Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1902-12-25

Eyes, child, l will believe you. Tell
ME his name and perhaps l may be
your savior"
''Oh, madam, if you could be-" ex-
claimed the girl with sparkling eyes.
81 do not hate Richard Talbot, and"
Richard Talbot" echoed the wo-
man, rising to her feet and grasping
her head as if dazed. Then standing
over the sick girl with uplifted hand,
as if about to strike, she almost
shrieked: Woman, you lie!"
All. you know him?" said the girl,
calmly. Perhaps you, too, have been
subjected to his deadly influence?"
mo, no." gasped the woman, "'tis
impossible, / tell you! Richard Tai
bot is the very soul of honor. Pardon
my words, but your charge against
him struck me like a heavy blow.
Richard Talbot could not have been
your betrayer."
Read these letters, madam, and
tell me, if you can, who the man is"
said the girl, bitterly, drawing
small, soiled packed from her bosom.
Il told you | would not be believed"
The lady seized them and devoured
their contents; then taking a letter
from her pocket, carefully compared
the writing.
My God, it is true" she muttered.
an a few hours more l would have
been in his tolls. Trusting to his
honor, l, too, would have been be-
trayed." Suddenly striking her fore
head, she burst out: MY farewell
letter to my husband! l must get it
before he finds it," STOPPING, she
kissed the girl on the lips. MY Sis
ter, you have saved more than my
daughters life this day. Be at peace,
you shall be my care to your dying
day. l leave you for time, but
shall soon return and take you to a
home where you will never know
aught but loving kindness" After
a moments private conversation with
the doctor, the woman called a cab
and drove furiously away with her
little girl, who had already forgotten
the accident.
Several hours afterward, a cab
drove hurriedly up to the doctors
door. and from it the same woman
rushed Historically into the Office.
The doctor! l want the doctor! Will
he never come? He is keeping me
away from my husband" The assist
ant vainly endeavored to pacify her.
She strobe back and forth frantically
wringing her hands and sobbing.
The doctor at last returned, but be-
fore entering his private room, he
leying the occupant. Turning in her
ceaseless round, she saw him, and
rushing up to him fell on her. knees
before him.
my husband, doctor; my husband!
| Take me to him his honor is at stake.
Take me to him, l say!"
After compelling the frenzied wo.
man to drink soothing compound,
the doctor placed her in a chair and
took a seat before her. He said moth
irg until he perceived that his medi-
cine was taking effect.
Madam, your husbands honor was
| in poor hands few hours ago. Rich
ard Talbot is not a proper guardian
FOR the honor of any man or woman.
Listen, madam. Shortly after leaving
your home this morning with your
daughter, forever. as you thought, a
man was found near it in collapsed
condition He was incoherent in his
talk and held clutched in his hand
this letter" The doctor held out a
letter which the woman seized and
tore into fragments.
mo, no, it is not my letter.
did not write it, it was some demon
within me. That poor girl in the
room yonder opened my eyes to my
folly and my sin, and l fastened to
repair the wrong by destroying the
letter before my husband could OBJ
! tain it, but was too late. You would
aot let me see him, doctor, a little