The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-06-22

~ NoNN hhtdus1 nc suggested 1t
himself"
Harmon Hale could scarcely repress
an exclamation of Joy, but he con-
trolled himself and proceeded quietly:
Then your duty seems plain"
But | cannot be so sure of my
ability 20 furnish Alberta those priv
ileges which alone would Justify the
step. My earnings are small, even if
she had them all.
There was moments silence.
broken only by the sharp clatter of
hoofs on the grayeled road. Then
Harmon Hale boldly played his trump
card.
"As soon as you are free, all that
| have is yours-yours and Alberta's
no, do not answer yet-hear me
through"
And she heard him-sitting as one
in a dream while vision after vision
of ease and splendor foated before
her bewildered senses. With consum-
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 all could be easily
arranged. They could go quietly away
"a good sanitarium seleeted--a life
term paid in advance. The divorce
courts of a 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 ths
light from a single cheap oil lamp
burned dimly: tomorrow at four
o'clock ] shall be near the south en-
trance of the park; if you are pass
ing will join you there, and you may
answer me-"
She murmured a 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
a 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, feeble f1utter of the
eyes fell upon the morphine bottle.
It was emptyl In an instant the
hasty words she had flung him at
parting recurred TO her, and she
knew what he had done. IL he died
she was no better than murderer.
She forced n stimulant down his
throat, then ran to her nearest neigh
Dor, reused him and sent for the doc
tor. She made strong coffee. poured
IL between the lips, ehafed his hands,
put hot cloths upon his heart. and all
the while prayed desperately: "Oh,
Godi bring him back to me if only
for a momenti Just long enough for
me to tell him how love himi"
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, fill death do us
part" Alberta stirred in her sleep
and spoke her name. For an instant
she almost hated the sound of her
voice. Tt 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 quarter of four the next after
noon Mrs. Reid said to her husband:
"Ths sunshine will do you good; LET
us take little walk in the park. n
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 bench close to the walk.
Mrs. Reid drew ner husband closer to
her side and raised her voice just a
trifie as they passed him, but did not
look his way.
"I shall never leave you alone
again, Oscar. AS for the club. have
done with it. The members are
set of Iiserable sophists, who would
trample every holy sentiment of the
heart under foot in the name of
progressl"
"Hush. dear, is not that Mr.. Hale?
He win hear you. He is a 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.
Mistaken Identity.
AZ a carfafn funqfion nraefdad over