The age-herald., 1897-09-05

"Go-nolc, please"
 even before his death. Amid his wealth-for we went to Colorado, and he made money there-I became wretch ed. My heart went back to my child, my only child"
 ''I knowed-after what happened-T knowed ill reason ye couldn't hey keered much fer me. allays wondered how ye come ter keer fer me at all, fer ain't much ter keer fer nohow. But little Ann, she's defer'nt, of course. !"
 Jim allowed his fingers to close over the child's small hands fondly; then he resumed
 ''She keers fer me, don't ye, honey? But I'm a-fearin she can't under tho pecoolyer sarcumstanees partik1erly keer fer both on us ter onct like. :"
 Here Jim strengthened himself and looked full at his former wife unflinch- ingly. Could she, now standing before him, clad, as it were, in purple and fine linen, with a delicate perfume exhaling from her presence over his unaccustomed senses, could she be-his faithless Dar- thuly? He knew it must be so, yet the realization seemed impersonal and
  vague.
 .'At first didn't care much for you," she said, 'T wanted shelter and homo so badly. My life had been hard one. But your love and kindness soon made mo care for you. If he had not come back, all would have been we'll. But he --he-I"-she blushed and hesitated under the stringenoy of her self inn pelled confessional had met and de- ceived me before you knew me- can- not explain, bat somehow could not resist his power. But havo repented-e indeed have repented.
 She hid her face in her hands, while little Ann shrank from the vehemence of the strange lady's actions and words. Jim's eyes wandered from her dress and jewelry to the big Saratoga trunks against the wall and around the luxuri- ous appointments of the room.
 ''Does these yer fixin's 's,'' he asked hluntly, "and all yer fine dressin and ways and sech come of Dick Buffords money what he left yep
 She appeared not to hear him, but as he repeated the question her hands fell and look of confusion appeared on her face.
 People are obliged to have money in this world," she replied almost dog gedly.
 ''We uns yer in the mountains gifts along on powerful leetle," said he. 'But air ye a-usin of his money now?"
 'Yes, Jim, am. He has gone where he'll never need money again.
 eff he ain't in hell, he ought ter be, interrupted he emphatically. And was ye a-goin ter tempt me and Ann with some of the cussed stuff too?'' : Facing him there, she felt that all the power and pleasure her wealth had invoked to appease the deep longings of her heart toward her husband and child were rising as curse to still further separate her from her desire Had she not dreamed fondly of how this money would relieve their wants expand and minister to their crude enjoyment? Had she not planned how, ill new land u,i- haunted by the past, this same money should gild the path of forgiveness and forgetfulness with ease and pleasure until conscience slumbered, love renew ed itself and retribution was forgotten?
 Yet here was Jim-poor, simple, hon. est Jim-repulsing the golden bribe which she had felt ought to bridge the chasm of shame yawning between their honorable poverty and her own repug- nant splendor There is nothing SO inac- cessible as virtue under certain contin- gencies. Clothe it in rags. pinch it with penury, grind it beneath a worldly scorn, yet its hollow eyes and wasted features illumine the vale of humility like diamonds in the mire, gleaming unsullied from out the filth of their surroundings upon the spurious glitter, that envies through all it's false exalta- tion the purity no tongue can smirch and from which it stands forever barred.
 She did not reply at once. Jim, total- ly unawed as yet, hitched at his "gal- fuses" and went through sundry awk- ward movements for no apparent cause whatever
 "Who is she, pap?" whispered Ann. who had interposed Jim's body between herself and the object of her curiosity.
 "Waal. haney. "said Jim, slightly em-