The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-02-07

chance, Tom. Well, you shall have 1t.
VIII go where you go, live where you
live"
Mary" he gasped.
Christine said you needed help
Well, will try to give it to you. You
have her love. You didn't quite kill
tina as you did mine. Perhaps, II
both OF us try hard, you and togeth-
er, Tom we may be able to make her
forget the ugliest part of her life"
together? don't understand"
l am still your wife" she said. a
shrlll note creeping into her voice.
"You-you mean | won't have to go
to go to the river?" he cried.
i meant you to do that
He lifted his face, to stare about as
Il trying to convince himself that he
was really there. alive and awake.
j guess | don't quite get your mean
ing, Mary" he muttered, but his lin
gers We're beginning to tighten on
hers. You don't mean you-you are
going to take me back"
NO. | am asking you to take me
back"
He could not speak for a full min
ute or more.
You're give me another chance?
That's what you mean-that's what
you're really saying. isn't it?" lie was
fairly gasping out the words.
Yes, Tom
on" He turned and flung himself
Oh the bench, bursting into tears. Il
don't deserve til don't deserve it!
It's too much to hope for
She sat down beside him, laying her
hand on his shoulder. After a time he
grew quieter-then almost deathly
still. She shook him gently.
viii you come home with me now,
Tom? she asked. She, too. had been
crying softly.
He looked up. They were SO close
together hat She could detect the
humble. wistful look in his face. His
lips moved. but the words did not
come at once.
"Hcme with your"
Yes. We have u plans to discuss
Tom"
ITO your fathers house," he per
sisted.
Yes. He understands. | talked il
ell over with him this afternoon
Mary" he began. lingering his hat
in the extremity Of an emotion that
almost benumbed him, Il don't know
whether YOU want to hear me say 1t
but I've never stopped caring for you
1t isn't all Christine with me. just
want to tell you that
Il understand, Tom" she said, still
more gently.
Il can't take any help from youl
father he managed to say after an
other long period of silence.
He will offer nothing but his hant
and his Well wishes"
What's more, Mary, | won't accepr
anything from you. Whatever you've
got, put it aside for Christine o.
against the time when YOU may neeC
sweet to me after all. I'm going K
have a chance to be a man again.
real man-to be your husband and t
make Christine forget she was asham
ed of me. That's it. That's wha
I'm trying to say. SO, you see,
can't afford to be ashamed of myself
| can work. | know where to go
| can go alone, Mary, dear; can g
alone If YOU feel you can't stand be
ing with me-
She hesitated, weighing her words
Il have a plan, Tom, that | want Il
talk over with you. III tell you abou
it when we get home. 1t occurred Il
me this afternoon while | was max
ing preparations to leave the cit,
with you tomorrow."
"You-you had it all thought on
before YOU"
Il had it all thought out In fact
Tom, / have the railroad tickets a
~hOme-two tickets, one way
You are the most wonderful won
an in all this world, Mary. I'd di
for you a thousand times" he crieC
1t was almost a sob.
AS they turned on to the sidewal
he cast a swift, Involuntary glance a
of terror in the direction of tn
North river. She distinctly heard tn
quick intake Of his breath and tn
involuntary chatter of his teeth.
You will sleep in a good, clea
bed tonight she said, reading hi
thoughts.
Far away, in the n~eighborhood c
Broadway, a raucous-voiced newsbo
was crying his extra They kne1
hat he was shouting:
"All about the murder"
Brooks let them in. He had bee
waiting up.
Mr.. Braddock will be here owe
the night, Brooks He opened TIL
door into the library for them, an
then silently fastened upstairs.
There is a cold supper for you j
the dining room. Tom-and a piece {
a last minute wedding cake"
For an hour they discussed her pla
for the future. In the end he fell j
with it.
I'D be a dog if I didn't give in t