The morning call., 1890-11-23

Ah PASuosshe VSAAA Va booeSft VdSAS ssAS
my ashes?"
Everything was carried out as you di-
rected, Ammi," she replied solemnly; her
heart being seemingly too full for her to
meet him in the same humor.
"Oh, my dar-dar-lng," said Ammi stam-
meringly, for he found it still required tre-
mendous effort to get that terrible word
across his lips. "Oh, my dariing'-this time
it came more smoothly-"what world of
needless pain and suffering have l caused
you! But thank heaven, some good has
come of it. Ireturn to lind you transformed
Good you always were, now you are both
good and beautiful. How proud shall be
of you, dearest" Ammi ratified on, quite de-
lighted with his own vehemence.
"Ah, dear Rachel, you'll have nothing to
fear in the future l shall be wiser man,
and, better than all, l shall bury that
wretched thing called self SO deep that it
never will be resurrected. My darling,
exclaimed Updegraff, throwing himself on
his knees and catching Racheps hands in
his, speak but word of forgiveness, and
then will be bold enough to fold you in my
arms. Well commence life all over again.
Yes, have another and real honeymoon.
dear Rachel"
'Oh, Ammi. Ammi," gasped Rachel, her
face oyerspread with strange pallor, can
it be possible that-that-you don't know
'What? What?" interrupted Updegraff
In harsh whisper, alarmed by that marble
whiteness, those closed eyes. ''For heavens
sake, Rachel, speak, speak quickly.
"Oh, Ammi." God forgive mel am
Amzps wife,"
"Amzi's wife?" almost shrieked Updegraff
spring up and Keeling backward as If
stunned by blow from bludgeon: The
next moment he sank with groan into a
chair and his huge frame shook and quiv-
cred as sob after sob escaped him. 1t grew
dark before him. and the great world seemed
to shrink to nothing but bit of ground
upon which no seemed with difficulty to be
standing while faraway sound OF harsh,
dull, empty, meaningless noises was the
only evidence of life that remained to him
my husbandW scotched the whirling brain
of Updegraff, and. making tremendous Ell
fort, he staggered to his feet.
AMI had come, and the poor, tossed and
stricken woman had thrown herself upon
his breast as wretched castaway might
and stable life-boat. Rachel had hastily
summoned him from Albany by a special
messenger bearing letter covering the
mysterious dispatch and filled with express
sions of dread suspicious.
For moment no sound broke the still
ness of the room save the woman's c0nvul-
sivs sobbing. But as the storm passed over
the lawyer gently diSengaged himself and
stretched out hand to his half-brother,
while Rachel, suddenly wheeling around,
Threw D6r dTINS dDOuL fSillilli ilcCh anu gave
him an honest and hearty kiss.
Updegraff now, at his half brothers re-
quest briefly narrated the story of the
double" and his own wanderings since his
supposed DEATH Then the two men, at the
lawyers suggestion, passed into an adjoin-
ing room.
"Oh, AMI, what is this that you have
done to me ?" half whispered Updegraff,
after the door had closed behind them
"Say, rather. done to yourself" retorted
the lawyer, rather cOldly.
but have you dealt perfectly fair with
me2" asked Updegraff, calmly. Think you
that il l had any suspicious OF the truth Of
your Oft-repeated assertion, that you would
as soon touch live electric wire as matri-
mony, that would have made the will which
did make? No, no! You have deceived
me, Amzi. / scented no danger in you, and
you knew it."
