Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-03-02
NO. IT'S Wife

No. II sat in his cell. white and des
pairing. He had endured two years o.
prison life uncomplainingly, cheercd by
the knowledge that he was innocent OF
the crime with which he had beer
charged-and cheered also by the visits
Of his sweet-faced wife Elsie. who came
regularly to the jail as often as the east.
iron regulations of the establishment
would permit. But of late Elsie's visits
had ceased, and today the convict knew
the reason for their cessation. She was
| ill-very ill-and the letter from her sis
tef which lay in his hands hold him that
| the doctors feared the worst. This is
how the note ran:
Dear Arthur: I have some rather sad It'd
! lngS to give YOU but we must both he
! brave and hope for the best Poor Elsie is
| dangerously ILL., and though all that we
| could possibly do has been DONE the medi-
cal man holds out small hope of her ulti-
| mate recovery. He states that she is suf-
| fermg from no particular Illness, but sim
| ply from general debility. brought about
| by fretting over your absence. If only you
could come to her, it would probably be
| the means Of saving her life; but, alas!
| that is impossible. GoOdby, and God bless
| you. Your loving slster-in-law, Kate.
Arthur Desparde was no coward-no
weakling. The humiliation and suffering
of penal servitude he had borne like
man, but those few simple words bowed
his head to earth and brought the salt
tears TO his eyes. TO feel that his alb
sencc was causing Elsie's decine-to feel
that one short hour of liberty would in
all probability be the means of preserv
ing her, and to know at the same tirle
that the prison walls stood between hun
and her-to feel and know all this would
have maddened any man. The feeling
and the knowledge maddened Arthur
Desparde now.
Il will 90 to her. he muttered, hoarse-
", come what mayi Let them retake
me afterward-Iet them serve me as they
Wlll-hut 20 10 her | must, aud-I will"
file lay at his feet. He had found ii
the day previous while lahoring in the
yard, and he had Secreted it in his cloth
ing, believing that some day he might re-
quire its aid. Climbing the narrow wall
of his cell, he discovered that the small
window thereof was guarded merely by
two iron bars of medium thickness
Without an instaut's hesitation he pro-
ceeded TO file these bars, hoping with ar
dent hope that no warder might inter
yene to abruptly terminate his labors.
Fortune favored him, and the work
was completed without interruption. \
short time later he was sliding down
pipe which led from the cell To the court
yard, and to scale the low wall of the
yard was but the work of an instant.
protection of Heaven on his journey, he
set ont for the house where his wife lay
between life and death.
arthur! Is it possible it can be you?
How ever have you contriyed to come
here!n
1t was Elsle's sister who spoke, and
she stood, fully dressed, in the doorway,
scanning the escaped cOnvict's features
with amaZement.
Yes. 1t is |, and you shall hear aft
erward how | managed to make good my
fight. But tell first of alI-how is she?f
There is little change. At times she
IS unconscious, and during such periods
she mentions your name necessarily.
When she is conscious she talks to me of
you, saying that the one desire left to
her is to see YOU at her side again"
Thank heaven said he in low tone,
that she is still alive. | am not too
late"
Then he explained to the wondering
girl how he had contrived to escape, add
ing also that there was every chance of
his being retakcn in the morning. but
let them come" he said. sulenly: when
once | have held my darling in my arms
again and cheered her sickness. | care
little what happens. And now il will
be well for you to tell her | am here:
hut break the news to her as gradually
as You can.
Kate nodded. and left the room on tip
toe. Presently she returned her eyes
swimming with tears.
'She knows all, Arthur. and is waiting
for you. Pray God that your coming
may WOO her back to life--'
Amen said the convict huskily, as
he went slowly up the stairs toward his
wife's chamber,
She lay very white and very still. hut
there came, warm glow of joy upon her
faded cheek as he entered. She put out
her thin hand to him, and n moment later
they We're claSped in each others arms.
Il knew you would come to me. my
darling" she sobbed, for | have prayed
day and night that l might see you once
more-and heaven has heard my prayer.
oh, Arthur, dear. dear Arthur, life has
been very hard without you without
your love"
Poor girl. Only too well can realize
what You have felt--knowing what
have endured myself. > But.
come Let us talk of other things. You
have been i'll. they tell me, very ILL.,"
Yes, for | wanted you. Now that You
are here l shall soon be we'll
A terrible pang shivered through the
cOnvict's soul. How was he to tell her
the truth, How was he 10 tell her that
before many hours had passed he would
| in all likelihood he taken back to prison
to he separated from her once more? He
| NOulu not bIlliS hllilSt'iA ~ tbHiitN 10 Ntr
the cruel truth, and he resolved to let her
remain in ignorance of his peril Per
chance she believed that he had been re-
| leased; he would not deceive her
All through the long night husband and
wife went ON talking in low. couhdms
| tones. happy in each others society. de-
| string no other JOY on earth, Through
the long night they remained with hands
claSpcd, all in all one 10 the other Then
morning came and Kate cute, u. She
whispered gently to Arthur:
The doctor is here and he must NOT
see you. Come away for few minutes"
Kissing his wife, and telling her he
| would return soon, the young man ouit.
ted the apartment. The doctor cufrreJ
with cheering Good morning. W,U
how do YOU find yourself today. Mrs
DeSparde?" he asked, bri>kly.
Much. much better, doctor" She 20
Piled gratefully; in fact, think shan
soon he off your hands" '"''