.
Doctor" family says my husband
voice, "it Is nearly all over. The
surely death coming! Tell me-"
"You are very weak, replies the met
ical man. evasively.
THAT means you fear to answer IN
question. You need not. Life has bee
too bitter for me to regret 1t is fleetin;
But before | die there is something
wish to say, that you may repeat it som
/ day to my wife.
Years ago before l met Ignore, m
wife. fell in love with girl name
Constance Fielding. | made her an o
fer which was accepted On the yer
day had held her in my arms. on tn
very day her lips had sworn love-vows I
= me. | learnt she had been for two ycal
- the aiIianced TO another. / was ncarl
mad In that hour. Rushing into h,
'c presence. poured forth in bitter word
my rage at her deception.
She threw herself at my feet, implo
Ing me to listen.
, - Not one wordr cried. 'Yo,
9 falsehood has crushed out all the love
aA 10 r. 4 r.,