The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-28

kept at hand for these heart attacks
and as soon aa he was able to be
moved, she had Rim taken to bed
He asked for the telegram. and ap-
peared relieved when It. was found In I
his Pocket. When the doctor arrived
the rich man was in condition Of IN
tense nervous excitement and suffering |
severely from shock.
The message mad, indeed disturbed
him profoundly. II had served to ro-
open the one page OF his life OF which /
he. wat bitterly ashamed. In the long
distant past, more than twenty years
tolls Of beautiful and unsorupulous
woman In his intatuatioh he had been
suspected Of an act which would have
brought him under the law. rad lie
i not then learned the character OF the
woman and fed the country.
Although innocent OF the crime. he
had since made renaration hundred
fold for Il. but the remembrance OF
that chapter Of his life had been like
scourge OF scorpions to a nan OF his
naturaly honorable character and ner.
vous.' sensitive disposition. He had
worn the sackcloth and ashes OF re-
rnorseful repentance for all the years
between and the thought that the
secret was now about to be revealed 70
y the world, made him cringe and cover
In morbid wretchedness and bitter suf.
fering.
All that day and night and the next
day he lay niserably discounting the
consequences. The revelation could
not have come at worse moment. His
beloved Olive was about to make
marriage on which her whole happ.
ness depended; and II tho facts were
known. It seemed to him in his morbid
fear 'ler life would be wrecked.
In the afternoon he took his resolu.
ton. The marriage must be FASTENED
so as to take place before this terrible
news could be told before the woman
who could tell It, that was, could reach
the country. He could make the ak
cuse that his health alarmed him = a nd
when once she was married. he would
face the trouble II necessary. or find
some means Of silencins tails woman.
Late In the afternoon he went down
stairs 10 carry out this plan.
He found Olive at the plano, and
after she had finished one OF his
1avorite songs-she had a rich, soft
rnezzo-soprano voice--he called her to
cit by him
rs Jack a. Belborough. olive?" he
asked.
No. father. He has gone back to
his work 1.-THE Foreign Once"
morrow child. want your marriage
to. be fastened forward It must take
place at once-with!n a week.
why. dear?"
DO as; say. child Now; was the
almost testify spoken reply
She went and dispatched the message
and then returned to her seat BY him.
Now tell me-, dear she said witt
q gentle smile.,. III.
My heart. Olive. Gregory tells me
mad narrow shave yesterday
Was that bad news you had yes
terday. father"
What news?" he replied. LOOKING
At her sharply
THAT telegram from New York;
dear.
He WINGED. IBID You se4 IT."
T could not help it It was lylni
open by the side OF the couch. 49,
He was silent, looking very troubled
srT2nn.t ask me. Olive. can't tell you
II 1t Is bad news. don't you thinl
am strong enough to bear It wit
rou ~
Don't ask me- he repeated.
Well there is something I shoul
asked me on my birthday to marry him
and when I refused he limited that
might some day be poor: and afte
he had left, he wrote me this letter.
He read itsHJth heavy froWn. an
then shook his head. No child, there I,
no fear OF anything OF the sort--unles
you spend all the money yourself" An
ne tried TO pass off the incident with
weary smile.
who is this Mr.. Merridew. father!
He appeared to be about to answe
rharply. but checked himself. Don
worry yourself or me about him, DIV
iGsl feel tired: and he sank back on tn
sofa as If exhausted
You have Some secret that worrif
you. dearest. l wish you would te
me. 1t would be much easier for va
20 bear, II 1t is trouble OF any sor
r md you shared 1t with me-
But he waved his hand family ar
closed his eyes. as II worn out. He la
tor some minutes like this. Then !
started up suddenly and spoke wi,
great impressiveness and some sho
OF excitement
Remember what say, Olive. 70,
marriage must take place within Il
week, or It may never take place
ALL Write to Mr.. Easement that !
must be here tomorrow with all Il
documents ready for signature: and
Lord Belborough that he must be he
Tomorrow to have all completed.
mean must-MUST."
The effort appeared to exhaust hi
md when he lay back again. Olive be
down and kissed him tenderly.
Dearest. she murmured
He returned her caress and snil
up to her. Don't be scared, child; b
h ] have presentilnent that IL you a
not married at once. shall not Ii
totfsee you a wife,"
Greatly wondering and with a hea
heart. Olive wrote the letters and pas
ed an anxious sorrowful night, see
Ing In vain for some key to her fathe
sudden anxiety for the, hurrying on
the marriage.
That it was in some way connect
with the mysterious cablegram FRI
America. she could not doubt: but WI
could be the meaning OF it, or w
was the woman who signed hers'
"Rachel.' she could not even VENT
q guess.
The following morning brought i