Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-08-12
THE MAN IN THE MASK.
ON~O~~~~O~~

TO light the paths or the late
wayfarer Even the electric lights
seemed to have forgotten TO throw
their CHEEKY glow over the scene.
Down the darkened highway stealth
lily crept the deep shadowy form of a
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 1t was
not very cold
Now and again he would stop and
listen. 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 a
little more pretentlous 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 sldebOard; on 1t would
be some valuable sllverware. 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
well as not
But for the very people that house
now sheltered. he. too, might be hap
py, 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. Hlml What was he to her?
Nothing worse than nothlngl
Just such thoughts ran through his
fevered brain while hunting for the
dining room door. Into 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 1t, and sud
denly started back. He looked at the
picture again. 1t was a likeness of
himself How came 1t there2
"Oh, God OF heaven" he murmured.
what does II mean2 Is she here?"
At one side was a smaller picture. As
the tiny ray of light fell upon 1t ne
saw the picture OF a child, with his
own brow. eyes and general express
sion.
MY God, thou who hast been so
good TO me. spare my baby nowl Oh,
don't take my only comfort. my only
onel My baby, l cannot, cannot part
with you'll"
From the other room, a low, sweet
voice in agonized. pleading tones came
sobblngly to his startled ears.
Father in heaven. bless my baby's
papa, he who never saw his child; send
him back. oh Godl Tell him, Lord,
l love 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
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, l Will turn about. will,
| swear 1t. l 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.
ed down the silent street, a wiser. a
better man.
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 sweet. sad-faced little
woman was hurrying along the st-eat
and unknowingly, she dropped her
glove.
There happened along just behind
her tall, handsome man dressed I'm
violating. new-looking clothes. who
as luck would have 1t. was none other
than the gentleman whose counte
nance, when he first appeared TO us
was we'll concealed by a 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.
ed 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-
spectful words of the gentleman who
had touched her arm 1t proved no un.
truth in her case. 1t was just in front
OF the house.
Pardon me, madam. but | believe
THIS glove belongs to you, as you drop
ped It," he said. The words sent a
thrill through her entire being. Gag
erly she glanced up. Charley. Char
ley, don't you know mel Oh, Charley
1t Is none otherl Don't you know youi
own Adder" she cried. In a low
tense voice, looking pleadingly up a
him.
Yes, my darling, 1 know you; II II
your own Charley come back once
more, never to leave you again. Say
you forgive me, pet, and l will MAKE
you as happy as I can"
"Come In. Charley. come into my
own, our own, little home, for, darling
this beautiful home is ours once more
j have worked hard for II, dear. but
I have something else to show you