The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-04-21
FAISE OR FATTHFUL?

JhLlGb 44ullhB anu LID WIZ "AseA
lived in pretty village, an hours ride
by railroad from New York, in which
city the husband was merchant. Toll
crably prosperous and tired Of city life,
they had bought residence in this de-
lightful rural retreat. Mr.. and Mrs.
Harding were young and devotedly ut
tached to each other. Their married
life had been unrulIled by the usual
wars OF dissension, and they were UNI
commonly free from earthly tribulations.
Before their marriage Mary had been a
workgirl in the establishment in which
her husband was a partner, and he had
married her solely for her worth OF char
acter, for she was poor and had, she
said, no relatives.
One afternoon James Harding took q
lato train for home, business having de-
tanned him beyond his usual hour. He
entered carriage and sat down on h seat
already partly occupied by handsome,
well-dressed man OF perhaps thirty. He
had crisp, black hair and moustache,
quick, keen eyes and a delicate aquiline
profile, but the firm expression OF his
square, rcsolute jaws was at variance
with the expression of the upper part Of
his face. His hands were very white,
but large; and, although he wore no
rings, and carried his gloves instead Of
wearing them, his tingcr-nails were well
oI,OvnI ou1 n,suuiS;tnty n1nOD TJn bOI
the bearing of a rather ilashy gentle
man. They did not exchange n word
until the train, gathering speed MS it
rushed on, had covered q good deal of
ground on its route. Then only few
casual remarks passed.
Harding reached home, kissed his
wife, had dinner and sat down to read
the evening paper. 1t was not until he
had done all this that he noticed any
thing unusual about his wife. Then he
saw that she was pale and that she
showed signs OF nervousness. AS she
went from the room u moment she
dropped upon the floor slip OF paper.
Harding pickedit up and read us follows:
DEAR MARY-I shall be in your sum-
mer-house at lOo'cTock tonight. IT, you
love me do not fail TO be there. DO not
let your husband suspect or We shall be
ruined. L. II. L.
James Harding had never been jealous
OF his wife, simply because he had never
suspected her OF any indiscrGtion; but
now his brain seemed on fire. He med
itated upon the situation It's coofiy ITS he
was able, but could not determine what
to do. Upon one thing, however, he
was determined. Hc would track. the
pair to their trysting-place. He threw
the note back on the floor, and pretend
ed to read his paper. His wife soon re-
turned, picked up the note and hastily
thrust il into her pocket.
Ten o'clock calile. Mary slipped out,
but hardly had she reached the summer
house before her husband had sccretcd
himself near enough to sec and hear all.
He saw, first, q man start up from Il
rustic seat rs his wife approached-the
very man who had come down in the
train-and then he saw them clasped in
each others arms.
"Dear Edgar, said she after the words
OF greeting were over, precious MS this
meeting is to me, We run fearful risk.
Should my husband discover you here,
whit would become OF us?"
Harding could stand no more. He
grasped the first weapon that presented
itself-a heavy garden spadc-and, be-
side himself with fury, rushed upon the
man. A terrible blow felled him to the
ground, where he lay motionless. A
scream from Mary brought several per-
sons to the scene. The husband, scarce
" comprchending what he had done,
went to his room, The body OF his
victim was carried into the house and n
doctor was sent for. He came and ex-
amined the CHASTITY wound, while Mary,
pale and trembling, waited, but dared
not ask for his decision.
elias he friends hGre?" asked the
doctor.
mo, he has no friend but me-" she
answered, dropping her white face over
his pillow.
"Unlucky fellow! II he had friends l
would advise them to be sent for; but rs
he us none"-
The doctor paused, looking compass
sionately down upon the deathly white
face on the pillow. Then he began To
bandagc and dress the cruel wound,
"But you haven't told me your de-
cision, DOCTOR" exclaimed Mary, pres.
emily. "How soon must he die?"
ii haven't said he would die" de.
clared the doctor, cutting ruthlessly
away the locks that were matted about
the wound, and laying his strips o!
plaster upon the bare skull. "He will
not die"
mot die" she exclaimed, hopefully
Gle has a superb constitution" OK
planned the doctor; 20 glorious vitality
Look at his magnificent chest. He may
live months-a year-possibly he may
outlive you and me. have known
such cases"
"rhaRk Godp cried Mary, fervently
Then she bent lovingly over tho body
and said: "Don't you know mo, Ed
gar?n :.
"IIe will never know you again, saiC
the doctor, solemnly. ale will &C
well, us have said, and, possibly, out
live US all but his brain has received NJ
injury lTOln WulCl LlC VIII hSNOl iSSv'Si
His mind is dead. Do you see that va
cant smile on lhis face? Ho is q help
less, hopeless idiot-an idiot for lito."
When James Harding entered hi
bedroom his brain was dazed with tn,
tragedy in which he had borne so i'm
portant part. He threw himself upol
the bed, but not to sleep. The weigh
Of his crime did not 80 much oppres
| him rs the thought that his wife hat
been untrue to him. Throughout hi
married life no breath Of suspicion ha,
been entertained by him; and the tear
| ing down OF his idol-for his wife ha
been little else to him-was n suddeI
and fearful blow. He thought not {
his own safety, nor OF the consequence
of his munGlerons net. He only knew
as he almost writhed in mental anguish
that he had seen his wife in another
arms.
It was past midnight and the iniure
man had been made Us comfortable {
possible, when Mary sought her hui
band. Softly pushing open the doc
she advanced unseen towards the be-
| Her husband rccoited as she touchc
him.