Evening star., 1903-07-09

was where the paper was torn across. But
it was no matter. / had seen enough. 1t
was Wallace who had fallen dead, ana
while William might have perlsheo also,
and doubtless had Il had no certainty OF
it. And my wedding day was set ioE
Thursday.
why didn't tell Cora; why didn't
1 tell you? Pride held my tongue,
fore l saw either of you. and to reason
bit and to feel sure that If Wallace had
been spent enough to fall dead on reacn-
ing the camp, William could never nave
survived on the open road. For Wallace
was the stronger Of the two and the most
hardy every way. Free L certainly was.
Some later paper would assure me OF this
I would hunt them up and see-but never
did I do not think 1 dared. l was afraid
should see some account OF his rescue. L
was afraid of being made certain OF what
was now but a possibility. and so ! olo
nothing. But for three nights 1 d1o not
sleep.
"The caprice which had led me to choose
the old Moore house to be married In led
me to plan dressing there on my wedding
morning 1t was early when we started.
Cora and I. for Waverley avenue, but not
too early for the approaches to that dread
full house to be crowded with people, eager
to see the daring bride. Why l should
have shrunk SO from that crowd I cannot
say. I trembled at sight OF their faces and
at the sound of their voices. and II by
chance a head was thrust forward farther
and nearly screamed. Did dread to rec
ognize too familiar face? The paper I
had seen bore a date six months back. A
man could arrive here from Alaska in that
time. Or was my conscience aroused at
last and clamoring to be heard when 1t was
too late? On the corner OF N street the
carriage suddenly stopped. A man had
crossed in front Of it. caught one glimpse
of this man and instantly the terrors of
lifetime were concentrated into one instant
of agonizing fear. 1t was William Pfeiffer.
l knew the look; knew the gait. He was
gone in a moment and the carriage rolled
on. But l knew my doom as well that
minute as l did an hour later. My hus-
band was alive and he was here. He had
wandered east to reclaim his recreant wife.
There had been time for him to do this
since the rescue party left home in search
of him: time for him to recover, time for
the east. He had heard of my wedding: 1t
was in all the papers, and I should find
him at the house when l got there, and
you would know and Cora would know. and
the wedding would stop and my name be
made byword the world over. Instead
of the joy awaiting me moment since
should have to go away with him into some
wilderness or distant place of exile, where
all the memories Of this year Of stolen de-
lights be effaeed Oh. it was horrible!
And all in minute! And Cora sat
an angel. beaming on me with tender
eyes whose expression have never un-
derstood! He'll in my heart-and she, in
happy ignorance OF this. brooding over my
joy and smiling to herself while the soft
tears rose!
You were waiting at the curb when ar
rived, and remember how my heart stood
sti1l when you laid: your hand on the car
riage door and confronted me with that
light on your face had never seen disturb
ed since we first pledged ourselves to marry.
Would he see 1t, too, and come forward
from the secret place where he held himself
hidden? Was destined to behold q strug-
gle in the streets, an unseemly contest OF
words in sight OF the door had expected
to enter SO toyously? In terror OF such an
event, seized the hand which seemed my
one refuge in this hour OF mortal trouble,
and hastened into the house which, for all
its doleful history, had never received with
In its doors a heart more burdened or re-
bellious. AS this thought rushed over me
came near crying out. The house of doom!
The house of DOOM had thought to
brave its terrors and its crimes and 1t has
avenged itself. But instead of that, press
ed your hand with mine and smiled. o God!
II you could have seen what lay beneath
that smile! For, with my entrance beneath
those fatal doors thought had come. I
remembered my heritage. I remembered
how had been told by my father when
was a very little girl presume when he
first felt the hand of death upon him-that
IL ever was in great trouble-very great
trouble. he had said, whore no deliverance
seemed possibleI was to open a little
golden ball which he showed me and take
out what should find inside and hold II
close up before picture which had hung
from time immemorial In the south
west corner OF this old house. He
could not tell me what should en-
counter there-tlis I remember his say