The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-12-22

of lives and happiness by this
taking of risks?
It was matter he could discuss
with no one, not even Beatrice.
He could not even tell her that they
were in danger of being turned in
to the street. His love for wife and
child was almost idoltry, he would
do anything for their sake, and he
did.
The old, old story; why linger
over it; why go on to moralizes
In short he borrowed" a few hun
dred dollars; invested, won; in
vested again, lost; and so on, time
after time, until the shortage app
palled him and was now far beyond
his reach to pay back. During this
time he had often to resort to
drink to sustain himself. People
began to notice the change in him
and spoke of it. Often his wife
would ask, what's the matter,
dear, aren't you happy? is anything
wrong?" and he was obliged to pre-
varicate. Even little Eddie accused
papa of forgetting his customary
romp with him. His sufferings and
torture were terrible, and he
thought of suicide but what of the
future? Somehow the thought of
the future stayed his hand. twas
not the fear of death, but the fear
of Eternity. If the Immortality of /,
the soul and the hereafter were a
mythical theory, then death would
be releaf. But if it was all
myth, then humanity had little to
cling to. But even if it was
! myth, it was a beautiful myth,
: beautiful hope to cling to and cher
ish the human heart. His dear old
! mother and father believed it,
' Beatrice and all his friends that
: were closest and nearest, believed
: it. And so must he, and he could
e not take his own life; besides, it
: would not hide his crime, it would
: all come out and they whom he
8 would shield would suffer most be-
v cause they loved him most. No, it
was too cowardly, he could not
t take his life.
d How suspense Furnishes her vic
d tins! waiting! waiting! Oh, cruel
/ jade! At last the blow came, came
d at night, as so many of life's TRACE
J. dies do come; the blow fell in his
e own home, at the table, with wife
r and child eating their evening meal.
A rap at the door-two Plain
s. Clothes Men, enter, they are polite
n but insistant.
II The Chief wants to see you,
& Mr.. Ovens" they said quietly.
" Beatrice knows not what it means,
le thinks some official at the bank
m wants to see him on business and
lie asks, you won't be out late, will
le you dear?" With white face and
se husky voice he tells her he is un--
at der arrest.
e what for! There must be
ID some mistake as she looks plead
ne ingly first at one officer and then
I'll the other.
10 s'I~believe, madam, there is some
v. little misunderstanding with the
r. bank people and your husband, but
Ks don't worry, it will come out all
v, right" said the officer.
n. Robert puts on his top coat, and
so kissing the streaming face of his
10 wife and clasping her to his bosom,
k, tells her not to worry, and then
Id with hasty kiss and good bye to
ad his little son, he puts On his hat,
and goes out with the officers into
d. the darkness of night.
e. Shall we go with him, dear read
it's er, or stay where we are? Which
Sc place will we be likely to witness
nd the least agony and suffering?
of Why not leave it all; why not
nd wash our hands of this tragedy and
he 90 out of sight and hearing of il
NO all? No; that won't do. We must
lly not desert this woman now, not
Id that we shall be able to offer any
st, consolation to her agonized soul
his we can only look, and weep, ane
an wonder why these things are. Blu
,he for our own good lesson, / would
He have you stay long enough to wit
ny ness suffering you may never forget
nd Offer what you can to console, an,
led then follow that husband and fathe
(CONcluded on D00e ~