Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-11

claimed Davis; little as know, know
what this means. The water keeps coming
in and there is no outlet for it We are in
great danger. Madge, where are you?"
Madge struggled through the fast-rising
water toward her husbands voice and clung
to him desperately.
s0Tom. dear" she cried, "you speak OF
danger-tell me the truth. Do you mean
is it death2"
81 am afraid tits"
She gave q little smothered cry and fell
back into her husbands arms; she was not
particularly courageous woman, and there
was small wonder if she was terribly fright
ened now. There was a long silence, and
then Whelau spoke.
GOOD God, Davis, can't you say any,
thing to comfort her? To make 1t seem
easier? It's your place to help the poor
child to bear it
''She has tainted" said Davis shortly; set
is best so, she won't feel it so much when
the end comes.
''An awful end, said Wnelan, shudder-
ing ian awful end for her. 1t is madden
ing. Ifone could only do something to save
her, something to help her.
Something In his tone amazed and even
interested Davis, in spite Of his own horror.
''Whv, Whelan," he exclaimed, you
don't mean to say you care for her still?
That you have been going on caring for her
all these years?"
"StiIl?'' repeated Whelan. "All this
time? Why, of course, L do. should have
gone on all my life and hers, however long
we had both lived. You have made her
very happy, Tom, so it is just as well as it
is, but il I'd known at the time what 1t
would cost don't think 1 could have done
it, and if yoI had known I don't think you
would have accepted the sacrifice"
"What sacrificed"
1t was Madge who spoke, starting from
her husbands arms and questioning with
passionate eagerness.
'sWhst sacrifice? was not fainting; If 1
had been think should still have heard
such words as those. What sacrifce?"
''Never mind now, Ma6ge," said her hus-
band, feeling Tor her in the dark, sit is all
past now. We have only few moments left
TO live. Don'tlet US say anything to disturb
them
Madge flung away his hands angrily.
"What sacrifice? will know, will un-
derstand, before 1 die. What sacrifice?
Speak, one of you"
s'My dear. be reasonable" said Davis,
fretfully, using the usual ''husbandese" for
"don't contradict me-" sit is past matter
between Whelan and me-"
She broke away, and stood apart from both
Of them.
cit concerns me, too, 4" she said. 'I know
50 much already. Mr.. Whelan, you know
what heard; finish the story"
"As you will" said Chris. "Tom, 1
think have a right to tell her now. 1t is
only that we both loved you, Madge, as you
heard Just now, but Tom asked me to give
you up to him, because ne needed you
most, and did SO. 1t was hard to bear at
the time-it has been harder since; but as it
turned out so we'll am content"
''Ccntentp' The word rang sharply
through the darkness. ''Content-yes, we
have both been content when we might have
been happy. oh, why did you do it? Why
did you do il?
She had come close to him now, and seized
his arm fercely.
''Why did you do it? What right had
you to sacrifice me that you might be gen.
erous ? Generous No; you were selfish
and cruel; you trod on my heart that you
might rise a step higher in virtue. Was
q stake at cards that you should let your
friend win me from mere good nature?
Was placed in the world that you should
step aside and resign me to him? ? Was
not heart and soul, a living woman, who
surely had right to voice in her own dis
posal ?''
"But Madge." cried Whelan, amazed at
her anger, zone word. How could know?
If you had refused Davis"
"Refused him-can you not understand?
You both came to nv mothers house, and 1
thought hoped-no matter what thought
and hoped. for YOU lest me without word
and it seemed to me that you were tickle
and be was true. and that had been fool
ish and blind to have believed in you. and
10 have misprized him. He was ready to
love me when you had left me. What won
der i'll was touched by his patience, won
bv his faithfulness?"
"But you seemed so fond of your husband,
so happy, that was almost glad"
''Seemedr' she cried, bitterly. WAS 1
to let you, who 1 thought had liked me and
tired Of me, think that regretted you? So
you were glad of your work, were yOu7 All,
you are very noble, know, Chris Whelan,
very unselish, very generous; but your un-
selfshness has blasted my life. Your gen.
erosity has wronged me grievously."
'MadgeI' cried Davis, reproachfully,
''haTe you no feeling for me that you speak
SOP Have l not been good husband to
you?"
81 can forgive you," she said quietly,
''that is all. You have both wronged me,
but YOU less than ne.
Before either of the men had time to an
swer her another explosion shook the place
where they stood, there was sound of earth |
and stone falling into the water near them,
then the air grew suddenly lighter and a
cool breeze blew in their faces.
Davis gave a cry of relief.
Look there" be shouted, "we shan't die |
this time. See, there's an opening up above. |
we are even nearer to the surface than 1 |
thought Do you see that big boulder that |
is uncovered now? We can climb up that, |
and then lift each other up 50 as 10 struggle |
through the opening. We are saved Cour- |
age, Madge Whelan. for heavens sake |
stop looking so tragic Don't you see we are |
saved, man 2"
whelan's face did not clear.
"Come with me moment Davis " he said, |
81 have something to say to you"
'Speak before me, said Madge firmly. |
'Let us have DO more private compacts be- /
tween you"
Good" said Whelan, quietly. ''Your
husband says we are saved. Don't you see |
that only two of us are saved? Who will |
help up the third?"
Good heavensT said Davis, "I never
thought OF thai"
''Think OF it now," said Chris, still speak |
ing very quietly.
"You mean, think which?',
"Yes, that is what mean"
Perhaps in his heart Whelan felt that it |
was his friends turn to be generous. Perhaps
ne naO SOME 10 pc ludb OdFlS mlRnL leel Ln6 i
same; Il so, he was to be disappointed A
man does not grow in unselfshness by liv-
ing for wears in the enjoyment of the results
of a selfish action. A man who will act
meanly at % is tolerably likely to act still
more meanly at 80.
swell, " said Davis at length, f'the third
of us may be saved, too. We could bring
help"
Nonsense, the water is rising too fast for
there to be any chance or help coming in
time. The one who remains here must die"
''Well, you know, Chris, said Davis with
8 good deal Of shame in his voice, but good
deal of stubborness, too, "I'm married
man, and have children. and, now that 1
have all this property, have very heavy
responsibilities; and really, you know,
whenever one hears of case like this, it is
always the unmarried man who offers to
stav I really think it should be you.'
you think SO? Suppose we leave it to
your wife to decide"
Davis hesitated. II think that will be
L