Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1913-03-15
CHAPTER Xxx.
What Cheer of the Haryest7


all They had advanced across the
hall toward the gold room, or library
"Oh, Charley, Charley! Don't be-
gin. wait a little" she walled. AT
least till tonight, till afternoon.
don't know what to say yet. / don't
know what to do! Let US see him
first, and tell him.
Look about you," he commented
grimly. You're going to lose all this
all these splendid. beautiful things"
Il don't mind losing them. / want
to be poor. Oh. my God! Just to be
loved, and clean! Charley, can we?'
But why choose me? There are
so many others!"
"All like Mr.. Rawn himself-men
crazed of money. power, selfishness. !
wanted something different. Do you
think it could have been my fathers
old ideas coming out in me, so late?
He came of family of revolutionists
Independents; 'Progressives,' they
call them now. Something of his be-
liefs-I don't know what it was"
But you'll have to leave him in any
case. Divorce is simple enough. You
know what l would have done, and
done. also. in any case. Grace and l.
Yes, | know all about everything.
Everything's past" she said despair
ingly. Were dead. It's all overt"
Il ought to go?" he asked vaguely.
yes, pretty soon. But suppose
you'll have to see Grace, and-to-night
III have to see"
He bowed his head. Yes, we've got
to pay that part first The best we
can do and all we can give ought to
be enough for him"
She turned, left him, passing
through the great doors to the central
rooms within. Following her still, he
found her at the stair and joined her.
There approached them now, with
hasty tread and face somewhat ex-
cited. the medical man who had been
for so many days now In attendance
upon Grace Rawn and her child. He
had come on his morning visit unno-
ticed by them.
All" he began, I'm glad to find
you, Mrs. Rawn-and you, Mr.. Halsey
I've been looking for you-Come!
Come quickly!" His face showed
plainly his agitation.
rs there anything vrong?" demand
ed Halsey sharply. What's the
trouble?"
1T is my duty to tell you the truth. 4"
began the doctor. your wife is a
very sick woman. indeed"
81 know that, yes"
But not the worst until this morn
ing. until just now. Something"
I've been here in the house wait
ing-why did you not call me?" be-
gan Halsey clumsily.
You must not waiti" the doctor
interrupted him, taking him by the
arm and Fastening toward the stair
way.
They followed him up the stair,
down the upper hall, TO the rooms
which had been set apart of late days
for Grace and her child, quarters al
too unfamiliar to HaIsey himself
They found Grace Halsey, faint and
gasping, half sitting in her bed, clasp
ing the child In his arms, herself toe
weak now longer to hold it up. Hal.
sey. stricken with sudden horror, ran
to take the child in his own arms.
The truth was obvious. Even as he
| lifted the poor crippled form in his
arms, the head fell back, helpless. The
eyes glazed, turned back uncovered
Halsey cried out aloud. He turned
about. dazed; horror and helplessness
were on his face. II was to Virginia
Rawn he turned, as to the other part
of himself.
1t was Virginia Rawn who took from
him the feeble, misshapen body, gath.
ering IL into his own arms. She gaZed
intently, frovning, grieving a woman's
grief over suffering, bending over its
face; her own face held back over II
when she saw the truth. Then she
passed him and placed the body Of the
child upon its cot nearby. covering II
gently.
Grace, Gracel" sobbed Halsey. He
| fell upon his knees at his wife's bed
side. She did not see him, did not REQ
ognize him, although she turned q
questioning face toward. him. Ne
too" he cried. 81 want to 60!
want to die and end IT. Everything's
wrong :"
Come" said the doctor presently
''it's too late now. I'll call for you
after time" He took Halsey by the
arm and led him from the room. Re
turning, he signed for Virginia Rawn
also to leave the sick chamber Left
alone, the medical man turned TO the
professional nurse in attendance
Keep it quiet" he said. 1T would
hurt my prsctIce-do you hear7"
He kicked beneath the bed a small
broken vial. and wiped away the stain
from the lips of the dying woman.
The doctor. of course, had his guess
the public its guess, the daily papers
theirs. The truth was, Grace Halsey,
by butler route. had learned of the
49, 4.