The Cairo bulletin., 1910-07-02
The Hour of Decision

tween the windows, Upon II lay a
man soft rug was thrown ac-
ross his knees, beside the couch was
a stand laden with pitfalls and bot
ties, from among which two stood
forth conspicuously, in close proX
Unity to the recumbent figure, one
bottle OF wine. the other contain
ing laudanum. The Young mans
cheeks were followed as by recent
illness, the long, thin fingers alter
| nately smoothed and recreased the
| letter which he held, one evidently
but just received; suddenly his fng-
ers paused In their hitherto mechan-
fcal movements, then with quick,
nervous energy he tore the letter
into shreds: for moment he held
the fragments In his hand, then let
them fiutter to the floor YEARLY he
closed his eyes. but even then, de-
spite the darkness, the words OF the
letter danced before his aching eye
balls as though written in flaming
characters, those cruel, heartless
words The letters had read as fol-
lows: ITO Mr. David Dalcourt;
My Dear David Il write to tell
you OF my engagement to Mr.. Rich
ard Armstrong; he has asked ME to
be his wife, and realizing how hope
less our engagement was, mere
boy and girl affair when We parted,
fave accepted him. Indeed. David,
cannot but think our feeling for
one another was nothing but fool,
ish fancy. mistaken idea, | feel
that In some way | have fettered
YOU shackled you acted as hin
ORANGE TO your career: doubtless you
would have done better had no
thoughts of me disturbed you, rem
dered your hand less skilful am
confident that entirely freed from
me you will be able to devote your
time more successfully, with greater
results than any you have yet seemed
able TO achieve. You remember the
old saying, Art is long and time is
fieeting the waiting has been so
long, so purposeless, SO utterly de-
void OF promise for the future, and
Mr. Arpstrong has been SO import
innate of late, is 80 DESTROYS of max
ing me his wife that | have yielded.
Indeed, David, can say confidently
| think 1t Is much better so, and that
even If you do not see 1t now IN
quite. the same light you will later,
In a little while Most sincerely
Evelyn Graham.
Married to Armstrong, the rich
broker. A man old enough to be
ner father. A cold cynical man of
the world: a man who had seen life
In ali It's phases, who had drained
the cup to the last dregs Now he
sought her out In all her youth and
beauty as the one he deemed fittest
TO preside over ais household. to
dispense hospitality at his board.
And she. what OF her; what Of
the protestations of love she had
showered upon him, OF unwa ering
affection, OF love that only burned
the brighter in protracted. absence.
Had he not noticed the growing
coldnees in her letters? Had they
not coce at longer. more infrequent
intervals? His nails bit deep into
his palms. or what good now was
| the letter which had come last even
ing announcing his success. In an
instant he had sprung from a poor,
| obscure, unknown artist to one richy
| famous, the talk of the day. All
three OF HIS pictures had been hung,
two we're already sold, at what to
| him seemed q fabulous price.
He remembered the citation Of the
previous evening when no had brok-
en- the seal; in what fever OF de-
light he had read with what trans
ports OF happiness he had begun the
letter to Evelyn telling her of his
success, pouring out his heart to
her, till at length overcome by weak
| ness engendered by hi severe sick
ness the pen had slipped from his
trembling fingers,
Now he had lost her Yes, It was
true that he had achieved success,
! was admittedly master in his chos-
en- profession could that In time
| suffice him? Art he knew was a
most exacting mistress, could she
compensate for all that he had lost =?
Long he lay there, the firelight
! played upon the floor and cast fan
tastic shadows on the walls; still he
lay motionless. The little clock
licked steadily upon the mantle tell
ing of the flight OF time. The short
December day was drawing to a
close; gloom was enshrouding the
room, when suddenly the inert figure
started into life He sat erect upor
the couch, the fire of determination
shone in the dark eyes, the line.
about the clean cut mouth were
tense and rigid. every muscle vibrant
with emotion. With hand tina
never faltered he lifted one of thu
two bottles that stood near him OF
the table, slowly he withdrew thu
| oorly ond rourpd tho contents into