The Jasper news., 1908-12-03
ssFrOIla Death to Life"
tCsxtinHed From pasr ~

II have not But Miss Ball has given
you your freedom and desires you to ac-
'If I believed that ] would be the hap
piest man on earth. But do not believe
it. When I think Of what my grief would
be if Anna were to marry another, cam
not live and feel the possibility ahat am
the living. daily cause OF such grief in
another. Tyler, my boy, you have lost ]
release you and will keep my Saturday
night engagement alone"
II refuse to accept release. But If two
women love you. two will grieve when
you are gone"
Grief for the dead can be endured.
More 1 knew that Anna would not sell her
love for money. know that she viii not
marry me ii tell her the truth that an
other woman lives unmarried because /
have been faithiess."
The next day Edward Tyler called once
more on Catherine Ball.
II have failed to convince him" he said.
pale and grave. "It n not vanity which
makes him believe in your love for him.
It is his profound aiiiwillingness to take
chances with your happiness and his desire
to give you the supreme proof of repent
ance for what, after all. was not his fault.
My life cannot be saved. His may / am
going to sacrifice my life fer his. ara
going to ask sou also dor sacrifice.
Wrongly as he has acted he has shown,
his appreciation of what he has done and
is Wiling to die in what he faacies atone
ment. His life must be spared for the
sake of his friends, for his own sake, for
the goods works which he will do"
"And what do YOU ask of me? What
can do to assure him Of what he will
not beliexeT
,,,:u ,.,.tt c,~,,,
TO do so. that he may be convinced and
return to the girl who loves him. Listen,
Miss Ball, to the proposal. fantastic
though it may seem. which is tlie only
way of saving this man, infatuated wifi,
his mad design Let the minister be
called and perform a ceremony by which.
in appearance. your life will be united to
mine. It, will be in appearance only and
not for long. A marriage certificate will
be provided to be shown, if he does not
believe. as he will. your letter. He will
feel at last that he may live. A few hours
more and yon wiil know that my life has
CEASED and you will be as free as ever,
None need know but the faithful clergy
nina and yonr chosen witnesses. Even
for those few hours my name will not be
disgrace. My parents were poor. but
there were none of better, more honorable
race. My own life has never been stained
by dishenorabie deed. The certificate car
be made bearing the name of Edward
Milford, my whole name being Edward
Milford Tyler. Thus MIR. Brewster would
fad to understand"
And would you really take your life ia
save that selfish man who drags others
down TO death with such sfiaconccrn?"
at is a fnadness caused by his suffer.
ing" Tyler responded. Few care for me
c. h. J..
should | mot sacrifice thai which 1 owe to
him alone?"
Have you not a love, sweetheart, whr
would MOURN you as Charles's would himi
None Tor whom you yourself great!
care?-
/, Tyier's face flushed to deepest crimson
II will speak The truth. Boyish fanciel
aside. have never cared for any woman,
save one. That ene--pardon. my darling
for speak but the words Of ono about II
die--is yourself. The feeling that hat
but a few, days to live has forced int'
hours the experience OF years. have seen
admired. reverenced. loved. The sacriic
of my life. is less because If I lived tn
greatest wish of my life never might b
attained"
Il wiil agree to what you say" she said
abruptly.
"A NOTE was Dispatched and the rninistc
came and an the presence OF the oidc
sergants, who were pledged 20 secrecy. III
marriage ceremony was performed. Tn
! marriage certificate bore the bridegroom
! full name, for Catherine rightly insiste
! that Its production was unnecessary The
!: she wrofe acttcr to Brewster
Il have bcen married this day" she said
/ ito man whom. esteem above all other
! have eyer met Your folly in persistin
!. in your unworthy suicidal dcsiga has has
tened that marriage. but assure SOU
. would have taken place IN any event.