The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-03-06
A note for you. Dick"


the messenger and thrust it into his
hands. Marsden took it mechanically
and jammed it into his pocket-and
forgot it. When things had quieted
bit. and he had returned to his private
office, he recollected and pulled out the
note breaking the seal in sort of
daze. He glanced at the handwriting
trifle impatiently at first. But sud
denly his eyes swan red. A little
hoarse cry caught in his throat and
he turned ashen. Jack very ill-per-
haps dying-perhaps dead! He did
not wait to read the letter through,
but with groan turned and tore his
way through the congested throngs
that packed about the doors.
He forgot that there had ever ex-
listed such a thing as copper; Wall
street faded into oblivion. When he
reached the house an ominous still
ness reigned outside and in. His
knees shook under him as he stag
gered up the stairs. With his trem-
bling fingers on the doorknob he stood
painting for breath, fearing to open the
door. But after minute he controlled
himself and went in. The child was
SAI'ihe oh tiiC hooi, pldyiu Win SOiAAS
toys. The nurse was darning in
corner and Kathleen was nowhere in
evidence.
jack
Marsden's relief was so great that
he sank into a chair. his breath almost
sobbing through his white lips. He
was perfectly limp after the strain of
the past hour, but every other emotion
was swallowed up in the feeling of in
tense thankfulness that enveloped
him. When he had collected himself
sufficiently, he spoke:
where is your mistress, Zella?" He
turned to the maid.
she went out, saying she would be
back in time for luncheon"
But she-she sent me a note, did
she not?'
Yes, sir; I think she did"
Marsden pondered the situation be-
whereby, slow light forcing it's
way on his brain. 1t was probably a
mere device, a trick of Kathleens to
break him up in the Street. He had
explained to her that it would be i'm
possible for him to stay at home at
this particular time and she-this was
her-revenge! Tears, reproaches,
threats-she had melted them out in
plenty to carry her point, and failing,
she had deliberately essayed this last
outrage. Well, she had succeeded
at last. His summary absence at the
most critical period had doubtless lost
him his last penny. This recalled him
to the necessity for immediate action,
NJ ho nd to toll
and rang up his brokers. 1t was as he
had thought. 1t was too late now to
cover; everything had been swept
away by the rapid break in prices
A curious feeling of revulsion sud
denly came over Marsden. If, indeed,
Kathleen cared SO deeply as all this,
then why not reconcile himself to the
| life of toll that, in his penniless state,
stretched inevitably before him? Aft
| er all, perhaps life in it's simpler So
luton, held much greater joys than
he knew!
Presently a door opened downstairs
Steps approached and in another mo-
ment the nursery door was thrown
open.
/ Mrs. Marsden came in nervously,
very pale, her dark eyes shrinking
| from her husbands quick glance.
There was transitory hurt look in
his face, but he accused her by neither
word nor gesture.
| She paused half way across the
floor. Her eyes were bright, her lips
beginning to culver.
Dick" she said, penitently, "Dick,
forgive mel"
For space he made no answer, and
she bent forward, clasping her hands.
II was mad, beside myself" she hur-
riedly on in little gasping way, mad
10 think there was nothing could take
you away from-from that; not for a
single day-not for single hour! L
a devil entered my heart-I was de-
termined to" Her voice trailed off
to a whisper, and she stopped, breath
| foot.
Marsden rose and laid an affection.
ate hand across her shoulder, drawing
her over to him.
Never mind, little girl" he said j;
I'm afraid that I haven't always
treated you just fair and right in my
blind selfishness. And in the long run
| am the more to blame. But well
start life all over again-in earnest
All these things will have to go. OF
course, but we are both young and
we have each other. I am strong
enough to do any sort of work"
What do you mean?"
She had fallen back. her hand going
to her throat as though she felt stifled
He looked at her in perplexity, his
eyes clouding.
why, it is quite clear, isn't it? ]
had to leave right in the midst of a
crisis. I threw down everything.
did not even think to arrange with
anyone about protecting my stock
The boy was dying, as 1 thought-as