The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-04-22
gHH NAN 1N1 the MASK.


no moon shone in the heaven
astlght the paths of the lat
wayfarer. Even the electric light
seemed to have forgotten to throw
their CHEEKY glow over the scene.
Down the darkened highway stealth
lily erept the deep shadowy form Of /
man on mischief bent. His clothel
were rough, his hat drawn low dowr
over his eyes, and tine collar Of hi
coat was turned up, although 1t wal
not very cold. &s48 4 49, 49, ".
Now and again he would stop ant
Listen and when the solitary police
man walked hIa baat near him once
he darted into nearby doorway. @~.as
Cautiously, keenly, he looked al
every house until he came to one a
little more pretentious than the rest.
Producing skeleton keys, he silently
unlocked and opened the side door
let himself in and, by the aid Of a
dark lantern, he swiftly made his way
toward the dining room. There, he
knew, was the stdeboard; on 1t would
be some valuable silyerware, well
worth his pains and he thought the
table, too, might yield rich booty.
He was hard up for money, they had
plenty and could spare a little just as
we'll as goto =.
But for the very people that house
now sheltered, he, too, might be hap
Ply, loving, loved and, above all, hon
est @@ His @awi fe should wear the silks,
the VelVets he knew Mrs. Markham
now Haunted. OFTEN had he cursed
her as she had passed him on the
crowded street, drawing her rich skirts
more tightlygabeut her, lest they should
become tonta Minated by contact with
him. Him! What was he to her?
Nothing worse than nothing!
Just speH fhopghts ran, through his
fevered brain while hunting for the
dinlng room door. Into the room he
went, and cast his light around. At
the fartherFen end hung a picture, over
the mantal ashel&s Going to the shelf
he, threw the rays upon 1t, and sud
denly&staFtedR back Heslooked at the
picture again, 1t was likeness of
himself How, came It there?. - ..
cOh, God OF heaven" he murmured,
what does 1t meant, Is she here2"y
At one side was "a smaller picture. As
the tiny ray Of light fell upon 1t he
saw the picture of a child, with his
own brow, eyes and general express
sion. @s5#FE%SFs #Ef%#S e 7. Z
"My God, thou who hast been so
good to me, spare my baby now! Oh,
don't take my, only comfort, my only
one! My baby, cannot, cannot part
with your g. ed.
From the other room, low, sweet
voice In ,agOnized, pleading tones came
sobbingly. to his. startled ears.
.Father in heaven, bless my baby's
papaghe who meyer saw his child; send
him back, oh God! Tell him, Lord,
l. lave him now after all these long,
heartbreaking years Of silence, just as
much as when l married himr
AS the sweet tones became fainter
and fainter and more broken, the man
in the mask fell on his knees. With
folded hands and bowed head, he muir
mured;s TAIy little faithful wife! It Is
to good to. be true. She has kept her
love for me- thank God. but she must
never knew how low / have fallen.
Please God, 4 will turn about. will,
I sswear 1T will be honest from
henceforthr re- And picking up the little
lantern he silently turned, looked once
more at the pictured face of the baby.
and, making his way out, he shut and
locked the outside door and disappear
ed down The silent street, wiser, a
better man. sra-ez-s,..zsaa .-.---. .
At first, for many a long month. II
was hard, uphill work trying to be
honest, but those pleading words. that
sweet, wee baby face, were his guild.
Ing stars. his guarding angels.
One day a sweet, sad-faced little.
woman was hurrying along the st=eet
and unknOwingIy. she dropped her
glove.
There happened along just behind
her a. talb handsome man dressed In
&eIl-htting, new-looklng clothes who
as luck would haveAit, was none other
than the gentleman whose counte-
nance, when he arst appeared to US
was well concealed by a slouch hat
ana a black mask. He saw the glove
fan. hurried forward ana picked It mn
But the crowded street was no place
for the blessed, tender meeting he hop
sd would follow the. return of the
daiEty little gloge. O.
1t Is said that drop your glove,
you'll meet your love-" and when the
little lady turned to answer the re.
spectful words of the gentleman who
had touched her arm it proved no I'M
truth "a her case. 1t was just In front
Of the house.
.Pardon me. madam. but / believe
this glove belongs to you, as yon drop4
ped it" he said. The, words sent a
thrill through her entire being. Eag-
ely she glanced up. Charley, Char.