The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-10

ouite dreadful enough without all
that implorsdr xrA Gardner. Her
appeal seemed 10 haye fallen unnotced.
fOr hie gase remained absently upm the
page, and his lips moved slowly In un.
conscious soliloquy.
1.-THE thought Of It curdles ones
blood I never open the morning papers
without receiving a shock from some
story Of crime. Here's another hideous
murder in London, published today,
and heaven only knows when that Sc.
ries will end and when the criminal
will be discovered! Strange how all the
London cases, as well as this one in Flor
ence, resemble each other, as if they
had been similarly planned, as if-as if
they had all originated in like mys-
terious impulse.
Edward, please lay down that pa
per instantly" interposed his wife
sharply. "Do you know, DEAR" she
added more tenderly, "that your fore
head is beaded with perspiration and
your face as pale as if you were going
to faint?"
"Quite likely, my dear girl, for am
far from well this morning" feebly re-
Joined the doctor. With a tender com
passion she bent over him, gently wiped
his brow with her handkerchief and
brushed back his hair with delicate,
smooth touch which only wife Is depth
of love could inspire. Upon her sweet
face dwelt troubled look of affection
ate concern and anxiety; upon his hung
cloud too black and heavy for sun to
pierce. For some minutes, during which
he seemed almost forgetful of her pres
ence, they remained silent--a silence
burdened with dreaded Possibilities
and then her lips moved in yearning en-
treaty.
edward, my husband The Ca
ressing cadence in her voice, the uneasy
information in the words which died
upon her lips ere they were fully utter
ed. recalled him to his senses with
sudden start.
MAY, my darling, you must not
worry SO much about me. l shall be
quite we'll after an hours rest. Leave
me to recover myself
Slowly she Strengthened herself up
and silently walked to the door. With
her hand upon the knob, she turned to
bestow upon him a: waited kiss, but
failing to obtain look she moved away
with sigh and gently closed the door.
Then DR.. Gardner was alone with
reproaching conscience and an Almighty
Judge, to whom sin is hateful.
The door had barely been shut when
he became Immediately seized in the
grip of an insupportable agony. Tho
presence of his wife had etfectually re-
strained the outward exhibition of his
feelings, but now, i'll his temporary sol
itude, he could give them vent and by
their omission tighten the load which
weighed upon his heart.
The expression of his secret torment
could only be given by the stiGed groan,
the grinding teeth, the clinching fist
and the writing body, for he was APP
prehensive of being overheard, but still
that little relieved the tension Of his
sutferings.
Within his breast labored tumult
of frightful thoughts II terrible suspi
cion which his spirit dared scarce enter
tain, that cast upon his soul darkness
which felt eternal, a pain which was
worse than physical agony, which paled
his face and made his tall figure trem-
BILE, which made the muscles of his
hands twitch spasmodically until he
would fain have grasped the ornaments
upon the mantelshelf, costly as they
were, and from sheer despair crushed
them. In his Indebtedness all the en-.
blems of his wealth rose up and Knocked
him.
Presently there fell upon his ears the
sound of approaching footsteps, the
light, delicate tread of his wife. He
was instantly on the alert and making
violent efforts to pull himself together.
"May," he said, with show of
cheerfulness as she entered the room, 81
am going to experiment with q chemic-
al in which am rather interested. Will
you help me?''
"Whcn? Now?''
"Oh, no; tonight some time
WHAT'S the experiment to be, Ned?"
"Just to give Bruce small dose Of
it, It's the only way of which l can
think to arrive at definite knowledge
of its action and properties
"But suppose it kills the poor dog
emo danger of that, my dear. Certain
ly your father used to consider the drug
poisonous, but I have long ago discov-
cred that he was mistaken"
"Well. if you are quite sure l shall
not object. But, Ned, dear, asked Mrs
Gardner, looking puzzled, "why this
sudden eagerness for scientific re-
search?'
Across his face passed scarcely per-
ceptible movement, as from some dart
ing sensation, as he replied: "Simply
because have nothing better tic do to-
day and neither health nor inclination
for more active employment. You will
help me to test the drug, will you not,
May"
"Yos, dear, with pleasure, she an
swered in a happier voice. The oppres-
sion upon his soul seemed less heavy as
she nestled close in his arms