The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-08-13

honestly questioned her own heart it
would have said: I'll wait and SEQ tho
end; the end of revenge; the end Of
Nfa's love-" ~
When the letter had been finished she
placed it on the bureau, where she
would be sure to remember it the next
time, she went out. Then she seated
herself by the window, and, screened by
tho vines and the gathering dusk, gave
her thoughts free rein.
So he was about to fail; to lose the
money for which he had sold out his
troth. But he still would have his wife
what would she think Of the change1
Would she still keep her carriage, she
wondered and still carry her head in that
high way? Would she be obliged to go
into the kitchen and broil her own
steak, as she did? Oh, it would be hard
on her, and hard on him! What was it
he had said that night in the rose arbor?
Life would be torture with moth
ing but love to live on" And now there
was not so much as the love. What
would it be to him? What would it
mean, the old riddle called life, with
out even love ito live on?"
Suddenly Miss Elizabeth dropped her
little brown hand upon her lap and
gasped: might it not mean disgrace,
too? She had not thought Of that when
she had flung her one little taunt after
him. How contemplate that was! how
mean! He might be in danger! might
have-to-go-to-p The soul
Of the woman woke then. That must
never be-never! He would die there
il he ever got there. If there was a way
not to go he would find it-she knew
him well enough to know that. He in
prison! He who had held her in his
arms once; kissed her lips; loved herl
1t must never be. He was hers again,
for one wild moment; hers, if not to
have, at all events to save. It was eight
o'clock; she heard the town clock strike
as she pulled the tottering old shutters
together, and reached for the tattered
mantilla, lying in the top bureau
drawer.
She stopped, breathless, afraid Of her
house. The white stone of the steps had
weird look in the moonlight; and from
a vine trained against the wall came the
odor Of musk roses. Then she remem-
bered that it was June.
The servant who answered her ring
stared; it was the first time in her life
that her foot had crossed his threshold.
The softness of the carpet about the lit
tie old-fashioned feet reminded her Of
the old days when she had been her
fathers "only child"
II want to see the master of the
house." she said, and waited in the hall
while the man went to see if the master
was at home. While she waited door
opened at her right and a negro woman
came out, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Before she could retreat beyond reach
of the voice she heard the sound Of sob
bling, as Of some one in deep distress.
He had told her, then she knew that the
bank would close; that her poor daywas
over.
The sobs were hysterical, followed by
reproaches, upbraidings such as the
lonely little old maid had never
dreamed could fall from wifely lips.
Then man came out of the room,
with his head bowed upon his breast,
and passed her, SO, close that the gray
skirts touched his shoe, but he did not
see her. She saw his face a moment; it
was ashy white, and his hand was thrust
into the pocket at his hip.
He entered the door at the left, clos
ing it securely behind him. A moment,
and she was at it, the glistening brass
knob in her hand. But the door refused
to open; it was fast, locked upon the
other side.
She put her lips to the keyhole and
called his name.
"Who is there?" startled voice de-
manded from the other side. He had
fancied that it was the ghost of an old
wrong that had called to him from out
his despair.
1T is /, Oscar-only elizabeth.
Let me in, won't your"
The door opened, and showed her the
white, determined face Of the suicide
that was about to be.
"Have you come to gloat?" he asked.
IF you have, tell you, Elizabeth For.
roster, that you have your revenge. I
am as poor as you to-night-as poor as
you were that night when broke faith
with you for an old mans money. You
are revenged; do you hear? Now will
you 60, and let me die in peace?"
Slowly the tears gathered in the faded
blue eyes; the little, old-fashioned feet
took step nearer; the fre-browned
hand was laid moment upon the
bowed head of the man who had once
refused it.. Softly it stroked the silver
strands, as gentle as when it rested in
the hand of the lover that had once
been.
"Did you think would leave you In
your trouble? Did you think did not
care?-that I would not give up life
itself to save you? Did you? Will it
save you, Oscar-the money my cousin
left me? have it here now; brought
it for you."
She started back when he lifted his
head to look at her.
'save myself with your money,