The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-05-29
when The SWORD FELL
ev NELLIE cRAvEY GILMORE.

The head surgeon passed noiseless-
~ down the long, padded corridor of
the hospital, through the great en-
trance door, and out into the dimly
Aghted street.
Outside was an illy-clad woman,
whose eyes, strained and sunken,
were fixed upon him in the Darkness
of despair. The old, gray-haired sur
geon glanced pityingly at the hollow
cheeks, the toil-hardened fingers-the
contracted chest.
What is it?" he 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.
I saw it in the papers-all the whole
horrible story. He-merciful Cod
he is-my husband"
"He is not dead-yet. But the end
is near, I fear, and-inevitable. 1 am
glad you are here at last. They sent
for you right at once, but it 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
with him at the last! The years of
loneliness and misery that had gone
the empty, aching years that were to
come-all were forgotten-swallowed
up in the one thought that he still
cared, after everything!
Together they passed noiselessly
through the long, deserted corridors,
and up the heavily carpeted stairway
that led to the accident ward.
There was haggard, leaden look
about the face that rested so motion.
lessly 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 dimming eyes lin
gered tenderly on the woman's worn
face for a long time, then roved
around the room as though in search
of something, and closed YEARLY
again. There was an unbroken 81.
lence of several minutes.
Presently the door opened and
closed quietly, and the sound OF
quick, soft footsteps echoed through
the room. The sharpened ears of the
dying man caught the sound and he
stirred restlessly. With final effort
his glance shought that of the wife at
his side, a glance full of mute agony
and appeal.
"Forgive!" he whispered thickly. A
glazed light stole slowly over the
pleading eyes and another soul was
with it's Maker.
In daze, the woman released hef
hand from that other one, fast grow
Ing cold in death. She rose mechan-
lcally from where she knelt, and for
the 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
child with the fower-like face and
fragile form, with an infant in her
arms-this was the wife for whom he
had sent, and the child-his child!
There was terrible stress of 81
lence. The older woman noted the
spasmodic clenching of the hands
that crushed the baby to the mothers
breast and the piteous question in the
eyes which her lips refused to frame.
For a moment she was torn by bat
Ting emotions. A wild impulse rushed
over her to denounce him, his treach-
ery-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 you?"
For ten seconds the other woman's
face was as waxen as that of the dead
mans lying near. Into her face had
come a new light and her voice sound.
ed low and sweet and full of pity.
NO." she said, there was mis-
take. The name was the same.
heard rumors on the street and was
frightened-alarmed, and ran up here.
Your-your husband was dying and
HE was expecting you. He thought
that it was you who had come when
I 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 one
in a dream, and on out into the dim,
deserted street.
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