Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-03-21
THE MAN IN THE MASK.
O~~~~O~~~o~

seemed to have forgotten to throw
their CHEEKY glow over the scene.
Down the darkened highway stealth
lily crept the deep shadowy form Of
man on mischief bent. His clothes
were rough, his hat drawn low down
over his eyes, and the collar of his
coat was turned up, although it was
not very cold.
Now and again he would stop and
flsteu, and when the solitary police
man walked his beat near him once,
he darted into a nearby doorway.
Cautiously, keenly, he looked at
every house until he came TO one
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
dark lantern, he swiftly made his way
toward the dining room. There, he
knew, was the sideboard; on it would
be some valuable silverware. well
worth his pains and he thought the
table, too, might yield a rich booty.
He was hard up for money, they had
plenty and could spare little just as
well as not.
But for the very people that house
now sheltered, he, too might be hap
by. loving, loved and. above all, hon
est. His wife 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 tightly about her, lest they should
become contaminated by contact with
him. Him! What was he to her?
Nothing worse than nothing!
Just such thoughts ran through his
fevered brain while hunting for the
dining room door. Ipto the room he
went. and cast his light around. AT
the farther end hung a picture, over
the mantel shelf. Going to the shelf
he threw the rays upon it, and sud
denly started back. He looked at the
picture again. 1t was a likeness of
himself How came it there?
"Oh, God of heaven" he murmurei,
what does it mean? Is she here!
At one side was a smaller picture. AS
the tiny ray OF light fell upon it he
saw the picture of a child, with his
own brow, eyes and general exp-es-
sion.
My God, thou who hast been so
good to me, spare my baby nowl oh,
don't take my only comfort, my only
one! My baby, cannot. cannot part
with you!"
From the other room. low, sweet
voice in agoniZed, pleading tones came
sobbingly to his startled ears.
Father in heaven, bless my babys
papa, be who never saw his child; send
him back, oh God! Tell him, Lord.
/ love him now after all these long,
heartbreaking years of silence, just as
much as when ] married him.
As the sweet tones became fainter
and fainter and more broken, the man
I'm the mask fell on his knees. With
folded hands and bowed head, he muir
INJURED: My little faithful wife, 1t is
to good to be true. She has kept her
love for me. thank God. but she must
never know how low | have fallen.
Please God, will turn about. | will.
l swear il. | will be honest from
henceforthr 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
cd down the silent street, a wiser.
better man.
At first, for many a long month. it
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 street.
ana unknowingly. she dropped her
glove.
There happened along just behind
her tail, handsome man dressed in
wen-htting, new-looking clothes. VINO
as luck would have it, was none Other
than the gentleman whose counte-
nance. when he first appeared to us,
was we'll concealed by SLOUGH hat
and a black mask. He saw the glove
fall hurried forward and picked it up.
But the crowded street was no place
for the blessed. tender meeting he hop
ell would follow the return of the
dainty little glove.
1t is said that drop your glove,
you'll meet your love-" and when the
little lady turned TO answer the re-
spectfu. words. of the gentleman who
had tou he'd her arm 1t proved no I'M
truth In her case. 1t was just in front
of the house.
Pardon me. madam, but l believe
this glove belongs TO you. as you drop
ped it." he said. The words sent a
thrill through her entire being Eag-
erly she glanced up. Charley. Char
ley, don't you know me? On. Charley,
it is none other. Don't you know your
own Adder she cried. in a low.
tense voice, looking pleadingly up at
him.
Yes. my darling. l know you; it IS
more. never to leave you again. Say
you forgive me, pet, and l will MAKE
you as happy as l can"
Come in. Charley. come into my
own. our own. little home, for. darling.
this beautiful home is ours once more.
have worked hard for it. dear. bat
/ have something else to show you,
More precious TO ME than sll else be-
side"
Aud she led ,he way into little
room lust off the dining room, straight
toward a small white bed. On it lay
a child, sweetly sleeping The parents
knelt beside the bed. those tive, long
parted and so recently united, and
then and there pledged once more their
everlasting love.
Angels seemed 10 tell the sleeping
child the glad news. for the little face
was wreathed in smiles. the blue
ewes opened wide and a curly head