The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-06-03
FOR ER|C'S SAKE.


Audley street. The footmau rang the
ptit aud, allghtiog, she entered the
hall, running quickly upstairs to the
drawing room.
Her tall figure was still slight and
girlish her blue eyes wore look OF
clation; for her beauty had never
aroused greater admiration, her sue.
cess had never been more triumphant
than that evening.
Has baby been all right ?" she
asked her maid. "Oh, and can you
tell me whether Mr.. Fordyce has come
; home"
" Mr.. Fordyco came home at ten"
was the answer. He has been in the
| etudy-"
Not waiting for the end of the sem
tence Norah went down stairs again.
loo bad Digby. Shabby not to
She had begun to speak as she open
ed the door, but as soon as she saw his
lace stopped abruptly.
Inc room was cloudy with tobacco
smoke. Though the June evening
was hot the fire had been lighted and
the CRATE was full Of papers burned to
cinders; but hat aStonished her the
most was Digby's own appearance. AS
he stood upright their eyes met for q
mOmen;; then his were cast down
| oheihSioSSdiJ. llO hdu Sudfctl Ou ulS
heavy black mnstache, transforming
his swarthy, handsome face he wore
! a0shOOt;pg suit instead of his evening
| clothes.
What is the matter, D;gby ?" she
| demandcd--" you really are your
self"
Ill cant tel sou, Norah."
! Drawing nearer she rested her hand
carcssinEiy on his shoulder.
Anything serious, durling?"
| i've got to make Il bolt Of it.
There's not a minute to lose. To-
morrow will be too late. only wanted
to see you. | couldn't go without, hap
pen what might
But ] dUn,t--L don't understand, :"
she faltercd, gazing into his face in
bewiluerment.
'lv .yeu my game and lost that's
all. For the last four years I've been
a-Heavcn hclp me! 1t will be all
over the town TO morrow. | lost my
last chance day. My name will be
! Il by-wOrd.
Sitting down, sho could still stare
up helplessly INTO his pale, haggard
face. The diamonds in her fair, brown
hair caught the gaslight and sparkled.
" Barford will know everything di-
rectiy he gets to the Office to to.mUrruw," I"
! Digby continued, ~ must be out OF
the way before then. Norah, | should
like tJ see the ycuDgster."
! Automatically she ross and left the
room, shivcrlug a5 she drew her rich
| pllsh cloak round her shoulders. o.,
| her return, she made u charming pic
tur standlng With the four-months-
Old child In her arms just rs she had
taken him from his cot.
| "PJor little bcgga..' mutt,rcd
| Dipbv bendinr over him
Laying him gently ou one OF the
large armchairs, NUrah faced her hus-
oand.
"I--l can't rcalize it yet,' she said.
- have looked forward to nothing
else the last four years"
Before--beforo you married me -
she demanded. "Yuu knew this whe %
you first met mo! YOU know it, and
asked me-"
| L)ve.' she cried, Coutemptuously
And you loved me-"
81 loved the man | thought you
wcr'. n man who never existed"
For Heavens sake be- merciful.' be
said. buctoning his coat.
You have made mo party to your
Grim. s." she cried, and raising her
hands, trembling with anger, she tore
from her hair tho diamond tiara.
AT leae, u word Of rgiveness," he
said, taking up the jewel quietly, and
thrusting 1T in his j4ck.t pocket
"Justa word before we part--it will
be forever, Norah."
can't forgive YOU" she answered
:" 1t is no use. | could forgive much
II it had been since our marriage, ii
might have been different. But you
, deceived me too utteriy.'
1t had fallen upon her like q bolt ou'
/ Of the blue sky, without warning sign
. at the moment Of her supreme SUCCESS
, Henceforth she would be known only
, AS the wife Of a defauiting solicitor
( or with her hopes. L,ng after he haC
gone, while the ris - lay sleeping OF
t the chair, NOrat II i.,r. o.
, room. la'f d9Z., hy tnu rec. MT Il .
CLOSURE. till the d.y Droxc, anu a new
, era in her life he. IN.
J, II.
/ "Ah. Norah, anything up? Where's
b. Dlpby ~
} Major Armistead glanced round the
dining room. Ho was tall and spare
the more noticeably because he q wuvs
!, butt0ned himself tightly in u long
, frOck coat. His darkly tanned fac,
, appeared above very high collar h,
wore an enormous irOn-gruy NOUS
= t,che. Long a. widowcr. since Norah's
. marriage two years ago. he had lodged
, near Hyde p ark, possessing on'y Il
/ small income besides his pension.
She took his hand and kissed him
, then looked out Of the window.
| "A delicious morning after the
, rain" she falter,d
Come. come; you didn't drag me
} out before break last TO tell mo it was 81
) no morning, Norah. Little chap all
!, right"
"Oh, Eric Is sp.end.~,' she said.
, "Theu what on earth 10 it? You're
not looking we'll this morning--to,
. much dissi patton. Isn't D'gby down
yet ?"
Hes gone gone away. Ho is
t rniped."
, "Ruinod !! DKby. Bless N.Y.
+ = Worse," che continued. He has
. committed a crime. You can hardly
..uliy e. > Nathan could hut II &