The Nevada County picayune., 1907-10-24
CHAPTER iV.-Continued.
Author of "Frenzied Finance"
tCopyright, 1907, Doubleday, Page & Col

There was a silence, and then l heard an indescrbable hnttering rush that told as plainly as sight could have done that a woman had answered her hearts call. Looking up involuntarily, I saw a sight that for a long moment held my eyes as if had been fas- cinated. It was Bob bowed forward with his face hidden in his hands and beside him, cn her knees, Beulah Sands, her arms about his neck. his head drawn down to her bosom. Bob, Bob she said chohingly, T cannot stand 1t any longer My heart is break ing for you. You were so happy when I came into your life. and the happi ness is changed to misery and despair, and all for me, a stranger. At first l thought of nothing but father and how to save him, but since that day wnen those men struck at your heart, l have been filled with, oh! such q longing to tell you, to tell you, Bob
 What? Beulah, what? For the love of God, don't stop; tell me, Beu lah, tell me" He had not lifted his head. It was buried on her breast, his arms closed around her. She bent her head and laid her beautiful. soft cheek, down which the tears were now streaming. against his brown hair. Bob, forgive me, but I love you, love you, Bob, as only woman can love who has never known love before, never known anything but stern duty. Bob, night after night when all have left l have crept into your office and sat i'll your chair. l have laid my head on your desk and cried and cried until it seemed as though I could not live till morning without hearing you say that you loved me. and that you did not mind the ruin I had brought into your life. l have patted the back of your chair where your dear head had rested. l have covered the arms of your chair. that your strong, brave hands had gripped, with kisses. Night after night l have knclt at your desk and prayed to God to shield Yon, to protect you from all harm. to brush away the black cloud l brought into your life. l have asked Him to do with me, yes, with my father and mother, anything, anything if only He would bring back to you the happiness had stolen. Bob, have suffered, suf- fered as only a woman can suffer
 She was sohbing as though her heart would break, sobbng wildly, convulsively like the little child who m the night comes to it's mothers bed to tell of the black goblins that have been pursuing it. Long before she had finished speaking it took only few heart-heats for that rush of words-l had broken the power of the fascination that held me, had turned away my eyes, and tried not to listen. For fear of breaking the spell, l did not dare cross the room to close Beulah's door or to reach the outer door of my office, which was nearer hers than it was to my desk, l waited through a silence. broken only by Beulahs weeping, that seemed hour long. Then in Bobs voice came one low sob of joy:
 "Beulah Beulah. my Beulah,'
 l realized that he had risen. rose too, thinking that now l could close the door, But again saw picture that transtiNed me. Bob had taken Reulah by both shoulders and he held her off and looked into her eyes long and ocseechinglY Never before nor since have l seen upon human face that glorious joy which the old mas ters sought to get into the faces ol their worshippers who, kneeling be fore Christ, tried 10 send to Him through their eyes. their souls grati tude and love. l stood as one en thralled. Slowly and as reverently as the living lover touches the brow of his dead wife, Bob bent his head and kissed her forehead. Again and again he drew her to him and implanted upon her brow and eyes and lips his kisses l could not stand the scene any longer l started 10 the corridor door, anC then as though for the first time either had known l was within hearing. they turned and stared at me, At last Bot gave long, deep sigh, then one oi those reluctant laughs of happiness yet wet with sobs.
 Well Jim, dear old Jim, where die you come from? Like all eavesdrop pers. you have heard no good of your self. Own up, Jim, you did not hear word good or bad about yourself. fo it is just coming back to me that W, have been selfish, that we have lief you entirely out of our business con ference"
 We all laughed, and Beulah Sands with her face bloom of burning Elashes, said; MT. Randolph. We hav