The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-06-23

John Thurlow sat alone in his
office, lotg after his one solitary clerk
had take1 his departure. There were
no inducements for him to do other
wise, for the word home had no at
traction for him. A modest fiat in
Harlem, and cross-grained old
housekeepsr, were all that word rep
resented to John Thurlow.
Eight years before, when he was
but one and twenty, he had taken
over control of small but prosperous
business owned by his father, in order
that the latter might retire to a quiet
country home in Morristown, n. ].
On that same day, too, he had mar
ried a pretty girl of ninet 'en, whom
he had known from childhood. He
had loved her then with a depth Of
devotion which had overmastered
every other thought. But he was
quiet and undemonstrative by ma
ture-while she was full of life and
sparkling vivacity. All his wants and
aspirations were realized in the quiet
saIctity OF their newly-made home.
But she-though loving him no less
dearly-was not so easily satisfied.
For life under any circumstances was
to her dull and monotonous without
the 2ayeties Ind pleasures to which
she had grown accustomed.
OF course, she had her way. Invi-
tations to balls, theatre parties, and
every other form Of amusement were
never declined, and pretty Mrs. Thur
low seldom spent two consecutive
evenings by her own fireside. John
accompanied her, and watched her as
she fitted here and there among the
guests, and his heart yearned for the
quieter pleasures of home and the
presence Of the woman he loved. He
saw how she was admired, even by
the men about her, and gradually
very gradually at first-there grew
up within him the first bitter seeds
of jealousy and distrust.
At first he expostulated with her
In a quiet way, but she only pouted
and sulked like willful child, until
in very despair he yielded the point,
and she once more had her way. But
his jealousy was not so easily
silenced. Day by day 1t grew, and
distorted every word or look which
she bestowed upon others. At last he
could endure 1t no longer, and, in
moment OF anger. gave utterance to
the cruel thoughts and suspicious
which had filled his mind so long and
made his life so miserable.
Look you!' he said, stepping close
up to her and regarding her steadily.
You have made my life a misery.
I thought you better than all other
womer-I find You worse! Go your
own way. then. and 1 will go mine!"
And, turning upon mis- heel, he went
to his room. hastily packed his few
personal belongings, and left the
house for ever.
Through all the seven long years
which had interviewed since that un-
happy day ne had never once heard of
MS deserted wife. He had not even
arranged for her support, and she,
smartiLg under his shameful accusa-
tions, had been too proud to compel
him to fulfill this legal obligation.
AS he eat at his desk in that quiet
counting-Eousc there seemed to be =
voice within him which rose I'D in
protest against his injustice and cru
city.
He got up and paced 70 and fro In
the narrow office. 1t was quite dark
by this time, so he took u match from
lis pocket and lit the gas Then he
resumed his walk. Everything had
gone wrong with him =: late. He had
speculat' rretty freely, and loss had
succeede loss, until he felt almost
AFRAID tt examine his bank-book and
see how the balance stood at his
bankers.
He had not felt himself for some
lew days past. Early the previous
week, while riding from the Office on
his bicycle, he had collided with a
heavy conveyance. and severely in
Jured his head. The fall had dazed
him for few moments, but he had
sufficiently recovered to proceed to
his home, where his injuries were
dressed. For few days he remained
ind9eys, as his face was somewhat
tF sdred by the fall. But business
cares had weighed upon him, and he
was soon back at the Office once
more.
But for an occasional numbness in
tne head he now felt little the worse
for his mishap. And yet he felt ner-
Vous and uneasy. A sense of impend-
Ing calamity seemed to be brooding
over his head. His mind persistently
returned to the girl whom he had
once loved 80 dearly, and of whom he
had been SO unreasonably jealous.
With a frown he went back to his
desk, and, opening his business diary