The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-03
FINALE.

himself to the study Of politics, and al
his hopes and fears were oentered i
that engrossing pursuit. One Wednes
day evening he was sitting smoking il
his chambers, deeply engrossed in blu
book, when he heard a gentle knock o.
his door.
"Come in," he shouted, thinking
was his man, and again buried himsel
in his book.
The door opened and shut quietly, ant
he still read Oh, and then suddenly look
ed up. There, standing in detected at
titude, was the wreck Of what had beer
q lovely woman. Graves sprang to hi
feet, his face pale and stern, for, ii
front of him, was his justly divorced
wife.
"You, Bertha, here in my roomsp
He moved over to the bell.
"Don't ring it," she walled. "a
watched your servant go out and want.
ed to speak to You, ali, 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 doyou want-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 no right to come to you,
know, but the world is so cold and
wretched to woman, and God alone
knows how low I've fallen. Cannot you
take me back?' She sank into chair
and began to cry silently.
Take you baokl" 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 me
again? You forget what you are.'
The insult dashed fresh life and spirit
into the covering woman
"And who made me what ami" she
said, with her color rising, and her
breath coming and going rapidly.
"Not l." be replied with sneer.
IF not you, who did9 When you first
met me at my fathers rectory, I was as
simple minded a girl as any in the land.
You made me marry you, did you not?"
Her tone was insistent.
well, suppose did," he answered
gloomily.
"You took me to dull house in this
London town, and there you left me.
Night after night you went to your pc.
htical meetings and to your house of
commons and gave me what was left of
your time. You fed me and clothed me,
it's true, and there it ended. You en-.
Outraged me to mix in society and never
troubled to protect me as you should
have done, and then, when I left you,
more from heart sickness and from
desire to be loved and petted by some
one than from any other cause, you di-
vorced me and received the condolences
Of your friends BAIL You are the man
who is responsible for my ruin, and you
only. Money I scorn your money, and
never until I die will I trouble you
again."
She left the room abruptly, leaving
Graves a prey to the most conflicting
Her indictment was, he felt,
only too true, and a feeling of shame
came over him.
He unlocked his safe and took out his
will and read it slowly through, then
took a sheet of paper and wrote rapidly
and replaced both in the safe.
''Therel" he said. II shall never
marry again, and if die before her.
who knows?-it may make difference if
she has the control of money. If could
only have my time over againl'
The great debate was over, and Cyril
Graves was its hero. Secure in the self
reliance that thorough knowledge of
mis- subject gives its possessor, he had
held the house spellbound for over an
hour and sat down amid chorus of ap-
proving cheers. In the lobby his friends
crowded around him with hearty con-
yratulations, and already in his minds
eye no saw that his days as an obscure
private member were over. The larger
life Of leader Of men, with all its
possibilities, seemed to lie open
before him, and he gloried in it.
Toquiet down his overstrained nerves
le took his hat and coat, and although
Il was long past midnight made his way
% the embankment, a favorite walk of |
lis when engaged in deep thought.
There was full moon, and the night |
vas very still, and, lost in reverie, he |
eaned over the balustrade and gazed
dly upon the glistening, silvery river
,elow him.
The utter peace and quietude of the
Gene soothed him, and he was just
bout to leave when heavy hand was
aid upon his shoulder.
"Dont do it, sir. Just think over
t." was muttered in his ear.
He turned sharply and found police.
nan looking at him with commisera-
ion.
Good God, constable, you don't
hink I'm going to jump in the river,
o you? Man alive, can't any one walk
II the embankment without doing
haiti"
"Aren't you Mr.. Graves, the member
or East Bucks, sir?" said the man.
"Yes, am. We had hot debate at
ne house, and I strolled here to cool
own before turning in. How did you
now me2' queried Graves.
Lord bless you, sir, l am Bucks
ian myself, and stanch supporter Of
ours But don't zee, sir, come here
gain like this. It amt SAFE for we call
one Of the most risky beats in Lon
on. We get down here men as are des-
crate for want Of food and shelter. I
elieve half the bodies they fish out Of
10 river come from along here"
There was such feeling in the mans
me that Graves was touched and felt in
Is pocket for some money.
Suddenly 80 yards up he saw figure
.oinn2 AQAinat the sky. and then dis