The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-22
Copyright 1901. By Daily story Pub. Col

hIH DAduulL oLN LAG bNS""e ~ NA~
highest triumphs opened before him, his
health broke down under the terrible
strain he put upon himself, and the
nhysieians imperattveiy ordered q long
ssa voyage. No excitement, no society,
no study, or work, they said. So 1t was
decided that he should take a sailing
vessel bound for the orient on a six
months cruise.
Then came the catastrophe, the news
II a terrible storm and the wreck OF the
Dayy Jones, the rescue of three starved
sailors who told the story OF the disaster,
aud finally the finding of q lot of the
debris of the wrecked vessel.
The news had thrilled the country and
made q ten days sensation in the news
papers, Then 1t was forgotten and the
world turned to living idols, and sought
another upon whom to place the Laurel
crown,
There was one, however, who did MOI
forget and who hoped against hope, thai
was his wife. Their married life hao
been singularly happy. 1t had been a
love match between two people with
hearts and minds well balanced, and had
been q happy mixture Of passion and re-
spect anQ tenderness which made a har-
monious atmosphere seldom to be found.
The world saw the brilliancy and power
pf the man and yielded to it. She saw
all this and thrilled with pride at his
triumphs, but she saw besides. his great
heart and his unselish tenderness.
She could not believe the disaster.
Providence had no right to let such a
man die in the fewer Of his usefulness
nor fate to d~isunite so perfect a love.
For months she was confident it was all
a mistake and that he would appear
eventually. One boat had been found.
There we're six, Mahap some OF these
had been swept ashore In some Isolated
place. He would appear some day. The
elements would not destroy one so In
harmony with them.
As the months faded into years, she
began to doubt ard finally to half be-
Iieye. Ultimately she was compelled to
give up hope. When she finally admitted
Il 10 herself It tore from her nature every
anchor and moering. Life without him
abe could scarcely conceive Of. II was a
new and strange existence-nothing to
hope for, nothing to do, no interest In
life. A sense of utter ionltness oppressed
her, She craved companionship, love,
human interest. But they had been so
entirely wrapped up In one another that
abe had driven all other relationships
and friendships out Of her life.
1t was then that Herbert de KRAFT
flashed across her horizon. He was a
man of great brilliancy and wit and as
handsome as Apollo. He amused her
and made her forget. He evidently ad~
mired her greatly. Herbert de Kraft
possessed much the same sort Of wit her
husband had had. but lacked his domt-
hating purpose and sincerity. he saw
all there was on the surface, but de-
rIined to delve down into the depths.
Presently the world began to talk about
them and TO predict an end for the weeds.
Meanwhile an emaciated wreck, the
wreck and remnant Of a man was spend
ing q dazed existence In a far OFF cline
All that was known of him was that he
was picked up al sea by g. vessel, strapped
to an %lmprovised raft, crazed for want
Of water and nearly dead from exposure
and want of food. There was no clue
TO his identity and his memory vas a
blank. He was left at the first port.
where he slowly recovered his faculties
ALI excepting his memory, Try as he
would he could remember nothing OF
the mast, His unusual talents manifest
ed themselves and he became a usetnI
member of the community upon when
he was thrown. One day several years
later an American newspaper fell into
his hands. A certain story attracted his
a~ttention-the story of a notable decis'
ion in a great law case which had been
uending for ye~ars--together with a his-
tory Of the ease. In a flash all the past
came back to him. 1t was his case, and
he read his w name as the great at
torney who had boldly advanced tins
theory which had been affirmed by the
supreme court A thousand conflict
ing emotions surged through his mind
He had been gone from his former homz
Ave years. What changes had the years
wrought? The cable vas put into re
uuisition and he Iearned that Everett Ma
son was dead, that his estate had beer
administered and that his widow was un'
married. The next vessel toward tbs
states bore him as a passenger.
A terrible shock awaited him. Ablaz'
with the a%nticipations which had beet
growing during the voyage, on the Pull
man car as 1t neared the old home town
he overheard a conversation which troz'
his heart. Two women In an ad1oinint
seat were talking. He heard the nam'
Of his wife mentioned. Then:
"0h, yes, she's going to marry again
Perfectly infatuated with Herbert d.
Kraft"
well, I don't blame her. He's TN
handsomest man In tow and the mos
brilliant And she's worn her mourn
ing long enough" .
1t was like driving a knife into oil
heart. Immediately upon his arriva
he made searching inquiries and all d
learned c~orroborated the gossip OF TN
train. He spent days and nights in keei
mental anguish. He looked at himse
in the glass and saw his emaciated form
sunken cheeks. thin HAIR and realizes
that he wa only the ghost OF the OH
Everett Mason. Had he the right Z
project this ghost between the womai
ne loved so we'll and her happiness
Finally he resolved to make the suprem'