The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-01-31
FINALE.

A philosopher once observed that a
mans character could be better judged
by the books and room he keeps than
mis- company.
Cyril Graves early in life had devoted
himself to the study of politics, and all
his hopes and fears We're centered in
that engrossing pursuit. One Wednes.
day evening he was sitting smoking in
his chambers, deeply engrossed in a blue
book, when he heard a gentle knock on
ais door.
"Come in,' he shouted, thinking it
was his man, and again buried himself
in his book.
The door opened and shut quietly, and
he still read on, and then suddenly look
ed up. There, standing in a detected at
titude, was the wreck Of what had been
a lovely woman. Graves sprang to his
feet, his face pale and stern, for, in
front Of him, was his justly divorced
wife.
"You, Bertha, here in my rooms!'
Ee moved over to the bell.
Don't ring it," she walled. II
watched your servant go out and want
ed to speak to you, all, so badly"
"Now, look here, Bertha, you drag
ged my name in the dust, you nearly
ruined my career, and now, when you
have been justly punished, you come
back. What do you waIt-money::'
His tones were icy in their GOODNESS,
and the weak, degraded creature before
him shivered as she heard the last
words.
"Cyril-I've 10 right to come to you,
I know, but the world is SO cold and
wretched to a oman and God alone
knows how low I've fallen. Cannot you
take me back" She sank into a chair
and began to cry silently.
"Take you back" he cried, his eyes
glittering with fury, while with uneven
strides he paced the room. Take you
back and become the laughing stock Of
London. What! Go and rusticate in
some dreary hole until you left NE
again? Ioa forget what you are"
Che insult dashed fresh life and spirit
snt0 the covering womGA
Au} Ii liiS--C Iic What / dill. sIS
asii, with her oo]or rising, and he1
breath coming AID going rapidly.
mot L. he replied with a sheer.
eff not you, who did? When you frs
mel me at my fathers rectory, l was a;
simple minded a girl as any in the land.
You made me marry you, did you not?'
Her tone was insiEtent.
"Well, suppose I diG:"' he answered
gloomily.
"You took me to q GCn lease il TIL:
London town, and there you left LIE,
Night after night you went TO your 20
litical meetings and to Your house G
N and gave me what was left c,
your time. You fed me ard clothed ne
it's true, and there it ended. You en-
Oouraged ne to mix in society and never
troubled to protect me as you shoule
have done, and then, when l left you
more from heart sickness and frCan
e,esire to be loved and petted by so1n'
One than from any other cause, you di
@orced me and received the coincidence
g your friends. Bah! You are the NAL
u 10 is responsible fer my ruin, and yet
81 y Money! l scorn your money, ant
;aS, r until l die will I trouble yo1
aga{n.'
Sa left the room abruptly, leaving
Cav d prey to the most conflicting
emotions. Her indictment was, he felt
only too true, and q feeling CT siAam,
came over him.
He unlocked his safe and took cut hi
will and read it slowly through. thc'
took a sheet Of paper and wrote
and replaced both in the safe.
"There!' lie said. Il shall neve
marry again, and if l die before her
who knows:-it may make a difference j
she has the control Of money. Ii l coul'
only have my time over againn'
The great debate was over, and Cyr;
Graves was its hero. Secure in the sci
reliance that a thorough knowledge Q
his subject gives its possessor, he ha'
held the house s%pellbound for over a
hour and sat down amid a chorus of an
proving cheers. In the lobby his friend
crowded around him with hearty con
gratulations, and already in his mind
eye he saw that his days as an obscur
private member We're over. The large
life OF a leader Of men, with all it
brilliant possibilities, seemed to lie ope]
before him, and he gloried in it.
Toquiet down his overstrained nerve
he took his hat and coat, and although
it was long past midnight made his wa,
TO the embankment, a ~favorite walk O
his when engaged in deep thought
There was a full moon, and the nigh
was very still, and, lost in ~reverie, h
leaned over the .balustrade and gaze,
Idly upon the glistening, silvery rive
below him.
The utter peace and quietude of tn
scene soothed him, and he was jus
about to leave when a heavy hand wa
Laid upon his shoulder.
"Don't do it, sir. Just think owe
it." was muttered in his ear.
He turned sharply and found a police
man looking at him with commisera
ton.
"Good God, constable, you don
think I'm going to jump in the river
do you? Man alive, can't any one wal
ON the embankment without dom,