El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-16
In His Hour Of Darkness
By Philip Barnes.

~ HE old room looked warm and
comfortable in the freight.
\ The shadows had fallen early
upon that. stormy day, and darkness
was fast closing in upon a wet and
weary world. stormy gusts of wind
drove the rain upon the windows. and
moaned dreariIy in the wide chimney.
The freight cast mystic figures
upon the carpet, and over the child's
toys scattered upon the rug. The little
one, weary with play and happiness,
had fallen asleep, and now his curly
head was resting against his mother S
heart as she sat upon a low chair and
clasped him closely.
A shadow blacker and more lasting
than the shadow of night, now falling
over the landscape without, had fallen
over her life, and robbed 1t OF the
happiness which Lad appeared so sure
and lasting.
At that moment the door was opened
cautiously, and a tall man entered. She
put UP a hand to enjOin silence, and he
crept slowly towards her.
You will tire yourself with him,
he said, in a low voice. And is it not
very bad for him to sleep now, for it
will spoil his rest? Let me ring for
nurse.
mo, no." she said. Il prefer to
keep him at present It will not spoil
his rest later, and he was very tired
But what Of yOu2 He is big and
heavy; your arms will ache"
No" she answered softly. They
only ache when he is not there"
You are absurd and fanciful, Isabel
You will spoil him, and he viii become
a torment to you, trouble like his
father"
"Ah. hushr' she murmured, with
whitening face. "Hushi Even you
must not speak so of him.
And yet he has ruined your life"
he replied bitterly You who were
once so bright and happy. And I be-
Heve you forgive him all
"Oh, I have forgiven him" she said
81 should have forgiven him even If he
had deserved his punishment; but he
does nOtt'
THE judge and jury thought differ
emily" he retOrted. But there is no
end to a wOman's folly"
Nay, say rather a WOman's love-"
she said softly But tell me, you have
seen him-spoken to him today. How
is he, and what message di dhe send2'
He is WE'LL he replied cOldly. quite
well, 1 believe, and he sent no mes
sage"
mo message-none?" she breathed.
Did he not even want to know about
me and-and his bOy2"
My dear Isabel; you expect too
much To a man who has spent many
months in prison, living upon prison
fare and in degrading circumstances,
the fact that he will soon regain his
liberty is naturally more to him than
anything else"
Brian was never selfish" she said
slowly. He must have suffered ter
ribly to have changed him So
He is changed now He looks what
he is-a gloomy, hopeless convict,
hardened by prison life, and with no
prospect of anything but a return to
his evil ways"
Her eyes flashed upon him with sud
den anger.
How dare your" she breathed.
Have you forgotten that he is my
husband, the father Of my child, that
II love him."
He shrugged his shoulders.
''That, my dear Isabel. is just what
1 should like to forget. but I cannot"
You know he is not guilty Of the
crime for which he has been punished
you know"
A curious change passed over Guy
Sullivan's face as he looked at his
beautiful cousin
Il know? Ny dear Isabel, you must
be madi What do you mean2'
II don't know" she murmured Il
know he is innocent and somehow I
think you know it, too"
He laughed oddly and awoke the
child, who chung to his mother.