Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-03-19


himself and sought his room. There
his rage at first was so resiStlesS that
his thoughts would not concentrate.
They tainted him with glimpses OF JOY
that never would be his, OF tranquility
that never could return. They showed
him Ruth and Luke dwelling together
I i'm unison, FOR compliance in time would
master her affections. And be, him.
self. meanwhile? Oh, he would be alb
sorbed! Give Prime physical problem
10 solve and Rome might burn or Vesu-
vius erupt.
! Well, so be it. Prime grew ominously
calm. He sat at his desk with knitted
brows. His wrath started back from
despair, and leaned toward hope. A
physical prOblem-yes, he had one in
I deed-the destruction of puny life.
| What Svailed it when it mad been spent
I in trembling on the brink-when one
triflng push would send it over and
away? And how easy, how wondrously
simDle. TO one like himself, who knew
his cousins condition aud the manifes-
rations OF his disease, aud the essences
that could fatally simulate them! All,
I how mighty was learning that could
evolve such magic from the grass of the
fields. even as II could work destruction
out of clay! But to murder? He, who
shrank from inGicting the slightest pain
within whose baeaSt q moan ever,
awakened an echo, 10 do unto death his
cousin and friend? Would sleep, then,
ever lull or remOrse cease from gnaw-
I ing? Oh, no. Better far 70 lose ones
own life than to take anOther's; better
far TO DO Abel than Cain! And yet what
claim has such a poor, frail object on
the full possession OF life? Well enough,
perhaps, II ne were content, since be
did exist, 20 exc out his scanty exist
ence from day to day. But TO dare to
thwart man OF strength and wisdom;
To dare 10 aspire TO q glory that the
gods might begrudge! Why, the Great
ure was his own condemnation Verify,
were 10 not for the remembrance he
would 90 this thingl
But was il necessary TO remember?
Might there not be one dark half hour
cut from the shining croft Of lie so
skillfully that it's loss could never DO
noticed? An, how could he have hesi-
tated when the power lay within his
very grasp? Prime took his discovery
from the shelf, for the emergency to
which 10 was the key had come.
This, in fine, was the secret which
Prime had unfolded during his investi-
cations Of the mysteries Of nature; he
had found q method whereby the re-
membrance of any particular event
could be psrayzed in the brain, effect
ually and without injury to other func-
tions. Where, then, would be the
stings Of remorse, IL AFTER the deed was
done all personal connection with it was
severed?
1t was few days later that Luke sut-
ferred from one of the attacks OF his
boyhoOd; not u violent one, but the re-
currence after so many years OF respite
caused anxiety TO his friends and grave
warnings from his physician. As for
Luke himself, he derided it, stoutly
maintaining that it was but an out
burst from the exuberance Of
his 10Y, and that he had never been
so robust. He scattered the news OF
his engagement broadcast, and Ruth,
as she noted the lines Of his face and
his hating step, could not stay him.
She only grew more demure, and
though she still smiled, that smile was
more "reminiscences of tears than a
herald of mirth. Prime, too, bscame
reserved, preoccupied, and capricious.
He could not eat, he could not sleep;
work was mockery and idleness, de-
suair. An enthralling purpose con-
trolled him, while II 10 time was con-
trolled by a Shadowy fear. A blight
seemed 20 threaten, and the OLD Pro-
fessor at morning worship was moved
TO pray that any visitation OF Divine
wrath might be merciiully averted.
But Luke, in CHASTITY unconsclousness,
joked and boosted, like drunken reve-
Tor deiying the plague.
One Sunday morning, after service,
they were gathered on the porch; Ruth
and Luke side by side on the settle,
Prime leaning against the rail.
"You seem tired, dear" said Ruth
gently. "Perhaps the effort OF going
10 church was too much for you"
Nonsense" protested Luke. 81
have the strength of half a dozen men;
had not my happiness would craze me.
That little church is most precious in
my sight, for It will be the birthplace OF
q new life with YOU" and he raised her
hand and kissed it.
As he did so his eyes caught Primes
gaze, and its tierceness sent a chill TO
his heart.
"What is it, dear?' asked Ruth, aux
lousy. Chow you tremole. Prime, do
get glass of wine"
--frf LDrf,o ba
ed a moment at the buffet, with his
hand in his breast, he mnttered, in
deed 1 will"
He handed the glass to Ruth, aud
she held it 10 the invalid's lips. Luke
gulped il eagerly. He uttered shrlll
cry. He staggered to his feet, and rails
ed his hand as IL about to point. His
ewes again met Primes; then they roll
ed upward, and down he fell dead be-
tween the companions Of his youth.
''You mustn't say it was sudden, ex-
postulated the physician. 1T was just
what feared from my diagnosis OF that
first attack"
When all the sad arrangements had
been dscOrouSly made, and naught re-
NAMED save the weary three days wait,
Prime strolled alone through the gar
den. How differently he felt From
what he had imagined. What a relief
10 know that it was done, and that no
suspicion could ever be aroused Where
was that remOrse that he had dreaded
Why, as he had come down the stairs
from the room where Il had been laid,
he had caught himself humming gay
airl And when had the sun been bright
er, or the twltter OF the birds more in
spring? How his heart bounded in
thanksgiving; no cloud now obscured
his future, its path glowed with
prosperity, aud along it he could
see Ruth and himself progressing
- IN hnna Rannnrsal Dshaul A