The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-23

"EHi THERE"
and tapped at the door Of, that inner
room Ia which her husband spent more
>seuFs than she liked TO total. No reply.
Gilbert dear, don't start" was
y .dspered fearfully "He is here again
-..-that Mr.. Mainwaring. What shall"-
Why, he was not scribbling away f.
verishly. His head had fallen forward
.-asleepp When she touched him. he
slowly roussd to stare pas hen with
eyes 20 dilaspd THAT she almost shrank.
S'"Cilbert, don'tr' She was uncon-
sciously on her knees now. "Oh, give 1t
mp, II it's killing you'll I'll work, hus-
bandl''
"Ehl ThereI I was dreaming-my
plot was Just coming to me-, and you
you disturb me SOL he said. putting her
arms away. IF l lose grip Of it this
time, it-it--may mean madnessl Mar
ION, 1t was sublimel Only go away
dol"
He found his pen and started Awed,
apprehensive too she hung there as
though hesitating whether to obey or
snatch his precious manuscript away.
Finally she stole out and stood guard at
his door.
my husband cannot see you to-
night"
"Oh, very good, madaml Half this
house was furnished with the elO0 he
ooolly borrowed through me-before
] knew, Of course Sympathy means for.
bcarance As you don t want it. Ill sell
him mp nowr'
"You-you will notl" She ran and
caught his arm. II did not know It, l
simply say--if you but knew how he
hrs shaved and. --'-A' Let me tell you
A6mething. Wait-nnd MS play will be
accepted. Yesl Tonight he has found
his plot--the great idea he has missed
for months. There"
Found his plotr" He stared incredn.
lously, appearing TO weigh the chances.
"BahI That was to have thrilled crea-
ton long ago. Twill call once again
next week, and them He went out
without finishing 1t.
In sort of stupor Marion sat down
and waited-waited hour after hour.
Then at last Gilbert came cropping out,
one hand pressed to his head, his face
haRgard, but ecstatic. Not even her
white and hopeless face struck his at
tention.
Done itl'he gasped. II was coming
to wake you. They-they say that ev-
Dry man is capable of QUE stroke of gen.
lus. Listen to this-but tho room seems
why, Marion, IL
The manuscript fell. She realized
something and sprang forward. He had
swayed and then toppled down.
Twelve hours later found him in the
heat OF unmistakable delirium. And the
playi 1t was lying neglected upon his
study desk Weeks would pass. the bluff
old doctor said, before his sanity could
return. 1t meant that the home must
vanish bit by bit-but what of that:
Night and day she lowered over him.
He had tried aud failed. Only to save
his reason Then she would try herself.
In the first excitement she quite for.
rot Mainwaring, and his last yelled
threat. until, precisely seven days after
his previous visit. the girl informed her
that that gentleman and friend
were waiting in the sitting room. Both
frightened aud desperate, she wen,
down as far as the doorway.
HE il ill. f" she said, her face study
In duplication "He knows nothing
perhaps never will again"
"Therei" Mainwaring's teeth snap
ped. What did say? A planned af
iairi My friend here wants his money
or some equivalent. There is the agree
ment stay until see your husband y
Marion mc,aged to get Then you
must stay" past the lump in hel
throat Then she ran back and locked
the bedroom door.
"They've gone, ma'am," can't
through the keyhole at last "TheJ
9 mumbled away for time, and ther
they we're suddenly quiet. ! think they
were frightened. They almost creep
put
Marion, sitting back from Gilbert
wild stare; found temporary relief in
kream Of tears.
The first CLEAN Of sunshine came al
The end Of three awful weeks Hartley
physically safe, could cross his bedroom
Only it terrified her to realize that HI
was but living automaton. Six weeks
md the mysterious stupor showed M
igns Of lifting And when he crept
hz.-c c<osv. ora in n xuou Nnlv fn Git
staring vacantly through the hours
And Christmas was close at hand--dear
Joyous Christmasl
"It's most strange" said the doctor
pne day. "I've been thinking-wha
mild excitement would be likely to roust
him?'
"Oh, the theater-the play" she an
wered mechanically.
"Then take him. Here. There's
matinee advertised for tomorrow at thu
Tollity-so,xe new and wonderful drarnt
70 be tried. The very thingr"
Gilbert, never seeming to wonder
where the money came from, assented.
Ind accordingly that next day, Christ
mas eve found them both seated in thu
Jollity. II this failed
The play commenced, but Marion her
yelf had not come to be thrilled. Hold
Ing her husbands hand tightly, she sa
Dscalthily watching for sign Of dnwn
Ing comprehension. In vain. During th,
hrst and second acts his cxprossiJE re
natned all but lifeless. Suddenly, how
r Svsr. Marion almost cried out His thir