The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1902-12-27
SAVED BY A
WOMAN'S LOVE



of his step or the air of one to tle
manner born no one could say. but the
fact remained that there was some
thing about him 80 excite admiration
and curiosity. Among others a lady
robed in the per cd Of Venetian su-
premacy stood looking at him, aud one
could see interest IN her attitude IL not
in her masked face.
May | crave my lady's hand for n
dance said the man 10 her
with pleasure" replied the lady in
low vo.ce.
Come; let us 20 into the winter gnr,
den" he said after the dnncc. 1T Is
insufrerably hot here, aud | dislike Il
crowd
When they were screened behiUd a
miniature forest OF tropical trees. the
mans manner suddenly changed.
"Woul1 you know who | auT' hc
said Il am what the highwayman ~
two centuries ago was NJ that time. |
do not play my pranks on lll' road ]
icvy contributions IN the palaces of the
rich
49, where youth and beauty meet
To chase the glowing hours with nying
feet
"I'll trouble you for that ringT
The woman stood molonlcsS for n
time. Whether She was paralyzcd
from fright or was deciding what 10 do
could not be detected since her face
was covered Presently she said:
Listen 10 me moment and the ring
is yours. II IL only lately that came
10 live il the city. | was once II coun
try girl. There was n boy IN our VII
iage, daring. reckless spirit, forever
IN mischief. aud had he been soldier
lie would have found bis vocation
when he was twenty he became an nc
tor. remember the day parted with
him when he went on his first thcntri
cal tour. | had long before given my
heart to the wild spirit thai everybody
loved. admired, yet nj whom all shook
their heads and said, Hen somc day
come TO grief | begged him ia curl
his passion for excitement To study hiN
chosen profession. to he content with
wha. success he was sure to gain oI
ihe stage. for he had remarkable talent
He took NE Ia his arms ard coniid't
10 me TINT hr feared his love for reel
less deeds woui1 Kill all steady effort
but for my sake he would try TO avoid
the one and cling 10 the other.
He made alternate successes ana
failures Every success was followed
by some Wild freak, some desperate AL
venture. one engagement after anoth
or wns Cancelled. aud nj last he was
forced 10 abandon legitimate cndcaNor
and ga ye himself wholly to-
She bent her head and buried her
face In her hands.
The masked face before her looked al
her with blank stare, rigid as marble
When she stopped speaking. the man
said
AT our birth fate marks our courses
To some II gives the power Of bccom
ing merchants. professional men, Ia
borers--all that Is honorable even IL nm.
profitable. They are the nscd stars
Others must he moving, now forward,
y
starting In an unexpected direction
They are the planets. Both follow the
courses marked out for them Your
friend, your lover was doomed from
his birth. If he could have been saved,
you would have saved him"
"Oh. Alan, had not recognized you
at once under your disguise ! would
know you the moment YOU began 20
speak, Why must one 40 gifted be
dragged down by an unconqucrablo
defect?"
He stood mute. immovable. He had
selected his good ANGEL for robbery
His decisions were like lightning, and
like lightning he decided that the
moment he could do SO without myoly
ing her he would send IA bullet through
his brain II was the woman who still
hoped
ALAN. try again Go to some coun.
try where YOU are not known. Live II
steady life for Eve years"
And ,hyii?"
"Aud then? Sen! for ne"
Again there was u silence. A tremor
passed over the man. then "A wave Of
resolution Was II only wavet
Mary. sweetheart. for your sake |
Will make this trial"
lie moved away, There was no Que
to see behind the plants, aud she
showed him 10y her movement that She
would encourage him with kiss lie
put her away.
II am still above permitting such n
sacrilege." he said Farewell. II
fail. viii send you bullet; IL sue
coed a heart"
II was four years and six months
after that eventful meeting that Mary
Drayton received small package 10y
express She knew that Il contained
one of two tokens. and since the five
years had not yet passed she dreaded
lest she had received a bullet, an en-.
blem of suicide. Tremblingly she took
OFF the wrapper and revealed a paper
box. She dared not lift the lid for a
time and only did SO when II occurred
10 her that the weight was slight.
There. nesting IN cotton. was some
thing wrapped in tissue paper Tn.
folding II, she held IN her hand Il
gclo
.sooG ais came from Alan
NJ Ulty ap.a tsfnl 'caring the
uev's Their ~ WAS ptrspvu aecp
raiser. his tsienta nad m,lo aiw
prominent. ard he hei, 40 impot
Office under the government ne do
not ask the woman who had Sawed figa