El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-07-18
Spoiled By Success
A short story.

~ cinity of bowman square an
= nounced the hour of midnight,
John Names pen ceased suddenly in
its rapid flight across the paper be-
fore him For a time he sat motiOnless,
his forehead wrinkled in perplexity.
Twice he attempted to resume his
work, but each time stopped short in
the effort
For five long hours ne had worked
with feverish mental energy and the
first time his pen refused to become
the vehicle of his thoughts the physical
strength of the man gave out. then as
d gift from the gods. came the blessing
of sleep to the jaded worker.
Dimly, vaguely, John Maine became
conscious of the fact that his arms
were bound and useless at his side
His legs were cramped in an unnatural
position; he endeavOred to move his
head. and discovered, with a painful
by a tight collar attached to the back
Of the chair. With startled eyes. he
glanced around swiftly in the little
circle his bonds allowed and saw
poured from him IN his fear, he knew
that from somewhere in the room a
voice was speaking, slowly, nonotOu-
Ously but its every word articuIated
with striking distinctness-
Don't waste your energy came in
a sibilant whisper you have nothing
to fear but the truth Compose your
self"
Il am here to talk" began the voce,
"and you to listen"
Five years ago." continued the voice
"a son was born TO you, and for time
you forgot you were a man of letters
But you soon slipped away when your
clubs called you. when the public
faWned to you, and your wife, broken
hearted and neglected, fled from your
nome DID you realize then"-the
words came in a laundering torrent
now" the revolving act Of savagery
which cast your wife adrift without the
child she loved so dearly2'
Good heaTensi" exclaimed Maine
fearfully. Are you"
Listen"' came the imperious com
mand- She wanted your love, and you
mad buried 1t In your success But.
strangely as it sounds, you still loved
the child that is sleeping in this house
Do you think that the boy has not
missed his mother more than Won have
missed your wife2 John Maine, in the
crate before you are ashes, cold and
gray They are your portion in life
for that boy Of yours, his heart yearn-
ing for the tender love you cannot give
is even now slipping into the void
ENOUGH" screamed the Wretched
man Who are yOU2" he asked with
sudden humility
7 am your better SELF came sadly.
morOsely from a long way off; and
John Maine sat up on the words to
find himself blinking terrified. in the
lantern
Beg pardon. sir" whispered the DO
1ceman, quickly covering the light.
but guessed you would be in here
at work as usual, and
I've been asleep. constable Maine
lnterposed slowly, and the words con-
Yeyed a subtle relief to his aching
mead at once But how on earth did
you get in?" he asked. suddenly reaIiz-
ing that the presence Of a policeman in
his house in the early hours Of the
morning was something to be ex-
planned
softly. sir counseIIed the other. IT
saw a woman creep through a window
at the back and followed her I've been
on TINS beat for a good many years sir
ana L Ianc1ed knew. who she was.
thought perhaps you might like
and brisk.
rs she still in the houseT' he asked
the constable hooded.
She crept upstairs. sir he said sim
ply
But John Maine waited for no more.
With his heart pounding at his ribs
ne sprang out Of the room and leaped
swiftly up the stairs
The policeman followed him SLOWLY
Maine had reached the landing which
LED 10 the boys room, when he heard
door in front of him open He
switched on the electric light. and
there, painting fearfuIly in the sudden
glare leaning against the wall was the
thin and emaciated figure Of woman.
Her clothes were in rags and tatters:
IN her arms she clutehed a sleeping
child to her breast
They stood thus silently regarding
one another, until the sound of a dis
Greet cough warned Maine OF the pres
ence Of the constable With hands that
shook perceptibly and eyes in which
there lurked a strange mOistness. John
Maine turned swiftly on the landing.
You're a good fellow" he said
quietly, Tt is as you surmised- Ny
wife"-he waved his hand cOurteOusly
to the wretched woman in front Of
him" has returned home unexpected
". You can let yourself Out7"
They waited until the man had
passed through the house. and they
could hear his retreating footsteps die
away IN the distance. Then:
'Maisie," said Maine gently. you
hae come home to me2"
The woman tOttered where she stood.
one arm went out before her, sweetly.
pathetically, and John Maine sprang
to her side in an instant
'Maisie. my love" he cried. the tears
coursing down his cheeks with the
weakness Of a strong man who is sud
denly robbed of his calm, thank God
know my better selfr'