The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-06-12

Stephen, her husband-dying IL
the burning anguish Of hat moment
her Sn soul was as an open book
before her. The love she had buried
rose from the deeps Of her being in
an awful accusing resurrection.
Out Of her stupor and pain a pur-
pose formed itself clearly. She
must 60 to Stephen, she must beg
and win his forgiveness before it
was too late. She dared not 90
down to John and ask him to take
her to her husband. He might re-
fuse. The Phillipses had been
known to do as hard things as that.
At the best there would be a storm
of protest and disapproval on her
brothers and sisters part, and
Emily felt that she could not en-
counter hat in her present mood.
1t would drive her mad.
She lighted a lamp and dressed
herself 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 wooden shawl
hanging in the hall and erept down
stairs. With numbed fingers she
fumbled at the key of the hall door,
turned it and slipped out into the
night.
In after years that frenzied walk
through the storm and blackness
seemed as 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 it a 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 be-
fore l get to him-dOnt-don't-
DON'T" she prayed desperately, with
more of defiance than Of entreaty in
her voice; then, realizing this, she
cried out in horror. Surely some
fearsome punishment would come OF
her for such wickedness-she would
find her husband lying dead.
When Emily opened the kitchen
door of the Fair homestead, Almiri
Sentner cried out in her alarm
Who or what was this creature, Will
the white face and wild eyes, will
torn and dripping garments and dis
heyeled, wind-writhen hair, and tn.
big drops of blood trickling from
her brow. The next moment sh
recognized Emily, and her face hard
ened. She had always hated Emil
Fair.
"Where is my husband? sal,
Emily,
"You can't see him." said Mrs
Sentner, defiantly. "The doctor
won't allow anyone in the room Blu
those he's used to. Strangers ex
cite him."
The insolence and cruelty Of he.
speech fell on ~unheeding ears. Emily
understanding only that her hus
band yet lived, turned to the hal
door.
"Stand back" she said, in a voic
that was little more than a thrillinI
whisper, but which yet had in i
something that cowed Almira Sent
ner's malice. Sullenly she stoo,
/ aside, and Emily went unhindere
up the stairs to the room where tn
/ sick man lay. The two doctors i
attendance were there, with tn
trained nurse from the city. Emil
I pushed them aside and fell on he
knees by the bed. One Of the doC
tors made a hasty motion as if I
draw her back, but the other checke
him.
Tt doesn't matter now" he sale
E significantly.
! Stephen Fair turned his languit
unshorn head on the pillow. H
e dull, fevered eyes met Emily'S. b
e had not recognized anyone all da,
: but he knew his wife. Emily
whispered.
e Emily drew his head close to h
I face and kissed him passiOnately.
!, stephen, I've come back to yOl
q Forgive me-fOrgive me-say TIL
e you forgive me-"
o ITS all right, my GIRL" he sal
! feebly.