The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-20
AN UNEVENTFUL LIFE.
BY JULIA TRUITT BISHOP.
Copyright. 1901, by Authors Syndicate,

that corner of his lips. "Jove what a
reputation you had! And yet, no sooner
do i disappear than you begin to re-
cover your lost ground and stand we'll
with the people, who looked on you as
reformed prodigal. People always
take to a reformed prodigal-and had
fitted you to star in that role. Yet you
never thanked mel"
And you came back!" said Lembert,
with a tense utterance that was full
of tragedy
Yes, of course! l rather liked the
old scenes-and I stood we'll there
Why shouldn't l come back? And then
you crowned all your evil deeds by
that safe robbery What an awful
character you have been, WiHr'
The thought was so amusing that
he burst into laughter, long continued
Before it was ended he had to clasp
his hands over his heart, to still some
thing the laugh had aroused there
Lembert groaned at the sound. His
head was on his hand again.
i swear, 1T was as good as a play!
cried Ralph, with infinite relish. Here
are you, cashier for Ferris & Co.. hold
ing first-class position, with those
two old men rubbing their hands
gleefully at everything you
do, and fully convinced that you
q.
Then, back / come; and you take me
under your wing. and advise me
oh, such good advice and offer to get
me position, if I'll settle down and
go to work. Then l strike you for
money, and you give me some-not
enough
ut was all l had" said Lembert.
Anyhow. it was not enough. So 1
used your keys one night, and stepped
down to the safe, and you walked and
followed me. And I heard the officer
coming, and you didn't-and so Will
Lembert was caught in the act of rob-
bling his employer, and went to Jail"
And you allowed me to go there"
said Lembert, without raising his face.
WAS l going to interfere with your
little amusements?' cried Ralph light
ly. You see your reputation was
against you-and 1 couldn't afford to
sacrifice my good name for a within of
yours"
The speech was so heartless that
LemOert exclaimed in agony:
Ralph. it is over. / passed through
it-nO matter now. If but a little time
is left you, spend it in a better way"
Ralph raised himself on his elbow
with some difficulty.
Il knew you would preach when 1
sent for you" he said scornfully.
Don't play the hypocrite with me.
| Didn't ] know then as well as l know
now why you allowed yourself to be
taken and TO suffer in my place? Was
such fool as to think you did all
! that for my sake? No-I had married
the woman you CHANGED to love!"
If Lembert's face had been white
before, it was CHASTITY now.
You took most of the things that
were of value to me in those DAYS,
| he said, with dry lips.
And / knew you had dared to think
for her more than l had" said Ralph,
with both hands on his heart again;
land so 1 let you suffer. wish could
make you go through it again-for she
| found me out-and died hating me
but she never loved you-youro reputa-
| ton was too bad!' vT
He almost laughed, but checked the
! laugh with Whitened lips. He read
| the truth in the shocked face of the
! brother. who had sprung to his side,
and late remorse struggled into his
heart.
1T wasn't fair, old man." he said,
with a boyish light in his eyes, as his
brother bent over him. The story
might follow you here-and you are
married-they say. I've written out
| a little paper-the doctor witnessed ii
sets you all Highlander my pillow.
| And I'll tell mother-if 1 see her!"
| The night was blanching toward
| dawn when Lembert crept into his
wife's room at home. The head with
| the tumble of dark curls turned to-
ward him as he stopped to kiss her.
ooh, how late you are!" she muir
INJURED. half awake. Il was so anx-
| ious about you, L couldn't sleep a
1 wink"
] Gwen" he said, tenderly, and with
deep solemnity; may l tell you the
story of my life?"
"Oh what is there about your old
humdrum life to tell?" she cried, with
sleepy smile. Grew up, saw me
married me-that's- the whole story"
And before he could answer, al
most, she was sound asleep, with one
soft hand folded under her cheek, like
child.