The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-12-16


room in which her husband spent more
hours than she liked to total. No reply.
"Gilbert 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 shrank.
"Gilbert, don 'tp' She was uncon-
sciously on her knees now "Oh, 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 so!' he said, putting her
arms away IF lose grip Of it this
time, it-it-may mean madnessl Mar
ion it was sublime! Only go away
DOR
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.
my husband cannot see you to-
night
"Oh, very good, madam! Half this
house was furnished with the e1O0 he
coolly borrowed through me-before
knew, OF course. Sympathy means for
bearance AS you don t want it. I'll sell
him up now!"
"You-you will not!'' She ran and
caught his arm. II did not know it.
simply say-if you but knew how he
has shaved and triedi Let me tell you
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 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 he1
white and hopeless face struck his at
tention.
"Done it!''he gasped Il was 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, I-I'-
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
playl 1t was lying neglected upon his
study desk. Weeks would pass, the bluff
old doctor said, before his sanity coulc
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
got Mainwaring, and his last yelled
threat. until, precisely seven days after
his previous visit, the girl informed he1
that that gentleman and a friend
were waiting in the sitting room. Both
frightened and desperate, she went
down as far as the doorway.
He is i'll, - she said, her face study
in supplication. HE knows nothing
perhaps never will again.
"There!" Mainwaring's teeth snap
ped. What did l say? A planned at
fair! My friend here wants his money
or some equivalent. There is the agree
ment. l stay until see your husband y
Marion managed to get 'Then you
must stay" past the lump in bel
throat Then she ran back and locked
the bedroom door,
They've gone, ma'am," came
through the keyhole at last. "They
mumbled away for a time, and the1
they were suddenly quiet. I think they
were frightened. They almost crept
out "
Marion, sitting back from Gilbert.
wild stare, found temporary relief in &
stream Of tears.
The first CLEAN Of sunshine came al
the end of three awful weeks. Hartley,
physically safe, could cross his bedroom
Only it terrified her to realize that he