The Glenwood post., 1913-12-13
WHEN THE SWORD FELL
~ NELLIE cRAvev csLLMc,E.

The head sufgeoo passed noiseless-
ly down the long. psdAeA corria.r of
the hospital, through the great en-
trance door. and out into ths Ainly
lighted street
Outside was N nly-claA WOMAN.
whose eyes. strained aad sunkea.
we're fixed upon him In the blankness
of despair. The old. gray-haireA sur
seon glanced pityingly At the hollow
cheeks, the toll hardened hngers-ths
contracted chest.
What is it," - asked, gently.
"You-you are the surgeon At the
hospital! Tell me; ISIS he dead!
The man who was injured this morn
ing-crushed between l. cars on For
ty-fifth street; Dick Endell, you know.
l saw it in the papers-all the whole
horrible story. He-merciful Cod
he is-my hust lnd!"
He is not dead-yet. But the end
is near, fear. and-inevitable. l am
gaad you are here at last. They sent
for you right At once. but 1t seemed
you were not at home and the mes
sage was delayed. Come with me.
There isn't any time to lose"
Her heart was beating With the first
Joy It had known for ten long years.
He had wanted her to come-to be
Ionsliness and misery that had gone.
the empty. aching years that were to
coms-all we're Observation-Disclosures
up in the one thought that he still
cared. after everything!
Together they passed noiselessly
through the long, deserted corridors.
aud up the heavily carpeted stairway
that led to the accident ward.
There was . haggard, leaden look
about the face that rested 10 motion.
iessly against the pillow and the pale
lips were already smiling to meet
the kiss Of death.
Slowly, falteringly. the woman stole
forward and knelt down by the cot
She laid her hands on the injured
mans cold. inert fingers.
Dick" she called, softly. The eye
lids quivered for . second. then raised
themselves heavily. A faint look OF
recognition passed over the pallid fea.
lures. followed by one Of INFINITE de-
spair. The fast dimmins eyes lin.
gered tenderly ON the woman's worn
around the room ~ though in search
of something, and closed wearily
again. There was an unbroken st
tence Of several minutes.
Presently tie Aoor opeaed and
ssessA 0ssstly, a1A ths so11d q
quick, soft footstsps echoed through
Ae room. Ths sAarpsnsd safs Of the
tying naa caught tAa sos.1 and -
utirreA restlessly. With . Anal effort
his giance shouSht that q the wife e
sis sids. . glance fsll of nsts agony
and appeal.
"Forsivs!" hs whispered tAickly. 4
Iiassd light stole slowly over the
pleading eyes and another soul was
with it, Maker.
In . daxe. the woman released her
hand from that other one, fast grow
ng cold in death. She rose mechan-
lcally from where she knelt, and for
he FIRST time turned her eyes toward
the newcomer. A wave Of sickening
apprehension swept over her at a con-
fused realization of the wretched
truth. This other woman, then-this
:hild with the hower-like face and
fragile form. with an infant In her
,rms-this was the wife for whom he
had sent, and the child-his child
There was terrible stress Of ST
'ence. The older woman not the
spasmodic clenching of the hands
hat crushed the baby to the mothers
breast and the piteous question in the
eyes which her lips refused to Frame
For q moment she was torn b. bat
ling emotions. A wild impulse rushed
over her to denounce him. his tgeach-
sry-three ruined lives the forfeit
After awhile the younger spoke.
Her voice was harsh with pain:
Tell me-for Gods sake-are YOU
was he anything-to your"
For ten seconds the other wrrsp's
tace was ~ waxen as that Of Il I'd
mans lying near. Into her fa Id
some . new light and her voice Cl-d-
ed low and sweet and full Of p
NO." she said, there was lis
ake. The name was the ss I
heard rumors on the street al al
frightened-alarmed. and ran u rr-e.
Your-your husband was dyiig nd
the was expecting you. He tneueht
that It was you who had come wGen
{ entered the room. We've knew
that he was dying and-and had not
the heart to undeceive him"
She went down the stairway as enc
In q dream, and O out fnto the din.
deserled street.
(Cvoyrisht b. D0l1y 0eoey PuA Cal
Tiny Eissefte 0yWa0e.