The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1914-06-18

kets OF the western city: bat Halaey
had never had Many Investments, ha1
watched the markets little: and oov.
isolated at Graystone Hall almost -
much as though upon . desert islanA.
and too much disturbed and distracted
In his own mind to find any definite in
terest in business matters. vas hardly
conscious OF the storm thst ragged. He
simply waited on, unhappily. 1t seemed
to him there was no place for him In
all the world. Why did Virginia ~
main aloof!
Rawn. absent. in New York. imas-
ined his wife engaged continuously in
the struggle Of persuading Charles
Halsey to see the light of reason. al
though he did not know Halsey was
living under the same roof with her.
As 4 matter Of fact. Halsey and she
met but rarely. Virginia breakfasted
for the most part in her own rooms.
and found. or pretended to find. Some
thing to occupy her for the most part
OF the day. Not once did she ok bis
attendance. not once did she speak
with him. when by chance she nav
him. upon any but casual or conven,
tional matters. She seemed always 70
evade him; and because she did this
he. rebelling. sought her out all the
more. even while continually resoly
ing to take his departure. and never
again to see this place. or her. again
He wondered at her reticence. hel
avoidance OF him. He wondered why
she was 70 pale. He loitered about
unhappfly. In this or that conmon
meeting ground Of the great mansion
house. waiting to hear the rustic oi
gown upon the stair. the sound Of Z
light foot on q door. the touch Of q
white hand. the sound of q voice-al
things belonging. not to his wife. but
to his young stepmother by law
Yes. Without his wish. In spite oi
her wish. these had become things de
sired. the only things desirable AMI
more in his distracted life. He LIVED
under the same roof with two women
saw either rarely. and rarely thought
Of but One-the wrong one. To atone
Halsey lavished all his time and carr
on his little hunchback daughter. ant
had her with him as much % the nursl
and doctor would allow. The child
undersized. pale. deformed. silent ant
wistful. and pathetic always. now va
listless and weak. obviously very seri
ously Ill. II wrunE her fathers hear
to SEQ her. But Charles Halsey want
ed 1t wrung. He wanted to do bitter
est penance for what he now knew
was his secret sin. So the ways o
inordinate power. tho consequences
for this one or that one, which follow
on inordinate greed, worked them
selves out toward their sure and log
ical ending the mill of fate grinding
those primarily. secondarily. even incl
dentally guilty.
At this time. had Virginia Raw
asked OF him to recant. to relent, I,
change. there IL likelihood be woul,
have done SO. John Rawn. cuckold
was right in his despicable reasoning
There are many prices which purchas
principles. The weakness which ha
prompted Halsey to remain at Gray
stone hall on such a tepure-whic
held him there now, waiting for
voice. listening for footfall-was tn
ancient weakness of youth befor
youth, of strength before beauty, @
the empty heart before one ofRerin
love. Of the mind finding perfect ech
In another mind.
With all his starved heart. all his RI
pressed soul. all his mutinous bod,
Charles Halsey loved Virginia Rawn.