Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1895-12-20
that he might appear at his best when
he went to interview the theatrical

On the first night of the comedy she
was to have box at the theater, and in
order to celebrate her husbands tri-
umph, they were to enjoy tbs most
recherche supper afterward, and to
drink success to the play.
"'Just we two,' she said, kneeling
down at the writing table at which her
husband was busily engaged. And l
shall be dressed in white silk, like Il
bride, and you will have new evening
suit, and L shall give you flower, Il
pink rose for your buttonhole.'
"She laid her soft cheek against her
husbands and laughed with delight.
The comedy was almost finished, and
yet, strange to say, the author felt
strangely tired and depressed.
Gle put down his pen and looked at
his young wife. 1t was winter, and
they were too poor to afford coal fire.
But a small oil stove sent out CHEEKY
radiance, and the shabby black dress
his wife had worn SO long and uncom-
plainingly seemed to catch golden
radiance from the glow.
'For the last few months the hus-
band had been too busy to look very
closely at his young wife. Every mo-
ment that he could snatch had been de-
voted to his comedy, and even the few
little excursions they had enjoyed to.
gether had been given up for the sake
of the masterpiece.
''But suddenly the light Of the oil
stove seemed to reveal something new
in his wife's face.
"'How pale and thin you look, my
darling,' he said, with sudden tighten
ing at his heart. What have you been
doing to yourself? You seem mere
shadow
''But she only laughed, and said he
was foolish and imaginary.
"I always am pale in the winter,
she answered with little SILVER. But
when the spring comes l shall be quite
fat and rosy. And then you will have
made such heaps of money with your
comedy we can afford to go away some
where, and you can give up that hor-
rid office you hate SO much
"'But we must be prepared for dis
appointment lie said, trying to smile
bravely. you know all the celebrated
writer's had their first works re- ected.'
''He saw the sudden change on the
thin, bright face, and he fastened TO
kiss the shadow away.
"'Of course. the comedy will be taken
in the end, he resumed, hastily, patting
his wife's hand. But you mustn't be
too cast down, darling, if the first mar
ager apply to sends it back
''That night marked the beginning
Of the terrible calamity that was about
to fall upon the young husband. The
comedy was finished and taken to the
stage door, directed in his wife's hand
for luck as she said-to the great
actor-lnanager of a wellknown theater.
''For the present there was nothing to
do but to wait for a reply.
eco and order the new clothes, dar-
Ing the young wife insisted, with a
strange persistence. Mr. Thespis will
send for you, and you must look your
best
ut was the morning of a gloomy,
foggy day, and the husband was about
to set out to his Office. ,
GAS his wife spoke she staggered, and
would have fallen but for her husband.
IN terrible alarm he carried her to the
bed and hung over her in anguish.
"Her face was CHASTITY pale, and for
the first time in her life she had tainted
dead away. The unhappy husband
rushed downstairs for the landlady,
and with the help of some stimulant
they brought her back to consciousness.
'"I'he doctor was called in, in spite of
the young wife's assurances that she
was quite we'll again and was only feel
ing little tired. ,.......
''He looked gravely at the wasted
form lying on the bed, and then brought
out the stethoscope.
''The husband watched his face in
mute agony. But he could read moth
ing from the kind eyes that were bent
once more on the patients countenance.
"'Plenty of nourishing things, beef
tea and port wine, and, when the wealth
er is brighter, a change to warmer eli
mate. You'll soon be set up again. he
said, cheerily. And don't fret about any,
thing, my dear child he added in q
tatherly way.
''Presently the two men went down
stairs into the landlady's parlor.
''The husbands eyes sought the doc
tors face.
"It's only the effects of the cold
weather, DOCTOR he said, feverishly.
There's nothing radically wrong with
my wife,
''And then the blow fell. In the kind
est words, but in unmistakable terms,
the doctor told the truth.
"'Your wife is in a very precarious
state. Her constitution has been seri-
ously undermined by poor living, and I
regret deeply to have to tell you that
she has not many months to live. If
possible, keep from her any trouble or
disappointment. In her weak state the
shock might be fatal
''God alone knows the agony of the
husband when his brain realized the
meaning of the doctors words. The
joy of his life was to be taken from him,
and he was to be left to bear the burden
alone.