The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1901-06-07

story, and my heart bleedS for him.
He says he was trying to confess to
you when the accident cut him short.''
HE was trying to tell me what ?'
asked Blanche, her brows wrinkled in
perplexity.
'sHe was trying to confess that he
knew that his wife was alive when he
married you"
"O-oh!" That exclamation was as
sudden and sharp as if it had been
caused by crushing blow.
The priest took her hands and held
them tenderly.
"But there were many, many extern
uating circumstances" he continued,
pleadingly. "He was the tool of de-
signing woman; he was out of his
mind. I had noticed his downfall
from the moment he met her and
came under her baneful influence. She
convinced him beyond doubt that you
had fatal malady which would carry
you off in a few months. She wanted
your money; he was temporarily in
sane. For Gods sake pity him.
know men as botanist knows his
plants, and could swear that he has
been a man changed for the better
since you became his wife. If you
could only believe this it would,
know. be a crumb of comfort in your
great calamity"
Blanche's head sank to the table at
which she sat. Father Surtees still
held one of her hands. He waited for
a moment, but she did not look up or
utter word. He would have thought
she had swooned but for the visible
shudders passing through her frame.
HE did not find out till this after
noon that she had deceived him about
your health, then he came to tell you
the whole truth. He would have told
you earlier, but Mrs. Goddard had
made him believe that the shock
would kill you. He kept back the rev.
citation to save your life. He told me
he was in a literal hell-a hell of his
own creation, but if he dies tonight,
dear child, he will be among the re-
deemed. His soul is as white as snow.
The responsibility of his sin all rests
on Mrs. Goddard's-'
''Don't-don't call her by that name
again!" Blanche suddenly cried, draw
ing herself up and looking into his
face squarely. "She was never his
lawful wife. I am the only woman
he ever married-really married."
Father Surtees thought her mind
was unsettled, and look of deeper
concern passed over his countenance.
"I-I don't understand" he STAN
mered.
81 did not know it till to-day-this
afternoon" explained Blanche. "Her
husband came here looking for her.
He told me all about her. She was
really married when my guardian met
her."
Then you are really his wife-she
is a bigamist!" cried Father Surtees.
"Oh, my dear child. this makes
it all so different. There is but
one Christian course open to you.
He has repented more deeply than
one man in ten millions. You
must forgive him. He never knew
what real, pure and uplifting love
meant till he married you. God Him.
self often puts such ordeals in the
way of men to lift them above the
world. If you refuse to receive the
gold when it has come purified from
the fire you deny the wisdom of the
Almighty. Forgive your husband.
He may not live through the night
that"
Father Surtees ceased speaking.
Blanche lowered her head to the table
again. The priest saw her shudder
several times as if she were trying to
put certain thoughts from her. At
this juncture the door leading into
the room where Goddard lay was soft
" opened. It was DR.. Randall. He
advanced with a very grave face to
Blanche.
"You must pardon me if I am in
truding," he said to her. But I must
do my duty. 1 am obliged to see that
Maj. Goddard is troubled about some
rstanding with you, and as his
life is really in great danger, I must
appeal to you to ease his mind if it is
possible. All the medical care and skill
IN the world cannot save him as long
as he is in his present excited condi-
tion."
'Mrs. Goddard is going to him now"
said the priest, speaking for Blanche.
Eyes, let me see him one moment |
alone," she said, her eyes filing. 81
IAN set his mind at rest; 1 can and I |
WILL"
The two men remained standing