The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-08-21

"Oh, Ralph, speak to me! MY hus-
band. my dear husband"
And the weeping wife was Bella.
Was it strange that Rodney Kirke
asked himself if he was in dream
some hideous nightmare pressing upon
his brain? He moved to leave them
together, but Bella caught his hand,
and in broken, sobbing sentences i'm
plored him to forgive her--to be kind
to Ralph and save his life for her sake
and her child 1t was pitlful to see
her, to hear the story of the web of
deceit woven about James Kirke, who
was ignorant of the marriage of his
stepson. But at last, when the night
shadows were falling. Rodney Kirke
was free to collect his thoughts-to try
to make some coherent story in his be-
wffdered brain. His love betrayed. he
felt with a strange wonder no pain in
the fact The contempt for the deceit
that had left him so easily and taken
the new heir in his place had struck
his love dead Even anger was with
cred by the scorn he felt.
But there opened before his mind at
His rivals life depended on his skill
and his inheritance upon his science.
His uncle had written to him that this
man would he his heir; probably he
had long before made his will and car
ried out his threat. Yet, if he died,
Rodney was his heir at law, and Bella's
faisehood removed the only cause Of
| difference between himself and his un-
Gle
Days passed, and as if he had been
his treasured friend, Rodney Kirke
nursed Ralph Olney back to life. He
had fought back all selfish considera-
tion and left the results to the future.
His duty was to nurse his patient
faithfully, constantly, and he exceeded
! his duty, only leaving him where Bella
was allowed to sit beside him. A deep
pity for the wcman he had loved filed
/ his heart. 1t was evident that her in
fidelity was the yielding of a weak ma
| ture to strong one, and that she
| feared her husband as much as she
loved him. When consciousness re
turned to the invalid it became evident
that the mind was seriously impaired,
and gentleness, evidently new to her,
greeted Bella's timid rlsnistrations.
DIR. Bedlowe, watching ALL urged up
on Rodney the 0dty of seeking recon
Citation with his uncle, but the young
man absolutely refused to make any
advances.
"You say you have told him of Ralph
Olney's marriage" be told his old
friend, "and if he wants me he must
send for me-"
But the invalid, tnc, was obstinate
and while Ralph was still in the hos
pitaI James Kirke was found dead il
his bed-heart disease having followed
train of other ailments.
The will that made his step-son his
heir was found, and, with a bitterness
like death, Rodney one morning assist
ed in dressing his patient for the las
time, and saw him drive away, will
his wife and baby boy, to take posses
sion of the home he had regarded a
his own for the greater part of his life
Ten years later DR.. Kirke, man al
ready known in his profession, was sit
ting in his Office alone, when his oil
friend. DR. Bedlowe, came in, his fac
full of pleasure.
CAT Iast!" he said. "At last, ma.
congratulate you. But l must tell m!
story FIRST. Before your uncle died
Rodney, he gave me his solemn prom
Use to right the wrong he had done you
Ralph Olney was not poor man, haV
ing inherited a fair income from hi
father, but he was grasping, selfish AM
deceitfuI until the accident that threw
him into your care, and that left hin
crippled and imbecile. When your un
Gle died l thought the will that he hat
promised to make in your favor wa
one of the unaccomplished acts dyini
men so often leave until too late. Blu
to-day. only to-day, Mrs. Olney cam
to my Office with the will, which sh
found a week ago, quite by accident
Rodney, you must pity and forgive heI
Such a heart-broken face have neve
seen. Five children lie in little graves
and her husband is only a wearin
source of grief and care. In this las
week she has removed all their per
sonal possessions from Ferndale, an
she asks of you only that you will nc
seek to find her in her new home or
thank her. She was fearful that prid
or some mistaken chivalry might lea
, YOU to refuse what she called her atone
, ment, and so brought the will to me
, Your old home awaits you! May yo
/ be very happy there"
| Good Enough for the Price.
? .nnn cnrnr11lar Ltn ladY friendN.