The Washington herald., 1914-11-15

from half dozen throats within another instant
AS II from the path Of some grizzly visitant from
the world beyond the grave, the throng pressed
back and cleared a way for Seneca Trine, father
of the bride
And as the way opened and he looked up toward
the altar and saw Alan standing hand in hand with
Rose while the minister invoked a blessing upon
the union, added strength. the strength of the in
sane, was given to Seneca Trine.
When Alan, annoyed by the disturbance in the
body of The chapel looked round it was to see the
aged maniac standing within dozen feet of him;
and he looked and cried out in wonder Trine
whipped revolver from the pocket of his dressing
gown and swung it steadily to bear upon Alan's
head.
At that instant the storm broke with Internal
fury upon the land.
crash Of thunder so heavy and prolonged that
IL seemed to rock the very building upon its founda.
tons, accompanied the shattering of huge stained.
glass window.
A bolt of blush fame of dazzling briIlance
slashed through the window like a flaming sword
and smOte the pistol in the hand of Seneca Trine,
discharging the weapon it struck him
dead.
As he fell, the bolt swerved and struck two 9th.
ers down-Alan Law and the woman who had Just
been made his wife.
TV-THE WIFE
Again three days elapsed; and Judith returning
from the double funeral of her father and sister
d
more suited to the atmosphere OF a sickroom, then
relieved the nurse in charge of Alan.
He remained he had been ever since the fall
ing of the thunderbolt-in absolute coma
But he lived, and-or the physicians lied-must
soon regain consciousness.
Kneeng beside his bedside Judith prayed long
and earnestly.
When she arose it as to answer a tap upon the
door. She admitted Tom Barcus and suffered him
to lead her into the recess of the window, where
they conversed in guarded tones in -Dite of the
fact that the subject of their communications eouId
not possibly have heard them
I've come to tell you something" Barcus an
nounced with characteristic awkwardness I've
known it for three days-ever since the wedding,
in fact-and kept it to myself, lot knowing wheth-
er l ought to tell you yet or not"
He paused. eyeing her uncertainty unhappfly
Il prepared Judith assured him calmly
You're nothing of the Sort" he -ountered argu.
mentative. You couldn't be. It's the most amaz.
ing thing imaginable. See here -
Well"
You understand don't you. that Alan must nev.
er know that Rose killed by that lightning
stroke?"
What do you mean"
II mean.' the man foundered miserably, you
see. he loved her sol thought-Tm sure it would
be best-if you bring yourself to ito let him
go on believing it wasn't Rose who was killed but
Judith. And that's skating so close to the truth
that it makes difference the Judith Alan knew
and the Judith l knew in the beginning is gone as
completely as though she and not Rose had been
killed"
After long pause. the girl asked him quietly:
Il understand. But is it possible you don't under
stand that if we're to consent to this proposition
lend myself TO aSdeception which I must maintain
through all my life to COMEDIAN would consider
his wife,"
We'll. but-you see-you are his wife. .
Oh, don't think I'm of my bat: I'm telling YOU
the plain. unvarnished truth. You are Alans wife
No. listen to me You remember that day
in New York when you substituted for Rose. when
Alan tried to elope with her and you went with
him TO Jersey City. and stood up to be married by a
preacher-guy named Wright-and Marrophat broke
in Just at the critical moment and busted up the
party
"We?" she demanded breathlessly.
Barcus produced a folded yellow paper from his
coat pocket and profered it.
Read that 1t handed me as best man.
just before the ceremony. Seeing it was addressed
to Alan and knowing he in frame of mind
to be bothered by kilograms. | slipped it into my
pocket and forgot all about it temporarily. When
came to find it, took the liberty of reading it
But read it for yourself"
The typewriter lines of the long message
blurred and together almost indecipheraby in
Judith's vision. None the less she contrived to
grasp the substance of its meaning:
WHY DIDN'T YOU WIRE NE SOONER" it
ran: MARRIAGE TO ROSE IMPOSSIBLE. REV.
TO JUDITH LAST WEEK HAD GONE TOO
FAR WHEN MARROPHAT INTERRUPTED JU-
DITH LEGALLY YOUR WIFE. WOULD HAVE
ADVISED YOU SOONER HAD YOU LET ME-
KNOW WHERE TO ADDRESS YOU. HOPE TO
HEAVEN THIS GETS TO YOU BEFORE TOO
LATE"
The message was signed with the name of Alan's
confidential man Of business in New York
Wher Judith looked up she alone in the
room. but for the silent patient on his couch.
Slowly. almost fearfully. she crept to his bed
side and stood looking down into the face of her
husband.
And while she looked Alan's lashes futtered.
his respiration quickened. faint color crept into
his pallid cheeks-and his eyes opened wide and
looked into hers
His lips moved and breathed word Of recog
milton:
Judith"
With low cry Of tenderness the girl sank to
her knees and encirced his head with her arms
Judith she whispered, hiding her face in his
bosom, Judith is more :"
A pause; and then the feeble voice:
Then. if I mistaken, if you aren't Judith,
you must be Rose-my wife!"
She said steadily: Il your wife
49,