The suburban citizen., 1902-11-01

only in a loose, tiimsy dressing gown.
She had tainted away.
Lifting her tenderly in his arms, he
carried her back to her own room,
where he successfully applied restora.
tives.
She had awakened, it seems, in the
midst of dreadful dream. She
thought he was in danger, that she
might lose him, that they would soon
be parted forever. And Horace, with
cruel, aching pain at his heart, realized
how prophetic must the dream become,
TO remain with his wife, should Alice
chance to be alive, was utterly out Of
the question. His conscience and in.
tegrity. the whole man in him, forbade
that. He would prove the dream either
true or false, even though the result
might break his heart.
The next day, therefore, he instructed
his valet to pack his portmanteaus, and
forward the same to him, directly he
sent for them. Then he called on hls
lawyer, an old college chum.
George" he said, brokenly, gripping
arisen which may necessitate my leav'
ing the country. / shall know definite
ly tomorrow night. Everything is hor
ribly unreal, as yet. But there, ask me
no details. there's a good fellow Only
pledge your word to take this explana
ton TO my wife. Comfort her, George,
in memory of the old days. Let nc
harm befall her, don't allow her to
grieve or fret, settle my affairs for
her."
And ere the astonished man Of law
could accept or refuse the trust, Horace
had rushed away.
How the intervening hours passed,
Horace was never clearly conscious.
The appointed time, however, at last
drew near, and faint and haggard he
quickly repaired TO the place of meet
ing, anxious, yet dreading, to learn the
worst. Jedrey was already there, and
stepped forward from the shadow of
one of the arches.
That's right" he said hriskly, 'Tm
glad l did not mistake my man
Brought the money, suppose"
"Why else should be hereF' replied
Horace, striving TO conceal his trem.
bling apprehension. yet even you
cannot expect me to pay until Alice is
produced alive"
"That is easily done" said Jedrey,
keenly enjoying his discontinue. FOL
low me; it isn't far
Detected and wretched, with every
hope now shattered, Horace trudged
momnfully in the wake of his guide.
Yet had they thought to look behind,
they must have inevitably detected
three figures creeping stealthily after
them.
Presently a dull patch Of light be.
came visible 1t shone from the win
dow of a small, square cottage, old and
dllapidated. whose door opened readily
to the touch.
The interior was a combined living
and sleeping apartment. A low, filthy
bed occupied one corner.
In a chair at the side sat, or rather
swayed, a woman truly indescribable.
Coarse matted hair hung danky about
her head and shoulders. Her features,
clean and washed, must have been
more than repellant; but, black, grimy,
bloated, grinning. they presented an ap.
pearance shocking and repulsiye in the
extreme.
Hello, Horny, old boy" she cried,
chow are you? Come, give us a kiss,
dearie! What! Is my cherub shy?
Ha! ha! ha! Then let me give you
onew
The banker surveyed her silently,
dumbly, blankly. There had been no
deception, no trickery.
"Are you satisfied YETI" queried Jed.
rey, sardonically. perhaps you would
like still further proof. Alice" he COM
manded, turning to her, "show him
your marriage certificate"
''Ha, ha, hal" giggled Alice, fumbllng
among the folds of her tattered dress
"Proof does he want, eh? Pretends
not TO know his loving wifey, does he7
See," she added, drawing forth a
crumpled document, and lurching to-
ward him with it; "there you are,
dearie, in black and whltew
Suddenly, however the door few
wide back, and George Grimmell, dart
ing inside, hastily snatched the paper
and scanned it eagerly.
"Hurrahw he shouted, throwing
aside the drunken woman, who
stumbled across the bed and passively
lay there, half sobered by surprise.
"As | imagined! before she met youl
Mixed the certificates! Officer, officer,
catch that man! Quick; don't let him
escape! That's It; slip the jingles on
him! Horace" he continued, shaking
his hand excitedly, you're a fool
Don't you comprehend. man? Jedrey's
her husband-her real and first one!
And Lucy's your wife-your second
and true Oner-New York News.
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