Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-11-07
CHAPTER ].
Into the Maelstron,.

In the afternoon of April twelfth, OF
the maelstrom Of mystery and tragedy
into which l was about to plunge |
was worried and anxious, 1t is true,
but only as every young man is who
dnds himself for the first time deeply
In love. There was no portent Of evil.
40 foreshadowing Of the terrible chain
OF events that all but destroyed my
belief in my fellow-man, and left its
mark so deep upon my memory that l
do not believe time ever can wholly
efface It.
Even now that 1t Is all ended, and
the shadow which hung so heavily
ovsr the household of my sweetheart
has been lispelled and the hand whose
deyilish ingenuity brought shame and
grief and wreck to SO many innocent
lives L. paying the penalty behind
prison bars-even now ] shudder at
the sight Of anything yellow. A scrap
Of yellow paper wildly recalls and |
fear always viii recall-the painful
events Of the last few weeks.
had been waiting ever since my re-
turn from court for telephone mes
sage that had not come-the word
from Louise which felt would decide
my fate. / had written to her the
night before, asking If might go to
her In the afternoon to speak on sub
5ect Of Importance. knew she would
understand the object OF my letter.
though all that ] had asked was that
she would telephone me earlier than
four whether she would be at home
From my window had watched the
great hand on the Metropolitan tower
clock creep slowly to twelve. As the
chimes began to sing the hour of four
felt that could bear the suspense
no longer. Message or no message, /
would go to her at once. Before the
vibrant note of "On-n-n-n-e" had died
away closed my desk withsa bang.
As the fourth stroke reverberated !
stood with hat and overcoat on, my
hand on the knob of my Office door,
hoping yet to hear my telephone ring
dmpatiently ! waited minute and
then dashed toward the elevator. The
telephone, learned afterward, rang
almost the minute I was out of the
room and Lcuise's voice called fran.
tically for me, but ! was not there to
hear.
TWAS only short walk up Madison
avenue to the home of General Far.
rish, the father of Louise. With the
doubt that possesses every lover on
such mission as this, walked it
now laggardly. as misgivings filed my
heart. now. Quickening my pace as
hope routed my fears. As turned
the corner into, the street where the
Parrish home Is situated my steps
were leaden. What right had to ask
Louise Parrish to be my wife? The
daughter OF man worth many mil
lions, q girl Of exquisite beauty and
Of many accomplishments, one who
could choose husband where she
wiiled-What right had to hope that
she would ever consent to become the
wife Of struggling young lawyer
such ais I? To be sure, my family was
Of the best With my earnings anc
the modest little fortune my father
had left me would be able to provide
for her. But as yet, though my pros
poets were bright, amounted to moth
Ing in, my profession 1t would b
years before could hope to give M
wife the Injuries to which Louise Far
rish had been accustomed.
On the other hand, / felt that witt
Louise as my wife could do grea
things loved her with great love
1 felt that her affection and companion
ship would be inspiration enough To-
any man to conquer the world.
hoped that she loved me. recalled
the trifles which seemed to show, a
least, that she found pleasure In m,
Society. tried to comfort myself, too
by remembering that General Farrisl
was self-made man, that when h
married he was as poor as |, If no
poorer. | knew that he liked me AM
had confidence in me. Was it then
after all. asked myself. presuminj
In me to hope that Louise would lis
ten to me and that her father woul,
cnnsent to her becoming my wife
yet, why had she not telephoned?
As l dragged my hesitating fee
across the street was aroused frou
my reverie by the rush ofsan automc
bile that all but knocked me over
With an angry imprecation at sue
reckless driving glanced up an
recognised the man who occupied ii
He was standing beside his chauffeur
as II ready to leap out It was Dot
tor Wilcox, noted practitioner VIII
attended the Rarrish family, and whoI
I had met at their home. / plunge
forward in anxious dismay as | ga,
the machine halt before the FarIs
door and the doctor jump out and III
up the steps.
My first. my only thought, was {
Louise. What could have happened
She must be desperately Ill. as tn
doctors haste suggested Did not thi
explain her failure to telephone? Coul
1t be that she was dead? Whs
thoughts flashed through my mind
cannot anaIyze further. only kno'
I reached the house but step benin
the doctor. He had hardly passe
through the door when |, too. dun
myself into the han and stood thel
swaying. with not voice enough to as