The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-12-23

room in which her husband spent more
hours than she liked to total. No reply.
Colbert, dear, don't start was
whispered fearfully. 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 reused to stare past her with
eyes so dilated that she almost shrauk.
colbert, don'tn' She was .uncon-
sciously on her knees now. ooh, give it
up, if it's killing you! I'll work, hus-
band!'
''Eh? There! was dreaming-my
plot was just coming to me, and YOU
you disturb me SOP he said, putting her
arms away. eff l lose grip of it this
time, it-it-may mean madness! Mar
ion, it was sublime! Only go away
do!''
He found his pen and started. Awed,
apprehensive. too. she hung there as
though hesitating whether to obey or
snatch his precious manuscript away.
Finally she stole out and stood guard at
his door,
night"
''Oh, very good. madam! Half this
house was furnished with the 500 he
coolly borrowed through me-before
knew, of course. Sympathy means for
bearance. AS you don t want it. III sell
him up nuwr'
"You-you will not!' She ran and
caught his arm. Il did not know it !
simply say-if you but knew bow he
something. Wait-and his play will be
accepted. Yes! Tonight he has found
his plot-the great idea he has missed
for months. There"
Found his plot?" He stared incredu-
lousy, appearing to weigh the chances
"Bah! That was to have thrilled crea-
ton long ago. l will call once again
next week, and them He went out
without finishing it.
In a sort of stupor Marion sat down
and waited-waited hour after hour
Then at last Gilbert came cropping out,
one hand pressed to his head, his face
haggard, but ecstatic Not even her
white and hopeless face struck his at
tention.
Done it!'he gasped. Twas coming
to wake you They-they say that ev-
cry man is capable of one stroke Of gen.
Jus. Listen to this-but the room seems
why, Marion, ~
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! Ii 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 that?
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
rot Mainwaring. and his last yelled
threat, until, precisely seven days after
his previous visit, the girl Informed her
that that gentleman and friend
were waiting il the sitting room. Both
frightened and desperate, she went
down as fer as the doorway.
'He is ill. she said, her face a study
in suppllcation ''He knows nothing
perhaps never will again.
THERE Mainwaring's teeth snap
ped. what did | say! A planned af
fair! My friend here wants his money
or some equivalent. There is the agree
lnent stay until see your husband. "
Marion managed to get Then you
must stay" past the lump ill he1
throat. Then. she ran back and locked
the bedroom door.
They've gone, na'am, came
through the keyhole at last They
mumbled away for time, and then
they We're suddenly quiet. think they
were frightened. They almost crept
out. =
Marion. sitting back from Gilbert's
wild stare. found temporary relief in
stream of tears.
The first CLEAN of sunshine came at
the end of three awful weeks Hartley,
physically safe, could cross his bedroom
Only it terrified her to realize that he
was qua J--~au automaton. Six weeks.