Wichita eagle., 1890-01-16

During the Interview she kept her implor.
ing, beseeching, commanding gaze fixed upon
him
And the broker feignsd uncolsciousneS
They could do nothing with him and de.
parted without having gained the least point.
Ard, Notwithstanding, had they but perse
vered, they would have brought the tortured
sinner to confess. The intense longing to die
an honest msn famed up within him for a
moment. a second, and gained such predomf
nance thst the woman feared and trembled.
And since such moments had come she was
watching in feverig1 agitation for the death
of her husband.
And Just at this tirne-apparently-the
was change for the better il the condition
of the sick man He began to feel better,
easier and took fresh courage.
'sGod is not willing that should die IN dis
grace: I shall liver he said to his wife, and
drawing her plump hand TO his lips he kissed
it long and ferventiy.
II shall live, now they can come, VIII re
turn them their money. Where is Paul!
pers; 1 will be free"--
The woman tremb,ed whenever she heard a
step on the stairs; what If it should be the e1-
aiming magistrate? Then all is lost! And
at the same step the SICK man rejoiced. At
last, on! if they would only come faster, Il
they were only here-f he had only already
freed his soul from this weight OF SID!
In the forenoon no one came. AT noon
came the physician. He smiled when he
heard the sick man boast of his recovery.
''These are the last days!" he said to the
woman, out in the hall
'.To6ayY' asked the woman.
''Possibly, but not necessarily. He may
continue for q whole week in this condition,
and keep on feeling better TIL the very last
moment-the apoplectic stroke"
In the afternoon there likewise came no
one. TIE woman barricaded the door and
sat waiting for death. And since ne tarried
she Quaked with fear at every sound, think
ing it some one from the court No one
came.
Night approached The sick man SUM
bered quietly, and from his dreams the JOY
of life smiled on his glowing cheeks In the
adjoining room the woman, pale, weary, weak
and sleepless, tossed on her couch and an1.
iously waited, waited, waited.
The next day the sick man again felt bet
ter. His heart seemed relieved from a heavy
weight. He was only very impatient because
neither the bookkeeper nor the magistrate
appeared. The woman had to deceive him
by saying that both had been sent for La
truth, however, she had barricaded the door
that TO one might como in. Only late in the
evening she went to her attorney and ascer-
tanned that on the morrow they were to come
again, and that without fail. Now she no
longer knew what to do She begged her
i i. IL L.
interviewed.
The sick man shook his head: "No, no;
shall confess everything; | will remain hon
est no reproaches-I will remain honestl"
A second time it was night. Mother and
daughter were watching by the sick man.
He was almost joyous. He made plans for
the future-business plans.
On! how many murders would be COM
mit.ed if it were not necessary to use vio-
lence!
The girl was nodding in half slumber;
tears were glistening in her eyes; the woman
was reading. From time to time she raised
her eyes from her book to look at the clock
Morning was approaching; in an hour or
two day would dawn, and they would come
again. She shuddered. With mad haste the
few.
And still not yet.
All, after all.
Deaths powerful hand is gliding over the
face of the broker. 4 twitchiDg hither-a
twitching thitker-the bloated lips gasp for
breath, the hands convulsively grasp the
empty air-then a short rattle-a rattle as
Of pent up air escaping. Then all ives over.
The woman heaved a deep sigh-a sigh
that seemed to say, At last!
1t was morning, but i'll the great house it
still seemed to be night, albeit the keeper had
already opened the door.-Alexander B!ody
in the Transatlantic