Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-06-20

mate skill he played upon her NOR
bid devotion to her child's worldly
Advancement. He spoke not of love,
only Of respect and duty-far higher
than love-of sacrifice, the highest
form Of love. On his own part the
desire TO have his fortune accomplish
the highest good, the development of
human souls to their utmost capacity,
and he could think of no worthier
subjects than herself and the beauti-
full Alberta. And al could be easily
arranged. They could go quietly away
"a good sanitarium selected-a life
term paid in advance. The divorce
courts of distant city and no ques-
tions asked. The husband and father
must be happy in the thought of his
sublime sacrifce-his years could be
few at best-but in the meantime to
child every year counted much.
"Do not answer me tonight" he
said, as they drew up at the door of
the mean little cottage where the
light from a single cheap oil lamp
burned dimly; tomorrow at four
o'clock I shall be near the south en-
trance of the park; if you are pass
ing I will join you there, and you may
answer me-"
She murmured faint assent, and
Harmon Hale drove away feeling sure
that he had won.
The house was so still when she
entered that she could almost hear
the beating of her own heart. With
strange foreboding she entered the
bedroom. Her husband lay upon his
back, hands prone on the coverlet and
horrible pallor on his face. His
half open eyes were unseeing. She
sprang forward, calling his name
sharply. but he did not stir. She
placed her ear to his lips, her fingers
upon his pulse. There was faint
signing breath, a feeble flutter of the
heart. Searching for a stimulant, her
eyes fell upon the morphine bottle.
It was empty! In an instant the
| hastv words she had flung him at
parting REQUIRED to her, and she
knew what he had done IL he died
she was no better than "a murderer.
She forced a stimulant down his
throat, then ran to her nearest neigh
Dor, reused him and sent for the doc
tor. She made strong coffee, poured
II between the lips, chafed his hands,
put hot cloths upon his heart, and all
the while prayed desperately: "Oh,
God! bring him back to me if only
for a moment! Just long enough for
me to tell him how I love him!"
For in the moment of that awful
discovery she had become clothed and
in her right mind. She knew that he
was her first, her last, her best, her
only love-"for better, for worse, in
sickness and health, till death do us
part" Alberta stirred in her sleep
and spoke her name. For an instant
! she almost hated the sound of her
voice. It had been her insane vanity
for her child that had done this
deed. After what seemed to her an
age Of suffering the doctor came, and
together they fought for that pre-
cious life and won.
At a quarter of four the next after
noon Mrs. Reid said to her husband:
"The sunshine will do you good; let
us take a little walk in the park. II
is not far-you can lean on me, and
we will rest there If you are tired
Come, Alberta"
As they approached the south en-
trance they saw Harmon Hale loung-
ing on a bench close to the walk
Mrs. Reid drew ner husband closer to
her side and raised her voice just a
trife as they passed him, but did not
look his way.
81 shall never leave you alone
again. Oscar. AS for the club l have
done with it, The members are a
set of iserable sophists, who would
trample every holy sentiment of the
heart under foot in the name OF
progress!"
"Hush. dear, is not that Mr.. Hale
He will hear you He is member OF
the club, is he not?"
Harmon Hale had heard and was
answered. As for Oscar Reid, he never
knew of that memorable drive from
the club.