Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-21

the power truly to remember bus, a'ci
four days and nights. by common humdn
counting. he came out OF hell ana hh'"
what had happened.
At the far end OF the tunnel there
was a slope Of smoky glass, and low
boarding. He came upon the world
again, ragged and grimed In the shei-
ter Of the night; shaking with SICK
ness and burned and bitten by thirst
and nauseating hunger, which ioathen
the thought OF food. He let himself into
his lodging and craw.ed up the foui. UNI
carpeted stair In the darkness and slept
He awoke at high noon. and the hrst IN hs
that met his eye was MISUNDERSTANDING
letter. which was stuck into the frame
OF his cracked and faded mirror.
Who should care to write to him?
His duns had dropped away long and
long ago.
He opened the letter and stared at il.
scarcely daring TO believe his eyes. IL
came from a firm of solicitors. and II
brought news OF fortune. An old aunt OF
his. who had lived go secluded i'm the
country that she had never so much as
heard Of his disasters. had left him every
thing OF which she had died possessed.
"in recognition OF his noble services to
art" for which she had never cared a
farthing. The bequest was all in solid
money. roughly f60,Ol0, invested in the
per cents.
He was deadly weak, but he crawled
to the st.ir-head and hammered on the
banister with his boot-heel until his land
lady appeared.
Come upstairs" he said, in the voice
bis delirum had left him.
The woman mounted the stairs, storm
ing at him. He thrust the letter into
her hand: Read that"
She read and stared at him without
another word. He sent her for pint of
champagne and a few dry biscuits. In
her absence he made such a toilet as
was possible, and on her return he went
out, paying his debt 10 her In full be-
fore he left. He bought a cheap ready
made macintosh to hide his squalor. and
took a cab to the address given In the
letter
The news was confirmed; an eminent
banker hard by. who had bought his pic
lures and known him well. identified the
famous painter I'm the shabby scarecrow
who had sent for him; and Sanford was
Immediately supplied with money Before
he left the lawyers Office he was allowed
to use private room, and a messenger
was dispatched TO a tailor, hosier
halter. and a boot-maker. He drove in
a four-wheeler TO n hotel, and there
bathed and was shaved and had his
hair trimmed He lunched and slept, and
dned and slept again. Next day he went
TO his old tailor and ordered an OUTFIT,
and drove about shopping. This fatigued
him agreeably, and he had second quiet
right.
Iovedale had done with him, and he
was not tormented by any accusation or
conscience. That eternity OF ninety-six
hours had purged him. He felt free OF
further suffering. In week he started
for the continent. saying no good-pyes
10 ANYBODY He made by easy stages for
Brinis contemplating a lengthy sojourn
In the East.
".
Now that he was free TO indulge his
ono vice as far as he chose, ii left him.
perhaps il had been the sense OF hope
Iessness which had driven him TO II,
He felt the wholesome current of his blood
again. his mirror told him OF returning
manhood.
He had touched at Vienna, and there
had made the acquaintance OF family
OF American travellers. They knew his
fame. but nothing of his misfortunes, ex-
cept that of the accident to his right hand'
which was too patent TO be hidden. HIS
fame. his disaster, the sparse silver OF
his hair. and the signs OF suffering IN
his face made him an interesting figure.
The father of the family was genial ana
cultured, the mother pretty and refined
the two girls were full Of wor-
shin and sympathy. They parted with
Sanford with many expressions OF good
will and by chance they met him again
at Trieste They steamed down the Ad-
riatic together. and Sanford began TO
think himself I'm love. He gave the fancy
house-room, and ii grew. lie travelled
on to Athens and TO Alexandra in the
same pleasant company.
Tho night which had begun his madness
was a part Of II. and the horror of Love-
dales diving figure on the sofa was
neither more nor less than the phantom
horrors which had followed II. He could
distinguish between fact and fancy, but
the fancy and the fact were intertwined,
and the same mist OF distance seemed TO
be swallowing both.
Sanford had made up his nina 10
speak. The three months ne had spent
i'm the society of his new friends seemed
almost like the whole of life to him. He
knew that the girl was ready to take
him at his word and he saw years OF
prosperous peace before him.
He sat at her side on hotel veranda.
There was subdued music near at hand,
and the moon was shining, and the sea
rippled fifty yards away. Sanford had
laid a hand upon her arm, the merest
timid touch, but she knew what was in
his mind and had known it for long
time. lie had spoken her name only.
when. with a little cry of Laura" her
sister ran out upor tho balcony
Taurap' she cried again, and Sanford's
hand drew back.
"Yes?" the girl asked, with an uncer-
tain voice.
"Oh. | am so glad. That poor English
Major is not TO be executed after all.
The Times has just arrived. and the sem
tence has been commuted.'
what major. asked the sister
"Why. the Victor Cross man-Major
Yardley, whom the staniishes knew"
sanford's heart stood still. 1t seemed
a long time before he heard his own voice
saying:
what is the case? Who was this
name
AN Englishman who was found guilty
of the murder Of Captain Lovedale."
Sanford rose. and steadied himself by
the back OF his chair.
Excuse me for moment" he said
drly, and then moved away.
Fact and dream disentangled in fash
He remembered eyerything-the threat,
the witness. his own entry Of the house
unseen. the open door, his unseen quit
ting-everything!
BY what a miracle he had escaped!
Escaped? He sat in his room with his
clasped hands gripped between his knees
Life was pleasant, and freedom was
pleasant
Come. Old enemyv he said. after an
hour of silence Come and turn friendv
He rang his bell and ordered brandy.
and drank in the old fashion. Then he
took his hat and walked to the British
Consulate