The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-10-17

shilling, nor bhall you ever sASSSA' 7
other shilling OF my money
NV heart tainted within me; aDsolute
beggary stared me in the face; ana
with that beggary, as 1t seemed 10 me-
disgrace.
ri regret, continued my uncle, stnat
| should have been forced into speak
| ing SO plainly. give you until to-
morrow morning to reflect, to talk over
the matter with your wife, If you care
to do SO. Till then, we will speak no
further on the subject. What I have
resolved upon is irrevocable, and there
is nothing srrer in life than you and
/ have done with each other forever
| If YOU then determine to oppose my
| wishes. Oblige me now by leaving me.
At this hour of the day | always seek
little repose.'
I saw that it would not improve mat
tiers If / remained with him; there
| fore / left him and sought my wife.
"What has happened?" she asked, in
a voice Of alarm. She read the news in
my face.
1.-THE worst" replied.
/ told her all, and, cast down and
despairing as she was, she said that
l had acted right
$40 you realize what it means?'
said. 1--WE shall have to quit this place
at once; we shall be thrown upon the
world to starvev' And then l started
up, and paced the room in state OF
terrible excitement, saying that it was
monstrous such blow should be dealt
us by feeble old man.
"Feeble and DID, repeated, vacant
| "; Eyes, feeble and old. He is over
seventy. If he should die to-night!'
The words froze upon my lips.
"Richardw cried my wife.
"God forgive meF' ! said; 81 know
not what am saying. But it shall not
shall not-shall not bep'
All her sweet efforts were powerless
to calm me; in uncomfortable agita-
ton I rushed from her presence.
How the day passed l can scarcely
recall l know that my wife sent q
note by hand to Harry Clanronald, re
questing him not to come TO our house
that evening. / know that we, Mile
Resale, Mr.. Wilmot and Mr., Mort
lock, dined together, and that was
forced to play the part of host.
know that the three whose names
have written were full Of sparkle and
animation, while we were moody and
silent. know that Mile. Rosalie and
Mr. Mortlock played and sang. And
then came the goodnight all round, and
l was in my bedroom with my wife
Her eyes were encircled by dark rings
her face was wan, her limbs shook
her voice trembled as she spoke.
II have made up my mind to do some
thing" she said, in a pitiful tone
Tomorrow will speak to your uncle
myself, and will try to move him.
"You may as well try to melt a rock,
said. And in my mind stirred thu
refrain: "He is feeble and old; if he
should die tonight! if he should die
to-nightr'
81 shall need all my strength and
brightness" said nay wife. Il have
not slept for the past three nights, st
great has been my anxiety. A nights
good rest, and shall rise in the morn
ing. equal to the task of saving oul
dear child.''
And still the refrain was in my mind
IF he should die tonight! If he SHOULD
die to-night!'
There was an opiate on the mantel
shelf which I occasionally took to in
sure sleep. l poured the requisite
number of drops into a glass, and di
luted them with water.
"Drink this" l said to my wife
'You will sleep soundly and well, and
then in the morning if you still think
OF carrying out your plan you can try
our last hope"
knew that it was vain hope ani
that her appeals would be thrown
away upon this man who held in hi:
hands the threads of our fate.
My wife undressed, knelt down t.
-fervent and long were her pray
ers on this fatal night land then SHE
went to bed. handed her the opiatt
and she drank it.
"All will be well, my love-" she said
dreamily. ''My mind assures me thai
all will be well. Goodnight, dear love
God bless your
She drew me to her breast and
kissed her lips. In that embrace she
fell asleep.
] crept from the chamber in my
slippers and stole through the darl
and vacant rooms.
she is feeble and old. If he should
die to-night-if he should die tonight
It was like prayer and made Itself
felt as well as heard as trod softly
here and there, now standing by the
window looking out upon the shadows
now moving away, with unuttera5lt
despair in my heart.
The Spirit OF Murder was in my
housed.
To be continued.