Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-01-08
utmost to he 4 true wife.

husbands heart Yet now when il was
too late she knew that she could but
share Philips young, clouded life anA
wear his stained and rejected name she
would be a far happier woman.
1t was in the second year os her mar
riage that she and her husband went to
Europe. They had visited many of tho
principal cities; Mrs. Tracy had been
presented at court, and was as much ad-
mined as her proud husband could rossi-
bly, wish, and now they were sailing
| down the blue Danube.
They had passed many pretty villages
and old ruins on the shores of that stor-
led river, and were nearing Linz. cele.
brated for the loveliness of its situation
and the beauty of its women. when Mar
gueTate sat on the deck of the steamer
apart from all the others, thinking sadly
Of that evening in her life when she had
decided her fate against her happiness.
How wildly the words of the song camo
back TO her, as she leaned over the rail.
ing and looked into the water.
"l'll ne'er forget that night In June
Upon the Danube river"
How strange that this should lie
moonlit night in June, and that she her.
self should be upon the Danube river.
While her whole heart and mind were
upon that memorable night, dark
shadow came between her and the moon.
light. She glanced up, and her heart al.
most ceased its throbbing. Before her
stood the hero of her dreams-Philip
Santwood-gazing down upon her One
thing she had time TO notice as he came
toward her-his proud, fair face almost
stern in the moonlight-the oidtime love
was in his eyes.
One instant her heart thrilled wildly as
she saw it; then, as he came nearer.
there was a terrible noise, an awful
shock, the flames were issuing from the
steamer, and men, women. and children
were struggling for their lives in tho
river.
When Mrs. Tracy opened her eyes af-
ter the first stunning jar of the explosion,
she found herself clasped in the arms OF
Philip, who was making heroic efforts to
save her.
"Oh, Philip, she cried with her first
breath. "where is my husband? And
your wife, too? We must not forget
them!"
My wife!" She saw the astonish-
ment in his face even in that dreadful
moment. II never had wife, Marguer-
ite. Did he tell you sof"
"Yes."
And then, as the treachery Of her hus-
bands scheme to win her love from
Philip flashed like lightning into her
mind, she regretted with all the loyalty
of true if not loving wife that she
had betrayed it to his rival.
Keep up your courage, Marguerite,
whispered the young man.
Save him-oh, save him first, Philip
,he cried.
You are woman-tbe woman
love, he replied, new joy thrilling his
tones. 1t is my duty and my pleasure
to aid you. He is man, and my en-
emy. Let him take care of himself"
For one instant Marguerite lay with
closed eyes on Philips arm, thinking al.
most that she was in heaven. lie had
never married another; he loved her
madly yet, and she-ah, heaven, how
she had loved him! This was a night OF
danger. II anything should happen that
would set her free
She checked herself then. What .
wicked thought! Just then her hus-
band fioated past them, clinging, with
white, despairing face, to portion OF
The wreck. He seemed almost exhausted.
I.sv ~.
agony at her own wickedness
Philips face appalled, her. Upon it was
pictured the fearful struggle that was
going on in his soul-love, hate, indeci.
sion.
Il can not save you both, he said.
Then him first, said Marguerite, with
desperate passion in her voice. "Oh,
Philip, if Pm lost 1T will not be your
fault, but If you purposely leave him to
die unaided, it will be-murder
Philips face seemed to grow even
whittier as she spoke the words
II see-I will do what can, (" he said
quietly.
Perhaps he might now atone for his
brothers crime was the new thought
which stirred his soul to its depths.
Marguerite, clinging to the tiny raft
where Philip had left her-it was scarce.
ly large enough to hold two PERSONS
saw her husband snatched from the laws
OF death by the man whom they had
both wronged with thankfuIness unuteer.
able. She felt a horror now at the
thought of how she and Philip might
have profited by her husbands death.
1t was fortunate that the accident oc.
CURED so near the town. for just there
the river ran swiftly. and few could have
been saved without the aid that came
from Linz.
Il have saved him for your sake, Mar.
guerite, whispered Philip, as they met
at the side of her almost lifeless husband.
-God bless you I" she said, pressing his
hand as she kneIt beside the prostrat4
form.
But Colonel Tracy's DAYS were mum
bered. All was done for him that medi.
cal skill could do in that quaint old Ger
man city. But he was no longer young
and his nervous system had received a
shock from which he could not recover.
He died, and there, on the shore Of the
beautiful blue Danube, he was buried
Two years passed quietly away Mrs.
Tracy had spent them in travel. and had
but lately returned to her native land.
She and Philip had parted at Linz with