Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-06-26

regard her case graVely, put she SOo
worse, despite his encouragement, and
after a fortnight in bed she sank and
died.
George was inexpressibly shocked.
Though he had long since outlived his
Illusions about her, she had been his
wife, his daily companion. TO realize
that she was gone dis1nayed him. lie
remembered the girl he had loved, and
shed tears at the grave of the woman
who had developed from her. Not ana
lying, not drawing the distinction, but
just grieving honestly.
And January came to an end, and
February broke, and then February
waned, and it was March.
Collier was surprised to find how rap
idly the time had passed since the
funeral. He put ''March T. at the top
of letter very slowly and sat looking
at it with startled eyes. A month more
reached. Poor little ''Chick," he would
have to leave her!
Oddly, now the end of it all was so
near, he was conscious of feeling less
impatience than he had done. He had
been sensible of late of a certain pleas
ure in Hfe-a new pleasure. The fact
was that the conditions had altered!
He would have been a cheerful man to-
day, for all his pecuniary worries, if he
had been allowed; nor did the worries
| themselves look so formidable some
how! Eva had always made the worst
of every thing. and-Heaven forgive him
had been a manager. twas amazing
what difference her removal caused
i'm every way! He was satisfied with
life and--he knew he did not want to
die
At last he determined to go to Orkney
and ask him to release him from his un-
Gertaling. It was All unpleasant task,
but the alternative was more distas1eful
| still.
Mr.. Orkney looked at him in BLANK
disapproval when he had stamlnerea
to Il conclusion.
''This is very unbusiness-like," he
said; Every unbusiness-like, indeed!
You put me in u very awkward situa-
ton, Collier. ] don't want to see you
ole, of course-I-I hope l have a heart
but an agreement is an agreement,
and I have great occasion for s 1000.
AS it happens, l have BILL
I'm other words,' said Collier, rising,
you won't consent?''
81 regret" said Orkney. II regret very
much that you should have put such a
suggestion forward, because / am I'M
able to consent to it, and it is a par
ticularly painful one to refuse. do not
think it was delicate, Collier
Finally, you insist on your pound of
fesh?''
"Finally," responded the lawyer, II
repeat that if you are a man OF honor
only one course can be adopted. Good
day."
He touched the bell on his table and
Collier passed out.
'"To Be or Not to Be- "The Pound Of
Tlesh"-what number of titles sug-
gested themselves for the story that
might be written! He could not put
the thought of it away from him, and
one evening he actually found himself
sitting at his desk commencing it. 1t
was a foolish proceeding, but it occu-
pied-more, interested him, and his pen
Il serious narrative.
At one o'clock he came to the point
where the end must be led up to. But
how was it to end? lie rose, and began
to pace the room, mechanically charg-
ing his pipe afresh. 1t would not draw
where were the wires? He could not
think if he did not smoke, and the thing
was stopped up.
The wires could not be found; per-
Laps he had used the last. Formerly
lie had annexed his wife's hairpins in
such emergencies, and, as a last re.
source, it occurred to him that if he
looked in the wardrobe where her be-
longings had been put away he would
, find some.
There were some hairpins scattered
at the bottom. There was also bundle
Of letters, tied together with ribbon,
' and directed in a handwriting that
looked familiar. Collier stared at it
, Was he making a mistake-or what had
Eeen the purpose Of this correspon.
Gence? He turned white, and pulled the
letters out.
, The dates they bore were of the last
two years. There was nothing criminal
in them, despite their lengthiness, but
they were a mans confidential com
munications to a woman of whom he is
fond. They spoke of the writer's sym
yathy," of his regret that he could dc
/ nothing to alleviate the dreariness Of
her lot; there were frequent allusion:
to what ''might have been;" and they
E began, dearest Mrs. Collier" and were
I signed, "Yours with affection, Horac.
, Orkney"
, George stumbled out of the bedroom
and returned TO the workshop where
ne sank into his chair, with knitted
l,rows, thinking. After awhile h,
: picked up his Zen again, but he did no
continue the tale.
Dear Sir" he wrote, II restore 20,
the inclosed letters, for which have M
,. use. Henceforfh I shall make my HON,
N the country with my daughter.
perceive that her mothers untimely de
y