The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-01

very thought cut him to the quick. A
sudden intense craving to see her eyes
light up again with the old joyous
smile, to feel her arms twine around
his neck, took possession of him. His
love, which had beer" asleep, suddenly
awakened and sprang into fierce pas
sion. Could he win back her lOVe-or
was it too late? And with this mad
dening thought he trudged for miles,
until at length, wearied and footsore,
he turned and made once more for his
home.
1t was dusk, and the London streets
We're already twinkling with their
thousand lights. In a cab that was
rolling swiftly along on the wOman-a
young and pretty woman, hardly more
than a girl. In one hand she held a
letter tightly. She smoothed it out
and looked at it again.
Tomorrow I must have your an
swer. Remember, your love is all
have to live for!" she read in a low
trembling voice.
She leaned back. and sat staring
ahead of her with dazed expression
filled with tears, and she gave a little
sob.
"Oh, Geoffrey" she murmured pite-
ously, "why couldn't you have given
me just little love!
Suddenly there was a loud shout in
the street. then a quick rattle. and a
fire engine dashed by. 1t turned down
the first street to the right, which led
to the quiet square in which the MUIR
rays lived.
c.I~ rrt, III
a gasp as a blaze of light broke be-
fore her eyes. A house was on fire the
other side of the square, house stand
ing by itself-the girl uttered a little
cry-their house! She paid the driver
and got out of the cab. The square
was full of people. She pushed her
way through them round to the other
side. where the fire engines stood. their
horses painting and foaming at the
mouth. The door of the house was
open, and she could see the flames
leaping up the staircase. AS yet the
fire seemed to be only in the center Of
the house.
In the little circle. kept free by the
police. she could see her husbands tall
figure A flreman--apparently the SUI
perintendent, was pointing to the
house and talking to him, She tried
TO get through, but a policeman
stopped her.
He is my husband-it is our house,"
she painted. And he let her through,
She crept up to within two or three
PAGES of him.
"By devoting all our energies to one
wing we can save it" the superinten-
dent was saying. 1.-The other will have
to go. Have you any choice as to
which one?"
Murray's face was pale and drawn,
In the right wing was everything that
had been dear to him-the great Work.
the thing that had claimed him, body
and soul. In the left wing-a studio
and picture. Three hours ago he
would not have hesitated single mo-
ment, A mere picture In the balance
against such work as his!
Behind stood the wife. Her eyes We're
riveted on Murray's lips. There was Il
cold feeling at her heart--the picture.
which was almost of her own blood to
perish like this. Yet she had no hope
he took no interest in her or her
work-hardly knew that she was an
artist
The woodwork of the stairs Missed
and cracked, and the flames licked the
balcony that divided the two wings.
"Which?" said the superintendent
sharply.
The words that has been haunting
him throughout his walk We're whirling
through Murray's head Could he win
back her love? He Strengthened him.
self with a sudden jerk.
"Save-save the left wingp' he cried
hoarsely.
An hour later Murray and his wife
were standing on the ground floor of
the left wing. The right was a mass
of smoking. charred bricks. on which
even now the firemen We're pouring
streams Of water.
\ I That made you make such a sacri-
clf-your life's work?" she said in