Mexico Missouri message., 1907-08-22
GcOpyrtsht, 1871. DOsSlSdsy. Page Aosl
CHAPTER IV.-cOntlnusd.
Aushor 81
SFrenzied Finance"

CHAPTER INs-Contlnued.
There was silence. and then
heard an indescribable fiuttering rush
that told as plainly as sight could have
done that a woman had answered her
hearts call. Looking up Involuntary.
I saw a sight that for a long moment
held my eyes IA II had been fas-
clnated. II was Bob bowed forward
with his face hidden In his hands and
beside hlin, on her kneeB, Beulah
Sands. her arms about his neck. his
head drawn down to her bosom. Bob.
Bob" she said chokingly, II cannot
stand II any longer. My heart is break
ing for you. You were so happy when
/ came into your life, and the happi.
ness Is changed to misery and despair.
and all for me, q stranger. At first
thought OF nothing but father and how
TO save him. but since that day when
those men struck at your heart, have
been filed with, oh! such 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 u 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 love you, love
you. Bob. as only a woman can love
who has never known love before.
never known anything but stern duty.
Bob. night after night when all have
left ] have crept into your ONCE and
sat in your chair. have laid my head
on your desk and cried and cried until
II seemed as though ] could not live
till morning without hearing you say
that you. loved me. and that you did
not mind the ruin had brought into
your life. have patted the back OF
your chair where your dear head had
rested. have covered the arms OF
your chair. that your strong. brave
hands had gripped. with kisses. Night
after night l have knelt at your desk
and prayed to Gcd to shield you. to
protect you from ell 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 II only He
would bring back TO you the happiness
had stolen. Bob. Ihave suffered, sui.
fered, as only a woman can suffer"
She was sobbing as though her
heart would break. sobbing wildly,
convulsively, like the little child who
in the night comes to Its mothers bed
to tell of the black COLLINS that have
been pursuing II. Long before she
had finished speaking-and 1t took
only few heart-beats for that rush OF
words-I 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, did
not dare cross the room to close
Beulah's door or to reach the outer
door OF my ONCE, which was nearer
hers than It was TO my desk. waited
through a silence. broken only by
Beulah's weeping. that seemed hour
long. Then in Bob's voice came one
low sob Of Joy:
''Beulah. Beulah, my Beulah!"
/ realized that he had risen. rose
too. thinking that now l could close
the door. But again / saw a picture
that transfixed me. Bob had 'tAkeI
Beulah by both shoulders and he held
her OF and looked into her eyes lonG
and beseechlngly. Never before mol
since have seen upon human face
that glorious Joy which the old mas
ters sought to get into the faces o.
their worshippers who. -kneeling be
fore Christ, tried TO send to Him
through their eyes. their souls graft
tude and love stood as one en-
thralled Slowly and as reverently al
the living lover touches the brow o
his dead wife. Bob bent his head Rnt
Kissed her forehead. Again and agaiI
he drew her TO him and implanted upoI
her brow and eyes ard lips his kisses
could not stand the scene any longer
started to the corridor door. ans
then, as though for the FIRST time eithe
had known was within hearing. the.
turned and stared At me. At last Boil
gave a long. deep sigh, then one o
those reluctant laughs OF happiness
yet wet with sobs.
well, Jim, dear old Jim. where dil
you come from? Like all eayesdror
pers, you have heard no good OF your
self. Own up. Jin, you did not hear
word good or bad about yourself. 70
It is Just coming back 10 me that "
have been selflHh. that We have lei
you entirely out Of our business coz
terence"
we all laughed. and Beulah Sands
with her face bloom Of hurnin
nlushsa, said; sMr. Randolph, Ho hAE