The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-04-02
A STORY WHICH INCLUDES !
STRANGE IDEA OF CON.
PLEx REORGANIZATION.

again IN the Ola arm chair before
the fire, to listen to it crackle, and
watch the sparks chase one another
up the chimney. 1t was my first
night downstairs since my illness.
There was no need of my working
so hard, we had enough to live we'll
and educate the children, but when
the money-getting fever, or disease,
gets its grip on a man it needs
strong medicine.
eyes, indeed" a voice answered
me from somewhere, voice that
sounded strange.
With that he came toward me out
of the shadow where the shaded
light was darkest.
He was very tall, and the mantle
he had wrapped around him seemed
to add dignity to his carriage. A
staff In his hand, and long hair
curling on his shoulders, seemed to
complete his costume. l noticed as
he stepped nearer, he had sandals
on his feet.
Come" he said.
"But 1 am JILL" l demonstrated,
and cannot walk"
"You must come with me-" was
all he said, and l seemed to glide
from the chair and follow after hir!
as he moved toward the door.
Then a sudden thought struck me.
must not go out into the coli
without wrap, and l he .ltated and
glanced back toward the chair from
which I had just arisen to follow
him, and what was my astonish-
men to see myself reposing there
amnog the cushions and pillows, as
my wife had left me a short time
ago.
What Is the meaning Of this?"
I demanded. 81 will not CO."
He looked at me sadly and an
swered: "You must; it is the price
you have to pay, the debt you owe
nature"
Let me stay to see my loved
Ones" l begged.
What good will it do?" he an
swered.
ooh, let me stay until tomorrow"
! ] cried, as l saw him apparently
weaken.
GAS you will" he said. "But it
would be better not. You must stay
with me and watch"
Then | realized | was what people
call dead, and could not make my
self visible to men.
Oh, the horror, the loneliness,
the helplessness Of it.
The door opened and the man
drew me aside to let my wife pass;
she went softly over to the chair
in which I sat apparently - she
seemed to think that slumbered,
for she tiptoed to the table and
dropped the medicine was to take
into a glass. poor, dear john"
she murmured, as she watched the
shadows fit across my face, cast
there by the freight.
1T is time to take your medi-
cine, DEAR" she said. laying her
hand gently on one of mine, that
was; she raised 1t and bent over to
press her lips upon it, when sud-
denly 1t fell from her grasp. John,
dear. Oh, speak to mel"
They carried her away, my poor
darling. Oh, the agony Of my posi-
ton.
Then entered the undertaken and
two or my partners, who had heard
the news, and the looked me over,
and Marten, the younger man
seemed sorry and turned and said
to Chase: Poor fellow, he worked
too hard"
"Srved him right, the old skin
flint" answered Chase
81 wonder IL he Is working now ?"
returned Marten, falling into the
other fellows mood.
"Shoveling coal, no doubt" an
swered Chase, and they both laugh.
ed.
| What swell time his pretty
wife will have spending all the
money he killed himself for"
"By the way. Marten, you are
young and good looking, and of
course she will marry again.
"The wretches," calculated;
then | thought: Il am seeing my
self now as others see me-"
Take me away" I commanded,