The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-07-07

| giveness before 1t was too late. She
| dared not go down to John and ask
| him to take her to her husband. lie
might refuse. The Phillipses had been
! known TO do as hard things as that.
AT best there would be storm OF pro-
and sisters part, and Emily felt that
she could not encounter that in her
present mood. II would drive her mad.
She lighted lamp and dressed her.
self noiselessly, but with feverish
haste. Then she listened. The house
was very still Amelia and John had
gone TO bed She wrapped herself in
a heavy woolen shawl hanging in the
hall and crept downstairs. With
numbed fingers she fumbled at the
key of the hall door, turned it ami
slipped out into the night.
In after years that frenzled walk
through the storm and blackness SEEM
ed an unbroken nightmare to Emily
Fairs recollection. Often she fell.
Once as she did so a Jagged, dead limb
of fir struck her forehead and cut in ii
cash that marked her for life. As
she struggled to her feet and found
her way again, the blood trickled down
over her face.
''Oh, God, don't let him die before
get to him-don' n't-don't-dont she
prayed desperately, with more of de-
fiance than of entreaty in her voice;
then, realizing this, she cried out in
horror. Surely some fearsome punish
ment would come on her for such wick
edness-she would find her husband
lying dead
When Emily opened the kitchen door
of the Fair homestead, Almira Sent
ner cried out in her alarm. Who or
what was this creature, with the white
face and the wild eyes, with torn and
dripping garments and disheveled,
wind-writhen hair, and the big drops
of blood trickling from her brow. The
next moment she recognized Emily,
and her face hardened. She had al
ways hated Emil Fair.
What do you want here?" she asked
harshly.
Where is my husband?' said EN-
lily.
You can't see him." said Mrs. Sent
ner, defantly. THE doctors won't al
low anyone in the room, but those he's
used to. Strangers excite him."
The insolence and the cruelty of her
speech fell on unheeding ears. Emily
understanding only that her husband
yet lived, turned to the hall door.
Stand back she said, in a voice
that was little more than a thrilling
whisper, but which yet had in il some
thing that cowed Almira Sentner's
malice. Sullenly she stood aside, and
Emily went unhindered up the stairs
to the room where the sick man lay.
Emily pushed them aside and fell OIL
her knees by the bed One OF the doc
tors made hasty motion as If TO draw
her back, but the other checked him.
ut doesn't matter now" he said, sig
nificantly.
Stephen Fair turned his languid, un-
shorn head on the pillow. His dull,
fevered eyes met Emily's. He had not
recognized anyone all day, but he knew
his wife. Emily" he whispered.
Emily drew his head close TO her
face and kissed him passionately.
stephen, I've come back 10 you.
Forgive me-forgive me-say that you
forgive me-
ITS all right, my girl" he said fee
bly,.
She buried her face in the pillow be-
side his with a sob.
In the wan, gray light of the autumn
dawn the old doctor came to the bed
side and lifted Emily TO her feet. She
had not stirred the whole night. Now
she raised her white face with dumb
pleading in her eyes. The doctor
glanced at the sleeping man on the
bed.
"Your husband will live, Mrs. Fair"
he said, gently. Il think your COM
ing saved him. His joy turned the
ebbing tide in favor of life"
Thank Cod" said Emily Fair
Springfield Republican.