The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-28
y snau nave 70 Know nrst what it is.

~ - 4@G SOANp o@4 Nv IL
could not tell whether it was a wild joy or
a desperate anxiety which chased the blood
through his veins and made his pulse ham
mer in his temples.
1.-THE fact is, Finn, 1 have a wife and a
son." Mr.. Norman continued. Il know
they are both living, aid 1 want you TO go
to them. Tell them / am alive and love
them as much as ever. Tell them l am a
rich man, and that 1 want them TO come
and spend the rest Of their days with me"
He stared fxedly into the fire while
speaking, but GunDar saw his lip tremble
and a sudden moisture clouded his syes
and made him rise abruptly and pace the
floor.
How long is it since you left your wife
and SOM" asked Gunnar with a mighty
effort not to betray his emotion.
Eighteen years, my boy" answered
Norman huskily. Eighteen years"
He continued TO walk up and down on
the floor, with his head bent.
You think l am much to blame, and
you are right. wish 1 could explain it to
you, but l can't. l was miserable in the
Morse settlement-utterly, inconceivably
miserable; because there was something in
me which no one understood, and myself
I lSbSb y AL i OOAu Ii Ii lu4OCSuC0 lu6
Norwegian parson of it, and he said it was
the devil tempting ME; L thought for a
while he was right. Ny wife agreed with
the parson; l was Of no use to her and gave
her many q bitter hour. l had no choice
but to break away. She herself consented
to it. Hard and toilsome, but not unhap-
| by years followed. found my work and
/ bless God for that. l have not known a
really unhappy hour since, though l nave
suffered from Temorse and a longing for
those who are dear to me-"
''Why. then, did you not go to them?"
asked Gunnar, in a voice which no effort
could steady.
Young man, it may seem foolish to you
if I say that l never had the time" an
swered Norman, finging himself again
into the arm chair, but for all that il is
the fact. My work has possessed ne like a
first love which kept me awake at night. l
postponed and again postponed doing my
duty, because l dreaded to see the Norwe-
gian parsons in my house until l should
feel strong enough TO fight them on their
W ground. l assumed the name Nor
man simplyt to escape the same influence in
my life. WANTED to be wholly an American
and take the place to which my ability en-
titled me in the American community. l
could never lave done that if | had assumed
again the spiritual yoke which it cost me
such a dire struggle to throw Off"
linen it is as a burden you take back
wife aud child?" asked Gunnar, with a re-
sentful glance.
ooh, no, l love them; | lave longed after
them. 1 want themI" cried his father,
starting up again and resUming his rest
less walk.
But l know | can never make il plain
to you how you can love a person and yet
deplore certain phases Of her character.
Once my wife came near subjugating me,
and from the best Of motives crushing out
that which was noblest and most precious
il me. As long as / feared that l feared
her. Now | fear it no longer and l can af-
ford to let her know that 1 love her"
They talked on for about an hour, and
Gunnar without undisguising himself as
suned the proposed mission. He began
dimly to comprehend that his father, driv-
en- and impelled by his genius, which was
an overmastering force in his life, could
not be judged by the same standard as
lesser men. But just As be had risen to re-
ceive Mr.. Norman's thanks something
touched him with a cold horror and sent a
shudder down his back. His revengel His
wretched revenge! He was about to dis
honor his father just as he was showing
himself most honorable.
RUt perhaps there was Vet time. II Eas
~ CrOcK dIf1 me papers scarcely went to
press until l or 2 in the morning. With
his head in a whirl he rushed out of the
front door, hired a horse at a neighboring
stable and drove 10 Wicker park. There
he had a stormy interview with Mathilda,
in which a dainty little cloven hoof of mer-
cenar interest peeped forth all too plainly
from undo the embroidered skirts. She
had a check for $50 in her pocket which
she had received from The Daily Trombone
for the spicy revelations regarding Mr..
Norman's wickedness, and she was natur-
ally reluctant to part with it. But in re-
turn for Gunnar's promissory note for $50
she finally released her tight little clutch
and gave it up; but like a great many peO-
pie who are too clever for their own good
Matilda had really outwitted herself. She
had made 500, but she had lost a lover.
She had a dim presentiment when her ex-
element had cooled that Gunnar's love
for her had received a mortal wound; and
in this presentiment she was right.
The return Of the check, the declaration
of the falsity Of the alleged revelations and
the threat Of q suit for libel suffced. after
considerable discussion, TO make The from
renounce the promising sensation.
Gunnar, to make assurance doubly sure,
remained 10 see the manuscript and proof
destroyed and the type redIstriouted As
he caught Elimpses Of sue monstrous head
lines, a Double Life" "A Villain Tn
masked "A Rich Mans Crime etc, he
realized what a morrow escape he had had
from committing a cruel and dastardly
deed.
A week after this episode Gunnar led a
tall and yet stately woman Of 30 into Nor
mans library. The manufacturer was
standing with his hands in his pockets and
his back TO the fire. There was a vague
anxiety in his face and an occasional witch
ingO Of she muscles about the mouth, rs il
be were trying TO master a strong emotion.
He started forward with both hands out
stretched when the door opened, but paused
in the middle Of the floor. gazing with a
uncertainty at the two persons who
The handsome matron became
conscious Of a slight embarrassment as she
noted bis expression, and the joyous eager
ness which had animated her features gave
way To an anxious confusion. He wss so
different from "a she had expected.
Eighteen long wears lay between them with
the slow transformation they had wrought.
They had taken her husband from her and
substituted another who was be and vet
he.
This good looking middle aged gentle
man, with a full beard aud clad IN CITY at
tire. how could be ever Le 20 her what the
restless. discontinued Morse peas
Hans Natson. had benz And vet, as
he nrrssef her hanfa and ueIcnnnd be-