The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-30

;-<MNl abruptly back in
to the room and made the door secure
behind him. He struck a light an,
stood surveying the small, boxlik;
apartment with weary, unreconcilet
eyes. Instead of making him forget
the five years exile-each day ant
hour link forged into chain of de
liberate destiny-seemed but to bint
him more keenly, more irrevocably, te
the past.
As he bitterly reviewed the crush
ing sorrow of that other life, with ali
its ensuing emptiness and hurt, a va
riety of emotions were depicted upon
his thin, expressive face. But they
passed as quickly as they came. and
Rogers lifted his head with a startled
alert movement as vague, but un
mistakable sound struck on his
trained ear; a muffled cry of distress
In a moment it repeated itself, sharp
and human and despairing. He
jumped to his feet, hurried to the
door and flung 1t wide open.
There was gust Of biting air and
binding whip of sleet in his eyes
like the sting from thousands Of tiny
lashes.
He stopped and touched the pros
trate figure with gentle hands, but
there was no response, and gathering
the unconscious man in his arms, he
staggered back into the cabin. As
carefully as a woman might have
done, he placed him on his own rude
pallet, and piled the fire high with
fresh fuel, the Goals breaking instant
ly into Kissing blaze. Then he pro-
cured a flask of brandy and forced a
few drops of 1t between the sick
mans teeth. He swallowed it spas
medically, and in little while there
were signs Of life.
Rogers left his chair and came up
to him with a reassuring smile.
Feel any better now?" he asked.
Rogers" he said, 1--WE been look.
ing all over creation for you and I've
found you at last"
Looking former"
"For you, yes. am a dying man.
Look at me and you can see that"
Consumption" he went on, tap
ping his chest with one weak hand
"the doctors told me l couldn't last a
month"
"My dear fellow" he protested,
I'm afraid"
mo, no, no, I'm not. l know what
you'd say. am in full possession of
all my senses. Would to God / was
not!' he put in fervently.
Years ago." he pursued, after a
brief pause, 81 found out that She
my wife-loved you. She never cared
for me, and she's yours by all the
laws of heaven"
He paused a moment out of sheer
weakness, and wiped the cold drops
from his mouth and forehead. When
he had controlled himself sufficiently
he went on:
81 loved her-God, worshiped her,
but l knew it was you she cared for,
and not me. 1t did not take me a
week to realize my mistake. And
Rogers" His voice broke and
trailed off to a whisper. There was a
long, shuddering sigh, and the dying
mans lids quivered suddenly over I'm.
conscious eyes.
Rogers sat for a moment as though
turned to stone; his face was as
white as the snow that Kissed against
the windows; his eyes bright and
startled. But suddenly his features
changed, lightened and fleeting fingers
touched them with a ripple Of silent
Joy.
A moment, and the dying mar
opened his eyes again-they were
quite rational now. He looked up ap
pealingly into Rogers face and CROPPED
outside the cover with cold. trembling
hands.
Rogers caught them suddenly in Lis
warm. strong grasp, and his head
dropped forward on his breast.
A minute passed, two, three. Ar
hour went by; then another, ant
neither stirred. At midnight the dis
tant sound Of a bell startled Ro err
from his reverie. Ne looked up swift
ly, and bent to catch the sound Of the
others heart-beats.
Puf thu Last araa& aSaauax had coma