Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-12-29

cape, he naStened to unlock the door
| of the room, to find his wife, clad
| only in a loose, fimsy 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 a dreadful dream. She
| thought he was in danger, that she
might lose him, that they would soon
be parted forever. And Horace. with a
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 his
lawyer, an old college chum.
George" he said, brokenly, gripping
his hand, certain circumstances have
arisen which may necessitate my leav-
ing the country. l shall know definite
ly tomorrow night. Everything is hor-
ribly unreal, as yet. But there, ask me
no details, there's good fellow. Only
pledge your word to take this explana.
tion to my wife. Comfort her. George,
in memory of the old days. Let no
harm befall her, don't allow her to
grieve or fret, settle my affairs for
her."
could accept OF 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 briskly, I'm
glad | did not mistake my man.
Brought the money, 1 suppose"
'Why else should 1 be here" 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
mournfully 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 n dun patch of light be-
came visible. 1t shone from the win
dow Of small, square cottage, old and
dilapidated, whose door opened readily
to the touch.
The interior was combined living
and sleeping apartment. A low, filthy
bed occupied one corner.
In chair at the side sat- or rather
swayed, 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, grinnng, they presented an ap.
pearance shocking and repulsiye in the
extreme.
II r-ho
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,
dumbiy, blanlliy. There had been no
deception, no trickery.
Are you satisfied yet?" 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, fumbling
among the folds Of her tattered dress.
Proof does he want, eh? Pretends
not to know his loving wifey, does he?
See" she added, drawing forth a
crumplcd document, and lurching to-
ward him with it; there you are,
dearie, in black and white"'
Suddenly, however, the door few
wide back, and George Grimmell, dart
ing inside, hastily snatched the paper
and scanned itseagerly.
"Hurrahw he shouted, throwing
aside the drunken woman, who
stumbled. across the bed and passively
lay there, half sobered by surprise.
AS l imagined, before she met you.
Mixed the certificates, officer, officer,
catch that man! Quick; don't let him
! escape, That's IT. slip the ilngles on
him! Horace" he continued, shaking
his hand excitedly, you're a fool!
Don't you comprehend, man? Jedrey' $
her husband-her real and first one!
And Lucy's your wife-your second
and true 5@G",'-,2New York News.
| - --N''T