Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-23

And the weeping wife was Bella
Was it strange that Rodney Kirke
asked himself if he was in a 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 10 forgive her-to be kind
TO Ralph and save his life for her sake
and her child. II was pitiful TO see
her. 10 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 We're falling. Rodney Kirke
was free TO collect his thoughts to try
to make some coherent story in his be-
wildered brain. Ills love betrayed. he
felt with a strange wonder no pain in
the fact The contempt for the deceit
that had left him 50 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
once the power OF revenge in his hands.
His rivals lite depended on his skill
aud 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
falsehood removed the only cause Of
difference between himself and his I'M
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-
ton. and left the results 10 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. deep
piry for the woman he had loved filed
his heart. L was evident that her in
fidelity was the yielding of Il 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 Bena's tinid Iainistrations.
DR.. Bedlowe, watching all, urged up
on Rodney the Guty 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
Olnevs marriage" lie told his old
friend. "and If he wants me he must
send for me-"
But the invalid. toe. was obstinate,
and while Ralph was still in the hos
pital James Kirke was found dead in
his bed-heart disease having followed
a 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 last
time. and saw him drive away, with
his wife and baby boy, to take possess
sion of the home he had regarded as
his own for the greater part of his life.
Ten years later DR.. Kirke, a man al
ready known in his profession, was sit
ting in his Office alone, when his old
friend. DR.. BedlOwe, came in, his face
full OF pleasure.
cat last" he said. cat last, l may
congratulate you. But l must tell my
story irst. Before your uncle died,
Rodney, he gave me his solemn prom
Use to right the wrong he had done you.
Ralph Olney was not a poor man, hav-
ing inherited a fair income from his
father, but he was grasping, selfish and
deceitful until the accident that threw
him into your care. and that left him
crippled and imbecile. When your I'M
Gle died l thought the will that he had
promised to make in your favor was
one of the unaccomplished acts dying
men so often leave until too late. But
to-day. only to-day, Mrs. Olney came
to nv office with the will, which she
found a week ago, quite by accident.
Rodney, you must pity and forgive her.
Such a heart broken face I have never
seen. Five children lie in little graves,
and her husband is only a wearing
source of grief and care. In this last
week she has removed all their per-
sonal possessions from Ferndale, and
she asks of you only that you will not
seek to find her in her new home or to
thank her. She was fearful that pride
or some mistaken chivalry might lead
Won TO refuse what she called her atone
ment and so brought the will to me.
Your old home awaits you! May you
be very happy there"