New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-02
Otsf Of the DARKNESS.
BY PERCY e. REINGANUM.

Nothing matters now. Nothing ever will matter.
bearable burden TO me. Money, all that money can
b!i man Eroaned out the words in hopeless misery
clutchng at the arms OF his chair his useless eyes
ting opposite 10 him, putting thougntully at his
pipe felt the futility Of attempted consolation.
Your wife" he said, tentatively. -,-
breath and spoke slowly, almost coidly as thoGgh
holding himself in with very tight hand My
circumstance tnat does matter. You know as wen
as do what she has always been TO me-what she
say she was the be-all and eqd-al OF eveTything
''Well?' observed his friend, quietly.
Don't you see-dont you understand? The o!lnd
me most 1recous Thing in the woridbut even she
does not make this bearable-" He struck the palm
you would say-.Tm more TO her afflicted like this
than I've ever been. She will never love me OF care
for jot less now that IN helpless, useless
Sod than when was - W2r1a 1 c 6hddk dod man ia her
would be the loss of my useless se4r al Know 5.
that, Oiphant my ten years happiness mas
that with such certainty''-he dropped his voice
Leonard Oliphant took his pipe from his mouth
What do you mean?' he asked. sterply. e..
The blind unsteadlly TO his feet and
moved slowly. with outstretched hands across the
against the wall 1t was covered with papers
diagrams plans figures lists all relating TO ME ne
fingers rustled aimlessly among them his friend
Watched 0 NTH o s9 6f syss full OF mans 'OioeieSS
After moments hesitation he drew a key from
his pocket and fumbled FOR the lock of the desk He
%s some M bI9ia i1I7siness Al last the kew
he came slowly back toward OHphant- In his hand
Showed gg nsio start IHgI5 distinct -'''
I'm! observed his friend his pipe again clenched
between his teeth. Better throw II on the nre,
Hugh: Nasty stun to have about" -. -. 49,,
IN bis 6ocket and shook his head while something
that was almost smile fitted across MS face
was glad to hear. No; this Is my one means Of
keeping sef-respect alive. While this lies IN that
dong of liTingCWhen all hope for long for pray
for every moment of my life. is death. I Hve-I
shall continue 70 live as long as II pleases the
powers to torture poor, helpless SHADOW OF a man
for me. If there had been children-out the boy
There was silence for a few moments. Then
ha eyfa on the Other others bowed shouidey,
Good boy Hugh!' he said nghuy. Give me
what for?' demanded his friend. starting from
To put it back for you" he replied Don't be
aL I'm not said the blind man and placed the
little packet in his hand. you understand Lem!
He had been standing with his back to the door
that it was standing slightly alar- bi14 az co,,15
have sworn I shut 1t when I came in. He walked
to the desk and dropped the little white paper into
Thers!' he said, aloud. Front left hand corner
Hugh Westerly did rot answer. He had felt his
way his armchair and now sat hVqdlea tPseI UT
o cioSea [ dTer his shoulder at the door
s 81 Iyonder''- ne muttered, and. leaving the key
in the lock strobe across the room and opened the
out ard looked up and down the hall No one He
hack into the room closea tRf 600 f anu E re-
since the day. now a twelyemonth ago. when dark
essfii inventor Leonard Onphant had thus spent
two or three evenings week dong ms pest m ms
times Mrs westerly had sat with them; as rule
the conversation ranged over tbe law
ing bare OF a tortured soul arising from some
chs Chance word or incident. was new feature.
And now upstairs behind locked door. Gwen
doIen Westerly. the blind man VIE the only clT-
T1nigbt with fingers rigdiv locked whole
frame nabIa ~ realizing nothing but the words
she had inadvertently overheard-the terrible words
her love had revealed her with dazzling distinct
ness the fact that not even she could IN the shght
the pF1Gg a Nav oreIand this was the worst-it
anu th,+ ,Incorscousy prolonged his pain mas
much as II was for her sake he refrained from seek
t ths friend GToped for the words that should
fort without hurting TIE phrase tnat shonIa snow
wife sought franticalIy for way out for chance
Of showing Of what helpful sacrince her love was
she was woman Of the most distinctly healthy
robustness Before her marriage her friends had
called her hard cold lacking n sentiment; they
NJ The hidden store Of tenderness which the coming
Of Hugh Westerly had revealed The only child OF
eornevhat conventional and matter-of-fact parents
she had been brought up 70 accent. and had un-
,jestionahlv accepted the view OF life which MAKE
tae1tb and bodily comfort the essentials Of exist
ence and had ALWAYS REGARDED sickness and death
as vague and far of possibilities 70 De DISMISSED az
Ear ne POSSIBLE from the sane and wei balanced
mind Love and life and the Joy OF living formed
estrrcL her husband in whom her whole being had
been centred TIE blow had struck her az hrst win
- - r-rnhDess. she who Ind never known phys-
;cal ~ err1itv mad for tho r0oent shrunk from the
dom = n
r5+,+ 80 revflsion had r0na almost insY1 And
1rucb a she had loved and admired her strong
t,o- auckland = hp- IN possession or an hts facu
,ies She had since felt for him such tenderness in
finite compassion and loving prIae d IS sin nae hep
s,uS ,nssmuch as II had left him so entirely and
uudiytdsdly ct ths marcy OF hsr iowa shs had