The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-18

plating the sheets of paper which Aga
tha was fast crumbling into balls;
"but I've nearly finished my book, and
these sheets of paper are rather VAL
liable"
Agatha threw the balls on the table.
"And this book is to make you IA
mous?' she asked with bitter COM
ment. "I suppose when it's published
everyone will come and envy me be-
cause I'm the wife of the genius,
George Arbuthnot."
Her scornful emphasis only brought
smile to Arbuthnot's face.
Il don't know about that" he said,
good -temperedly, "but it's the best
work I've done yet. And if it's success
full. Agatha, I shall be able to buy
you that diamond bangle you coveted
the other day"
But even the reference to the dia-
mond bangle failed to move Agatha.
How long will it take you to finish
it?" she asked. slowly, looking down
at the untidy desk.
"I hope to finish it by next week."
said Arbuthnot. triumphantly. 'I've al
lowed Lorrimer, the Weekly Review
NAL, w StC SplllC par VI ~ e'ib ilN =
| expressed a very favorable opinion and
| thinks it's bound to be a success"
Agathas eyes narrowed at the cor
neTs.
"Lorrimer's a fool" she said, angrily.
ct wonder you swallow all that fat
| hulking things tells you. I know I
| should be ashamed of myself if 1 were
as greedy for a bit Of praise as some
men / know"
1t was one cold afternoon, ten days
| later, that Arbuthnot stood on his door
| step in the act Of inserting his latch
key, smiling at some pleasing reminis-
| cences of his recent talk with his pub
| Usher.
Suddenly a wild terrified cry broke
from the house, followed by scream af-
ter scream, reiterated with such intens-
| ity of anguish that Arbuthnot himself
caught the infection of terror and
fumbed with trembling hands at the
latchkey.
At last he managed to open the door
and run into the hall. A fearful sight
met his eye. From his study door flew
| sOmething-an object enveloped in
| writhing flames, and from it there
came piercing, agOnized shrieks. AS
the draught from the open door blew
| fercely down the corridor the flames
! leaped higher and higher around their
! living prey. until ArbuthnOt's sickened
gaze saw nothing but a brilliant ball
| of fire.
| God. 1t was Agatha! Mad with tor
! ture, the flaming figure rushed toward
| him and threw out its arms in agony.
| Arbuthnot caught it in tight en-
brace, and with all his strength hurled
himself and the shrieking figure on to
| the Carpeted floor and rolled over and
over until at last the flames We're
beaten out and he knew the fire was
conquered.
Three hours after the doctor came
softly downstairs. He had used all his
skill to bring life back to the disfigur-
ed body that now lay motionless on the
bed. 1t was all in vain. Agatha's injur
lived only three hours after Arbuth-
not had carried her upstairs.
Her husband had never left her side.
and. though badly burnt about the
hands and face, had scarcely realized
his own injuries. AS he looked at that
cruelty disrigured face, now swathed
and hidden in bandages, a rush of tears
blinded his eyes and he knew that
all past differences We're swept away,
and that Agatha would live henceforth
in his memory only as the woman
whom he had once loved with all his
heart. Before life hickered out in that
suffering body Agatha opened her eyes
once and met her husbands gaze fixed
with intense pity and love upon heI
face. To Arbuthnot it seemed that she
pleaded dumbly for forgiveness, but
even as he looked the lids closed again
and in a few moments Agatha's spirit
had slipped into the great silence.
When all was over Arbuthnot stoop-
ed and kissed the pale. cold lips. As
he bent down the remembrance of some
words he had written only that morn
ing came back to him, and he stood for
a moment in silence.
Death is the atonement for all in
Juries; it is the sponge that erases the
remembrance of all transgressions."
Later i'm the evening he went down
stairs to his study. As he entered the
room shuder ran through his body
He remembered the figure of flame that
had leaped into his arms but a few
hours ago, and his heart was torn al
the thought of Agatha's sufferngS
AS yet it was a mystery how she had
caught fire. Presumably she had beer
warming herself in his study. and hel
thin grcnadine dinner dress had swept
too near the flames A few dull red
embers still burned in the CRATE. Ar.
buthnot lit the lamp and sat down me.
chanically to his desk.
THANK God for work." he said with
deep sigh. AT least | can forget fol
a time"
He opened the deep drawer wherein
his pile Of manuscript had lain ready
Tor the printers hand. one OF two
omissions could easily be rectified now
and the work would soothe his weary
heart and brain. But-the drawer
stood empty Hastily Ihe pulled out it!
counterpart. No; that, too held nothing
win feVerish hands he rummaged each
pigeon-hole, turned everything out ot
his bureau, sought on the chairs the
tables. The manuscript had disap
| peared,
A fearful thought darted into hi
brain. He ran to the fireplace-his eye!
fell on some Charred ashes i'm the fen,
|