The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-25
a Broken Dream.

| John LAwton threw himsslf into his
armenian before q bright wo04 are WITH
most contented exne6HEio1. -E0moK-
row.. he thought, al 8h4A be married to
the dearest tittis girl in the world! IL
only Aifly had lived 10 see my happiness"
Their down in his chair for an hours
smoke How different Ethel 10 from Isa-
bek NJ darling shall never know how
nearly came TO making that woman my
wife. Thank heaven. I'm free from ner
nowP As he sat thinking Of the past
and looking into the future his pipe went
out. He removed Il from bis lips, and,
rising TO lay il on the mantel. stood foP
moment looking into the aanctng
flames. well" he laughed. II must so
to bed" and he turned to his chamber.
At that moment the door cpeped and
woman, tall and graceful. stood looking
at him. With q half smile at his surprise
and disnay. she entered. closing the door
behind her. He stared at her in amaze
ment. Good heavens, Isabel. hoT came
you here?
my dear Jack, heard sou we're TO be
married, therefore came TO Eemonstrate
with you and prevent the marriage
Madame. by what right do you speak
In this way. Because eighteen months
ago I fancied myself In love with you,
does that constitute your right? No. In
deed. ! have found out your hypocrisy
In time TO save myself. When We acted
together u that play at Lady Grey's
house that was the last OF our Inter-
course; deny IL you can and dare. and,
to speak frankly, I was glad to hear you
went abroad Immediately after. Again /
ask what right have you to interfere With
me or my affairs7"
1.-THE right of a wife. John Lawton. q
was at that play that you married me.
The acting minister was a'Teal one and
he still lives. i loved you TO madness In
those days, Jack, and vowed none
should take you from me. 7 could see that
Ethel Newton was gaining your love and
was mad with jealousy and love"
She stopped, as though overcome by her
thoughts.
You are lying, Isabel; DO you think
to make me believe such preposterous
stoFy7 That was but q mock marriage,
and you know it. The man was no min'
Ister."
"on the contrary, he was an ordained
minister, and have my marriage certtfi-
cate" and she passed him a paper where
on he read the words that made him
Isabel Arden's husband.
He covered his face with his hands.
The paper fluttered to the floor. Isabel
picked 1t up, watching him with varying
expressions. At last he raised his head.
Nothing. except claim my right as your
wife. Forgive me, Jack, and take me to
your heart again. I'll be good wife to
you. / own l deceived you, but 1t was
because I loved you so! No one here
knows Mr.. Ellison was my cousin, and
II you wish we can be publicly Te-nar-
RED"
stop. woman! You do not know what
you are saying. You could never make
xryffa A n V1,hn
as you have" he broke of, overcome
by the horrors OF his position.
His wife looked at him In silent misery.
To be repulsed by the man she loved
was agony. The clock licked loudly Oh
the mantel. The fire sent out little
tongues of fame as though In derision at
the unhappiness of the occupants OF the
room. log burned through. broke and
fell with dull thud upon the hearth
sending up millions of sparks. Neither
husband nor wife noticed the flight OF
time. Their sufferings were not to me
measured by hours and minutes.
Finally Isabel touched Eaek's arm. III
have decided what is the only thing left
for me to do" she said, brokenly. THE
sin Is mine. / will bear Its consequences,
heavy though they be, and will go away
so far that you-that no one will ever
again hear from or OF me. Then, you
can marry the girl you have chosen"
She stopped, unable to go on. kiss me,
my beloved. Remember love you, and
this Is the last time" Her hands rested
upon his shoulders. Jack stared at her
as though he did not comprehend her full
meaning. At last, with a rough gesture,
he pushed her from him. "Pshawi for
what do you take me? How could /, q
married man. go to the altar with the
best, purest-curse YOU" he shouted. ''am
I a hound that you think me capable of
such vuIlainy?" His wife reeled and fell.
She strdck her head against the brass
fender. and with a half-uttered groan lay
motionless.
Jack looked at her. The passiveness
had something deathly in its appearance.
What was that staining the white fur of
the rug on which she lay? The dark red
stream crept slowly towards him. He
gaZed at II fascinated. Nearer and nearer
1t came: how horribly red II was against
the white fur. He drew his foot back
to no avail. it followed, 1t reached the
toe OF his slipper, moistened the leather,
and spread into a dark stain. With q
bound and cry he-awoke.-Boston Post.