Possibly did," said the lawyer, slight
tremor noticeable in his under lip. 'But a
man doesn't know what he is made of until
the world cuts into him. You deceived us
absolutely. Never, for a single instant, was
there in the mind of any of us even the
shadow of suspicion that that body was
not yours. All the tears which a,man may
reasonably expect in this heartles world fell
to your share. Now as to your charge that
l have dealt unfairly with you. Brother, l
six months at least after your death, l had
no more idea Of marrying Rachael than
had of performing Scaevola's feat of pbysi-
cal endurance, but when | learned
Of her indignant rejection of Cheva!ierS of
fer of maTriage''-Ammi gave a start as if
cobra had set its fangs in his hand and his
under jaw dropped and seemed anchylosed
| in that position" and when met that pale
sweet face at every step, growing, it seemed
| to me. more beautiful by the hour, and above
all ore evening as sat reading and sud-
denly felt soft hand resting on my hair and
lop<pl what anp9nrp1 To IN he
one of the most aDgel-like faces l had ever
gaZed upon, SO sad, so indescrbably sweet
| and sad, why, IL suddenly dawned upon my
| dull wits that the woman wanted me to love
| her. and did. That is the story of my be-
| trayal to you, Ammi. Do you still condemn
me?"
"But Amzi," stammered Updegraff. "Am-
| zi-surely-n0w that have come back again
| you wiil-you will"
"Stop, BROTHER" came with burst from
the lawyer. Il know what you will say,
but let other lips than mine answer you!'
| and selling AMI by the arm he dragged the
astonished man back into RachePs room.
There stood that woman with the sun
shine about her lips. although the clouds
| still hung about her brow. while on her
bosom lay babe. chubby, rosy and beauti-
| ful enough to swell a mothers heart with
Joy too deep for words.
This was the hardest of all, and Upde-
CRAFTS punishment started the tears again
| in RachelS eyes.
The little Urdegraff fixed his wondering
| eyes upon his uncle Ammi, late Of Harlem,
| deceased and gurgled welcome to him.
Amm was the first to speak.
Rachel, Amzi," said he with super
| human effort to control his feelings. a man
may make successful fight with the pow
ers of the lower world. but what can he do
| when heaven is against him? | don't know
| that my lips are fit. Rachel, to breath a
blessing upon your dear head, but I'll risk
| it anyway, and may God bless you. dear
woman, you've only got what you richly
| deserve"
Rachel and Amzi were deeply moved at
these words, too deeply TO make reply
"And now, with your permission" cOntin-
ued Updegraf. I'll go back to the old house
at Harlem. Uncle 'Liph has plenty of mon-
| ey for us BOTH
1.-THE old house! Uncle 'Liph" exclaimed
the lawyer. Why, brother, haven't you
heard? The old house went down two years
ago to make way for new street, and poor
old Uncle 'Liph died few months later.
The idea OF having his papers disturbed was
more than he could bear"
"The old house gone? Uncle 'Liph dead %
repeated Updegraff, scarcely above whis-
per. why, then, am tramp and beg
gar"
mot so! not so no, no. not SOL" came in
earnest tones from both Rachel and AMI.
"Cheer up. Ammi," said the lawyer. lay
ing his hand on his half brothers shoulder
mot only shall l restore to YOU your own
| fortune, but I'll lose no time in making over
to you one-haif of Uncle 'Liph's estate
"And |, too, Ammi. must do something
for you." cried Rachel, II don't need my
right of dover. do ]. AMI? You must
have that back again, too"
| Ammi raised his hand in sign of protest.
And our home, too. shall be yours" con-
tinued Rachel.
But Updegraff shook his head sadly.
mo, that may not be-" he replied with a
| deep sigh. Ppm dead to the new world.
let me remain so. III 60 hack to England
in a few months and there I'll begin life all
| over again sadder but wiser man."
Updegraff was as good as his word, and
the reader may be glad to know that after
the lapse OF twelvemonth the broken win
dow Of his soul was fitted with pane of
the purest plate-glass, so thick and crystal
clear that it now shuts out all the chill of
the worlds neglectpand shuts in so much OF
tho warmth Of love as to make him look
back with perfect eqnanimity upon the re-
suits of that practical joke in cold blood.
Elsie Virgins had something to do with
this clever bit of glazing.
COPYRIGHT, 1890, bU The .iUfhOrs' alliance: oil r1hfs