Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-18

as she bid her husband goodbye at the
door.
Jim came home about looking terri
bly, weary aud depressed. He had been
unsuccessful--once more.
"No letters yet, dear, said his wife,
Fastening to answer the unspoken ques-
ton in his eyes. As she spoke they
heard the postman's knock in the dis
lance it came nearer-and died away.
"Perhaps there will be one in the
morning" Marjory went on; but her
voice fsltered.
In the morning Another long, awful,
sleepless night Of hoping againtt hope,
OF unaddening, steadily growing despair !
jim shuddered. lie Was worn out, physi-
cally and mentally, and he felt as though
he could not stand tho sickening sus-
pense longer. As he looked at his wife,
her wan, changed little face, with its
pale ghos. of a smile. seemed TO pierce
his heart.
a strange, terrible. determined look
settled round bis mouth, but Marlory
was leaning her curly head against his
arm and did not see bis face.
The room was quite dark now, but
they were still standing at the window.
For time Carol was very still Then
lie said:
81 am very tired, Mariory, darling.
I will lie down for a while. Don't dis
turb me- II didn't sleep last night.
nor for many nights he might have
added
But won't you have cup of tea
first, Jim?"
"No, don't care for any"
"a long sleep will DO YOU good,
dear" she said, anXiously and csressing-
IL. "lou look dreadful "
eyes, he answered, In a strangely
quiet voice, "a long sleep will do me
good" Then suddenly, "Kiss me,
MaDory
"Ah myovn dear disappointed boyl y
she cried. throwing her arms round him.
BE held her to him tightly, and kissed
her again and again.
Ny darling " he said hoarsely,
"Ny own dazzling
Then he let her 90. and went away.
She heard him 81 up stairs, and his foot
steps echo IN the room above.
maricry eat at the window for a long,
long time and watched the stars grow
brighter and clearer in tho soft dark
sky. Somewhere IA the distance a street
organ vas wallinR out an old hackneyed
waltz tune. IL stirred her heart
strangely. She remembered dancing
that waltz with jim. SO very. very long
azo-it seemed long ago, lse everything
else that was bright and hopeful. Even
Marjory's brave little heart was heavy
tonight. What would become OF them,
she wondered? God only knew.
Tho clock in q neiehbonng church
tower bOomed ont on the night air, and
as the lat stroke died away there was a
sharp knock al the door. 1t was the
postrnan. Narjory took the ono letter
he held ont to her, and closing the door
again she went back 10 the sitting-roOm.
" it'll trembling fingers she lighted tho
candle and examined the envelope
eagerly. les, 1t Was ar. Lyle's hand
wrihng Marjory recognized 1t without
difficulty, for 1t was a peculiar hand.
With a beating heart she stole softly up
staIrs-sho did not take the candle, Tor
fear of waking Jim, should he he asleep
and peeped into tho bedroom. All was
stil. Ia the pale starlight she could Just
mnke out the dim outline OF his figure
on the bed.
Jim. she whispered.
10 answer. ilc was evidently asleep.
All it seemed a pity to wake him, she
thought, and, perhaps, after all, tho
letter held bad news. She softiy laid a
shawl over him IN the semi-darkness and
crtpt down stairs npain.
Afstr looking ut the fatoful envelope
for so0o time she slowly opened it. She
could not wait and she knew Jim would
not mind. In another moment she NJ
tered q little giad involuntary cry. and
her bps parted m joyful, halfinoredu-
Lus guile. Could it be possible Yes
Jim's design bad been selectcd as the
best; the premium would be his And
TINS was not tho only good news the let
ter contained for Lyle went on to say
that he had heard Of vacant appoint
mont, which he thought he could
through bis fathers inluence-secure for
Carol.
Marjory hid her face in her hands /;
for moment the revision Of feeling
was almost too much. Then, in n pas
sion Of tears aud thankfulness, she fell
upon her knees. But she could only
say: "Thonk God Thank God !"
An hour passed. The moon was drift
ing among the stars and streaming in
through the uncurtained window on
Mariorv's face wet with happy tears.
The candle had burned itself out
an, what a Joyous waking jim g would
be Should SO lay the letter on his
pillow to surprise HIM when ho awOke
Or should she rouse him? Perhaps he
was already awake.
She lit fresh bit Of candle and, still
holding tire precious letter, went up
stairs She lald the candle down Just
outside the bedroom door and entered
very gently.
How do1dly still the room was
''Jim ;" she said softly.
But jim dad not answer. How soundly
he slept
Mmlory came nearer and bent over
him in the throbbing darkness. The
moon had hidden itself behind one soil
tary cloud.
Jim "a little louder.
Still that strange, weird hush. A
vague fear stirred her heart. She did
not even hear him breathe. What If he
had tainted
The moon sailed ont again. illumina-
ting part Of the room, but leaving the
bed in deep shadow.
Jim. darling" leaning over him and
laying her arm across his neck, "a letter
has GOMEZ Its With a sudden sick
ening terror she stopped and raised her
self, FOR she felt-thst her sleeve was
wet
Snatching up the candle she held it
over the bel, and by its Pickering hight
she saw-ah, dear Heayen-what did sue
see?
Not her jim, surely
4 white, dead face--a dark, red stain
on the coverlet-a ghastly wound-and
cold nerveless fingers, sill holding
what,
al, cruel Jim I
a long, shuddering cry rang out on the
autumn niPht-wild- acknowledgements
ing. Again and again it echoed. Then