St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-06-25
THE ONE
SHE MARRIED
LAWRENCE HENRY
Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
By LAWRENCE HENRY


to marry him. At the time Dollie had
another sutton and when she became
the wife Ct Fred Stanhope the rage of
Masterson was deep and suppressed.
Stanhope was apparently Of a very
different mold than his unsuccessful
rival, for he was regarded as an exem-
plary young man. A clerkship in
bank vouched for his business integri-
ty and an Identification with church
work established his moral character
He was likely catch, nevertheless
there were those of Dollie's friends
who intimated that the dear girl had
given up her less conventional lover
with a smothered heart sob. However.
the wedding bells pealed merrily and
soon Fred and Dollie were ensconsed
in a pretty little fiat. evidently
as happy as two turtle doves,
having a future with prospects as fair
as summer day before them. Master
Son, with few muttered threats, dis
appeared from her life and was seen
no more.
This all happened seven years ago.
The mutability of time brings about
many changes What seemed to be the
golden fruit of yesterday are but the
Dead Sea applies of to-day. So it was
with the Stanhopes. Fred, the prom
Using young bridegroom on that happy
day of the years past the model, the
immaculate, was no longer. Tempta-
lions that before his marriage had no
attractions for him seemed now to have
gained mastery. His decentralization
had been gradual and even up to the
present time the world at large knew
little of his failings. He was now tel
Ter in the bank and as yet his employ
ers suspected nothing Of his secret dis
eipations.
There was one, however, who knew
It all. The sparkle of her eyes was
dimmed, the color Of her cheeks was
gone, there were the burrows of care
aslant her forehead; she was not the
Dollie of that wedding day seven years
agone. A little child there was, gold
en-haired miss of four who had come
to bless their union, and many a night
as she lay cuddled in her mothers
arms she wondered why the tears
dropped from Mammals eyes just be-
cause papa had not come home"
Of late Fred's habits had become
more irregular than ever. He had
never been what might be called vic
tim of drink, though there were occa-
sional lapses of over indulgence Of this
kind, but gambling was his mania.
Often of late he had appeared at the
bank on time for duty without ever
having wink of sleep the night be-
fore. It was his faculty for being able
to report that kept him safe with the
bank officials.
But the pace was growing faster,
Stanhope's losses were making him
desperate, something was bound to
happen soon. Strange as it may seem.
the companion of his midnight dissi-
pations of late was Jack Masterson,
once the rival for Dollie's hand. Mas
terson had developed into a cold, cal
culating man of the world, a gambler
of suave address and an intuitive
knowledge of human nature. A year
previous Fred had accidentally met
him at club of questionable repute
and, being something of a novice at
the time, he was more than pleased to
have Masterson take him under his
wing. It was from that night that the
young husbands descent should really
be dated Masterson, insidious, smooth
and guileful, ingratiated himself for a
heinous purpose. He had never forgot
ten or forgiven the defeat of his love
quest, for his pride as well as his heart
had been wounded. Fred, on the other
hand, suspected nothing; simple and
impulsive by nature yesterday was
almost wiped from the slate Of his
memory. He, however, felt that there
was something about his relationship
with Masterson that meant no good,
for he never mentioned his name to
Dollie. Perhaps it was because he real
ized that the gambler protited always
at his expense.
The crisis came. The night before
Fred Stanhope had been cleaned out of
every available cent at his command
and, more than that, Masterson held
his l. O. U. for several hundred dollars.
AS he left the table Masterson gently
remarked:
Tomorrow night money must be in
sight if we play"
Eyes, yes" answered Fred, as he
hurried out, long after the sun was
shining.
When he entered the bank that
morning there was desperate CLEAN
in his eyes.
At home, patient and sleepless, Dol
lie waited, but Fred did not even re-
turn for breakfast. She stood the sus-
pense until afternoon, and then feel
ing that she must know she took her
little daughter by the hand and walked
down past the bank where her husband
was employed. Being familiar with his
erratic moods she dared not enter, but
from the street she saw him behind
one of the gratings and her heart gave
q great bound Of relief. Retracing her
steps she was scarcely square away
from the bank when she came face to
face with Jack Masterson. Dollie had
not seen or heard of him for seven
years, but she recognized him at once.
Debonaire, sleek, idly sauntering
long, little gasp from her attracted
his attention. Looking up he came to
. sudden stop, as did she.
.'Dollie-Mrs.-Mrs. Stanhope," he
stammered, thing he had rot done
since hoy.
"Mr. Masterson,'' she murmured
gently and their eyes met. For an in
slant they paused, then as if with a
guilty fear of herself she grasped her