Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-12-25


room in which her husband spent more
hours than she liked to total No reply
Colbert, dear, don't start" was
whispered fcarfully "He is here again
that Mr., Mainwaring What shall"-
Why, he was not scribbling away fe-
verishly His head had fallen forward
asleep? When she touched him, he
slowly ronsed to stare past her with
eyes so dilated that she almost shrank.
Gilbert. hon'tr' She was nncon.
scionsly on her knees now ''Oh, give it
up, if it's killing yoni I'm work. hns,
handr'
En- There' was dreaming-my
plot was inst coming to me, and you
yon disturb me sor' he said. putting her
arms away ''Tf I lose grip of it this
time it-it--may mean madnessi Mar
ion it was snblime' Only go away
do!"
He found his pen and started Awed.
apprchcnsive. too. she hung there as
though hcsitating whether to obey or
snatch his precious manuscript away
Finally she stole out and stood guard at
his door
"My husband cannot see yon to
night.
"Oh, very good. madaml Half this
house was furnished with the elOO he
coolly borrowed through me--.before
knew, of course Sympathy means for
bearance AS yon don't want it. IN sell
him up now''
"You-yon will not!' She ran and
caught his arm Il did not know it. l
simply say-if you but knew how he
has shaved and triedi Let me tell yon
something. Wait-and his play will be
accepted Yesl Tonight he has found
his plot-the great idea he has missed
for months Therer"
Found his plot?" He stared incredu-
lously, appearing to weigh the chances
BAH That was to have thrilled crea.
ton long ago. will call once again
next week. and them He went out
without finishing it.
In q sort of stupor Marion sat down
and waited-waited hour after hour
Then at last Gilbert came cropping out,
ono hand pressed to his head, his face
haggard, but ecstatic. Not even her
white and hopeless face struck his at
tention.
Done itl'he gasped. IT was coming
to wake you. They-they say that ev-
cry man is capable of one stroke of gen.
ius. Listen to this-but the room seems
why, Marion. H.
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
play. 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 thatp
Night and day she lowered over him.
He had tried and failed Only to save
his reason Then she would try herself
In the first excitement she quite for
got Mainwaring, and his last veiled
threat, until, precisely seven days after
his previons visit, the girl informed her
that that gentleman and friend"
We're waiting in the sitting room. Both
frightened and desperate, she went
down as far as the doorway.
He is i'll, she said, her face study
i'll supplication "He knows nothing
perhaps never will again"
"Therer Mainwaring's teeth snap
ped. What did I say A planned af
fair, My friend here wants his money
or some equivalent. There is the agree
ment. stay until see your husband
Marion managed to get "Then You
mnst stay past the lump in her
throat Then she ran back and locked
the bedroom door
They've gone. ma am, came
through the keyhole at last "They
mumbled away for time, and then
they were suddenly quiet. think they
We're frightened They almost crept
out"
Marion, sitting back from Gilbert'k