The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-02

.nat nre with nrm wouio nave Desa
an impossibility.
Now she sat beside her wfndCwx
thinking over the past. Life haA
never given her much. First II ha6
offered her the love of a worthless
scapegrace. then the measured 49,
lection Of mature man, and neither
fulfilled the demand that her naturQ
made.
But Harry loved me-" abe thougAt
and felt that that atoned for allss
The future looked black and disma141
Her heart felt very tender toward
Harry at that moment.
She murmured his name az She
sat by the window. And, even -
she invoked it man stepped through
the shadows of the naples. He came
toward her and stood beneath her
window. resting his arms upon the
sill. Esther clutched at the window
frame. 1t was Harry! He had CONES
back on her wedding eve.
Esther. 1t is H. he whispered. ~
have come back to you"
She stared at him incredulously and
then recoiled-
You are too late she muttered.
Don't you know what evening this
is OH Then, With rising passion
why did you not come before?" she
cried,
Il couldn't come before" he ana
swered You made the conditions.s
must have five hundred dollars.
What did / care for five hundreds
dollars, except as a proof that YOU
were able to make some sacrifices
for mel" she cried.
But / have 1t now. and In my
pocket" he answered. Come, DEAR
We can start housekeeping on that
Housekeeping" she repeated the
commonplace word with something
of mockery You are mad. Harry
Do you think | would break my en-
gagement with Senator Pryce Mt tht4
eleventh hour and steal away ike r.
thief? Why"--she laughed hystsrfO{
ally--"the wedding arrangements ar4
all made; the dinner Is ordered; tho
guests have received their inv1tad
tons"
She burst into hysterical sobs an1
when he took her in his arms ul4e
felt that she had not the strength m
resist longer. His love had m1anS
more to her than she had let evon(
her own soul know.
Harry, I will come with you" ~
said. raising her head. "AnywhGoi
She stepped out through tho wf1f
dow and they faced each other n f04
garden outside Nobody was st1r11n
In the street. She looked back q ~
house, fearful, and still uncerta1n
"Why couldn't you como befosof
she whispered.
Harry Goddard threw back his 49,
and laughed.
Because" he answered, ~06na1
Pryce gave me Ave hundred dcalnx
to stay away untff his wedding daxI
What. He paid you money
Eyes. And the joke Is that the ~
man outwitted' himself. This = III.
wedding day. because It Is past m1df
night. He thought the joke was 0Qt
me. but that's where he fell down.
| Esther laid her hand on his arm.
Harry. you did this dastards
thing?" she asked. 81
We'll, hasn't he money to sparoN
! And wasn't he just as bad. with a
his money, bribing poor man Z?
TT wasn't the BRIDE" she mUttere1
! It was the making her the subJns
OF the bride. She knew that the linn
which bound her TO Harry was broke
! forever Quietly she stepped ba0
/ through the window.
1 81 Win" said low voice Ia H.
! ear. Senator Pryce WAS standing Af
/ fore her, In her room, smiling. aa
| What does this mean r. aske6
Their.
1T MEANS" answered the senAt
"that have tested you and fCQ1
/ you true just as l found him 121
/ 0. Esther. forgive me, but 4 cDnl9
! marry you until had given yOu
chance to see what you hAvo
/ capped"
NO. what. I have found" ~
swered softly.
Copyright. 1918. by w. q. Chapn41