Omaha daily bee., 1914-11-08

AS II from the path of some grizzly vsitant from
the world beyond the grave, the throng pressed
back and cleared way for Seneca Trine father
Of the bride.
And the way opened and he looked up toward
the altar and Alan standing hand in hand with
Rose while the minister invoked 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 Il was to see the
aged maniac standing within a dozen feet Of him:
and as he looked and cried out in wonder Trine
whipped revolver from the pocket of his dressing
gown and swung 1t 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
II seemed to rock'the very building upon it's founda-
tons, accompanied the shatterng OF huge stained
glass window.
bolt of blush flame Of dazzling brilliance
slashed through the window like a flaming sword
and smote the pistol in the hand of Seneca Trne,
dischargng 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
Iv-THE WIFE
Again three days elapsed; and Judith returning
from the double funeral Of her father and sister
dofed her mourning for gown less somber and
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.
Kneeling beside his bedside Judith prayed long
and earnestly
When she arose II was to answer a tap upon tho
door She admitted Tom Barcus and suffered MIN
to lead her into the recess Of the window where
they conversed In guarded tones in ,pte of the
fact that the subject of their communications could
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 5ince the wedding,
IN fact-and kept 1t to myself, not knowing wheth-
er ought to tell you yet not"
He paused, eyeing her uncertainty, unhappily.
Il am 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 new.
er know that Rose killed by that lightning
stroke?"
What do you mean?"
L mean" the man houndered mserably you
see he loved her SOL thought-Tm sure It would
be best-if you can 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 1t makes no difference the Judith Alan knew
and the judith knew in the beginning is gone as
completely as though she and not Rose had been
killed"
Il understand. But is It possible you don't under
stand that, II were to consent to this proposition
lend myself to asdeception which I must maintain
through all my life to come-Alan 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
preacherguy named Wright-and Marrophat broke
in just at the critical moment and busted up the
party?"
"Well?" she demanded breathlessly
Barcus produced a folded yellow paper from his
coat pocket and proffered H.
Read that. 1t was handed to me as best man.
Just before the ceremony. Seeing it was addressed
10 Alan and knowing he in frame Of mind
to be bothered by kilograms, slipped II into my
pocket and forgot all about Il temporarily When
l came TO find 1t, took the liberty Of reading It.
But read 1t for yourself"
The typewriter lines OF the long message
blurred and ran together almost indecipherably In
Judith's vision. None the less, she contrived to
grasp the substance OF its meaning:
WHY DIDN'T YOU WIRE NE SoONERg" It
ran: MARRIAGE TO ROSE IMPOSSIBLE REV
MR. WRIGHT INFORMED ME YOUR MARRIAGE
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 AIan'a
confidential OF business In New York
When Judith looked up she was alone in the
room, but for the silent patient on bis 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 huttered
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 encircled his head with her arms.
Judith" she whispered, hiding her face in his
bosom, judith is -. ="
A pause; and then the feeble voice:
Then. II was mistaken. If you aren't Judith.
you must be Rose-my wife!"
She said steadily: II am your wife"
His hands fumbed with her face closed upon
her cheeks lifted her head until her eyes must