The Detroit times., 1910-01-08

In view. played the hypocrite. and
let her think me every simple kind
OF fool she wished. derived n bit
ter-sweet satisfaction from the game.
for on ner part she pretended to be
ardently attached to me. We spent
the hours building castles in the air.
weaving pretty fancies OF love In a
cottage. and long life shared to-
gether. She said she had friend, an
old kind-hearted gentleman. whom she
could depend upon 10 find me some
employment, as soon as | was per-
fectly restored TO health. | was then
to turn over a new leaf and live an
honest, hard-working life, and she
would be my wife, my comforter, my
devoted helpmate to the end. IL was
very pretty dream, but the strange
, and bitter feature Of ii was that |
sighed for II to come true. | was
tired of my rascality. My long Ill
ness had made a changed man OF me,
and n | could have believed In Mar
ions ayowals. I would have been as
happy as a king TO mend my ways for
her sweet sake. and never do shady
thing again. Once or twice tried my
pest 10 lnuuCt utt W tApioih W liz
the mysteries connected with Sir
Chas. Venner's secret society OF con,
sumptives which had been unable
TO fathom. On that subject, however,
she maintained an adamantine reti-
cence.
The drama took another week to
play out. BY that time | was quite out
OF danger, and. although still painful
Iy feeble. my physician assured me
that | should soon be able to leave
my bed Marion's Joy at that knew
no hounds She covered me with
kisses. and insisted that she should
write forthwith TO her old friend. to
inform him of her whereabouts, and
the hopes she reposed In him for our
happiness and welfare.
"What Is his name. sweetheart" |
asked. I had not troubled TO Inquire
before.
She gave me bright smile. I'll
tell you on our wedding day." she
replied. 1T is a little surprise that
am keeping for you. dear
Nv thought was She Is after all.
moor hand at invention" I felt con-
yinced that she was simply paving
the way with her letter for her escape.
and when she went out to post It, |
cried aloud in my bitterness OF spirit:
Tomorrow morning there will come
telegram, and she will leave mel"
So II happened, She was seated by
nv bed reading me the morning
journals, when. OF a sudden. knock
sounded on the door. and q walter en-
tered with a wire upon salver. For
Nurse Hampton" he announced.
such was the name she gave the hotel
Marion started up with little cry
of delight that echoed itself In
anguish in my heart. | knew what
that envelope contained as we'll as
she. Holding my breath. | watched
her with critical intentness. But I
had no fault to find. To the very last
she maintained her part, playing II
like the unimaginably perfect actress
that she was. Tearing II open. she
read it's contents with an expression
OF happy expectation. which quickly
changed before my eyes to fear and
passionate concern.
Mon Dieu!" she gasped. and crush
ing up the paper In her hand. she
turned to me. Agar" she cried. "he
is very Ill. dying they say. and he
needs me. must go 10 him at once!"
had expected II. expected IL for
DAYS, and vet. none the less. the blow
was stunning when II fell Indeed. In
my experience, Il Is always the long
prevised calamity which causes most
dismay. For a while could not speak.