The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-10
4 COMING POSSIBILITY,
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By aaEa EDvA1D1
rcopyrisAt. 1881. by the Authorl


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Bile, while her husband, Dr. hdward
Gardner, sits opposite to her, dividing
his attention between the morning pa
pers and tho meal set before him.
Other changes may be observed in the
apartment itself. Instead OF the home
ly, cozy old chairs, the great mahogany
chiffonier, always In a high state OF
polish, the Anticipated corner cupboards,
resplendent with brass Knobs and Key.
holes, the faded mahogany screens,
worked in beads by the late Mrs. Camp
bell, the portraits OF old ladies in frills
and huge brooches Of DR.. Campbell
himself, looking into the room with the
county OF Perth behind him, and OF his
reverend father, bedecked in coils OF
white tie, with his glasses IN one hand
and concordance i'll the other-lnstead
Of all these are seen the modern and
costly in art and fashion, luxurious
couches and chairs, massive sideboards,
heavy velvet curtains, thick carpets,
huge canvases, dazzling IN the freshness
Of new paint and framed in all the
gorgeousness that gilt can give for
money.
In every part Of the house-which,
In fact, is less house than an "estab-
lishment'-as in the room now occu-
pied by the doctor and his wife, relgns
the air Of wealth and splendor such as
would have astonished the lady father
had he lived to witness IT. But while
these changes are OF interest as signifi-.
cant OF worldly progress we must needs
turn aside and direct our attention rath-
or to persons than things Dr. Gardner
himself is at the present moment per-
SON in whose appearance there Is some
thing unusual to attract the eye.
That he is the victim OF an unsettllng
mental emotion IS evident from the
manner in which he stares at the sheet
in his hand. The absence Of all color in
his face, the quivering lip, the dilated
nostril, the trembling limbs conveying
a rustling sound to tho paper held in
his grasp, are in themselves sufficient
testimony to its violence.
"What is the matter, Ned? Tell me,
darling, are you ill!' cried his wife i'll
a frightened voice as she ran to him
and fell upon her knees by his chair.
Her husbands breathing seemed to
have stopped for time, but presently
he drew in a prolonged inspiration, as
If he would have exhausted the very
room, and then with too apparent CT
fort at composure he asked:
"Did I startle you, my dear? Upon
my word you look quite shaken. y
AS he tenderly patted her cheek his
lips distorted themselves into the SEM
blance Of smile-the least fitting ex-
preston for his face to wear, Tor every
vestige Of color had left it,
"Tell me, though, dear, what is the
matter with your persisted his wife.
Nothing but stitch, May. 1t bit
me terribly sharp right over the heart,
but l am quite well now, " he answer
ed, trying to speak cheerfully, though
his looks wandered everywhere but to
the pure light Of his wife's countenance.
But, Ned, darling. was there-I
mean-please don't be vexed with mo
for asking-was there nothing in the
paper to alarm you?"
"Oh, May, how foolish you are!' he
replied, with laugh which had no
mirth in 1t. II assure you that there
was absolutely nothing wrong with me
but that pain; only, to- tell the truth,
when it came 10 .instantaneeusly was
Just going to read you a bit OF news
which, to say the least Is rather dread
full. But go to your seat first. Yes;
well, give me another kiss before you
go"
Mrs. Gardner slowly rose to her feet
and proceeded to her place at the table,
with sS n,s , whers was 1g All, yes; won