The Prescott daily news., 1913-06-14
WHEN THE SWORD FELL
By NELLIE cRAvEY GILMORE.


 The head surgeon passed noiseless ly down the long, padded corridor of the hospital, through the great en- trance door, and out into the dimly lighted street
 Outside was an illy-clad woman, whose eyes, strained and sunken, were fixed upsn him in the blankness of despair. The old, gray-haired sur geon glanced pityingly at the hollow cheeks, the toil-hardened tingers-the contracted chest.
 What is it?" he asked, gently.
 "You-you are the surgeon at tho hospital? Tell me; is-is he dead? The man who was injured this morn ing-crushed between l. cars on For ty-flfth s1eet; Dick Endell, you know. saw it in the papers-all the whole horrible story. He-merciful God he is-my hust lnd!"
 He is not dead-yet. But the end Is near, 1 fear and-inevitable I 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 Nwith him at the last! The years of loneliness and misery that had gone, the empty. aching years that were to Woro cd 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 ids quivered for a 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 long time, then roved around the room as though in search of something, and closed wearily again. There was an unbroken si- .ence of several minutes.
 Presently the door opened and closed quietly, and the sound of Iuick, soft footsteps echoed through he room. The sharpened ears of tho lying man caught the sound and he stirred restlessly. With final effort ais glance shought that of the wife at ,is side, 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 its Maker.
 In a daze, the woman released hef aand from that other one, fast grow ng cold in death. She rose mechan- cally from where she knelt, and for he first time turned her eyes toward the newcomer A wave of sickening apprehension swept over her at s 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 a terrible stress of si- Ience. 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 rightened-alarmed.a and ran up here Your-your husband was dying and I-he was expecting you. He thought that 1t was you who had come when I entered the room. We've knew that he was dying and-and had not fhe heart to undecefYe him."