The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-12
An Echo of the Past

| ONOi NO-u MN Ildl. save IOE OIlS surgery
boy, he was alone. The afternoon was
foggy. and, thankful to have an hour to
| himself, ne basked in the warmth of the
fra.
Suddenly the surgery bell rang. and
with subdued gruHlble ne went to the
door a woman, dressed quietly IN black.
| stood waiting in the gloom AS he en-
tered ne caught sight of her face and
| mWtered an oath
! My God. Muriel, Why do you come
| here:" he asked in sharp, agoniZed tones.
Let me SIT down. for j am tired out. -
she gasped, and reeled with exhaustion
| against the closed door.
Half carrying and half dragging her,
| the Doctor succeeded in getting his half
| unconscious burden into the consulting
room. and gently laid her on his sofa
| Finally, after a pause which seemed an
! eternity, she said: Don't look at me so
fiercely. Jack. it breaks my heart
When you left London you were gen.
! erous to me, I'll own but nothing has
! gone well with me since. Ny little bust
| ness went TO rack and ruin. and many a
time I've starved when i hadn't bread or
| ;he means Of getting IL. AT last l could
bear II no longer, and have come TO ask
you to help me once more. l know /
/ have done wrong in coming. Jack. but
no one knows my GRAND and l am I'M
/
you'll help me, Jack
| How cheerfully in the past had Farrier
| forged the chain that seemed destined
| now TO ruin and TO degrade him. and how
| he loathed himself as he felt IL dragging
| now at his heels.
BY all means. III help you. Muriel. but
| for Gods sake don't come here again.
| I've done with the past forever and I'm
going TO be married" He went nerv-
1 II
| il again. The woman feebly nodded
IF anything Of this were to come out
I should be utterly ruined; and. after all.
| I've tried TO be a good man"
Utterly absorbed in this unexpected
blow. Farr!er failed altogether to notice
| the increasing pshor of his visitor.
Let me see, would thirty
A quavering whistle from outside sent
the blood madly 10 his brain. for he knew
| that in another minute his finance would
| be knocking al his door.
Come, Murieli here come some visitors
| of mine-and you must hide-stay! get
into this cupboard-there's lots OF room.
and I'll let you out shortly"
He tore open the door. thrust a small
stool into the deep old-fashioned recess
and tried 10 raise the unwelcome guest
| The bell pealed and loud knock sound
ed through the house. Already he had
heard his boy running down the stairs
| to open the front door and he felt frantic.
Gently lifting the woman, who seemed
still half fainting. he placed her on the
stool and locked the door.
You might have whistled back. Jack!"
reproachfully exclaimed tail, handsome
girl as she hurried into the room follow
ed by a stout elderly lady.
You look i'll, dear. what's the NATTER"
she asked tenderly. after she had shyly
kissed him
I've had a weary day. little one, and
feel utterly done up. I'm afraid I cam
not let you both stop for I'm expecting
several patients" His lips seemed
strangely dry, and his tongue almost re-
fused it's office.
Now look here. Jacki I'm your guar
dian angel now and insist on tea-don't
you agree, mother?'
At any other time Farrier could have
smiled, but now, with his past in the old
cupboard, the idea of merry-making sick
ened him.
Laughing and talking. the two women
helped the boy fetch the tea things, while
the man tried to be animated. but failed
utterly in the attempt
He was trying tn drink, when he heard
with ears sharpened with anxiety deep
sigh coming from the cupboard, followed
by a slipping. sliding noise His heart
nearly suffocated him until he saw that
none but himself had heard 1t and he
laughed loud and long in a hystericaI
burst of merriment.
I'm awfully sorry. little woman" he
gasped when at last his CHASTITY merri-
ment had ceased, but the fact Is I've
been OVERRIDING it lately. and want a
holiday, badly. Please forgive me-"
With tears in her eyes Miss Forest
looked at her lover.
Very well. Jack. dear, Wen be off now,
fer it's close on S. and mean to try and
persuade nanny and father TO let US be
married soon, so that you can get your
holiday" She turned lovingly TO her
mother: Doesn't he look i'll, NANNY?
We must look after him bit more and
see that he doesn't overdo It" Good
by. Jack. darling. You'll come round to-
morrow, won't your
In a few moments they were hurrying
home through the dark streets and Far
rier was alone once more.
Half dreaming what he vas 20 find he
forced himself TO unlock the cupboard
door, which swung violently open To
his horror ne saw IN an instant that the /
still figure which had slipped down /
against the locked door. and which fell
with such a sckening thud as 1t was op- |
ened, was but the dead body of one /
to whom in the past he had owed count !
less kindnssses. He stood as If turned TO /
stone. while the loud ticking OF the clock (
seemed almost unbearable. Then his I
numbed brain awoke again TO life. and /
project after project flashed before him, /
while ever present in his thoughts were 1
his servants and their viruieat gossip. /
To call in the police was. he knew. the I
wisest course and 10 trust TO his /
luck TO extricate himself from suspicion. I
Then doubts began their paralyZing mis- 4
sion. Suppose someone found out his ac- I
quaintance Nsltf1-the deceased. would not 1
the fact that he had concealed the SoGyt
during the visit OF Miss Forrest damn 1
ing proof Of his g1Iilt7 " 0uld he be able 1
TO convince the world that the woman 1
died from exhaustion and not from the I
his housekeeper would come in. and wi,h 4
giant strength a. raised Shs dead body /
and placed IL upright in the armchair. 4
where with CLASSY. staring eyes. IL seem /
ed 10 accuse him with pitiess severity
Time was slipping away. and still he .
had come 10 no decision. while every mir /
ute increased his risk.
Locking the door be opened MS side I
entrance and looked out The evening .
was dark and foggy. and but few people F.
were about. and il was only 10y he sound .
Of their steps that he knew that. Oppo- (
site his side door was a long narrow .
court which divided TWO roHs % houses !
built in the pTe-sanitary past, and WI ca 4
ended in a cul-de-sac- He unlocked The /
door once more and turned dV%n the gss.
and took the body In his arms and. dar-
ing everything. ran unsteady Across 20 4
the dark passage Here. pla-;7g - IN a 4
sitting position against the wall. ne left I
the dead woman slous' Gently closf- : 1
the street door he entered his consulting 4
room ard turned up Use gas. while the 4
sweat stood in great reads CT his face.